Confusion

Presented by H. Mafakheri, Artistic Director and Sound Producer. This performance is a live soundscape constructed from field recordings, inviting audiences to engage with everyday acoustic environments within a setting as drawing on the concept of acoustic ecology. The Canadian composer. Murray Schafer’s simple definition of a soundscape as the total acoustic environment as perceived by humans, including natural, human-made, and intentionally composed sounds helps with the concept presented in the performance. Schafer identified three key elements: • Keynotes – background sounds like distant traffic • Signals – meaningful foreground sounds like a train horn • Sound marks – unique local sounds such as a church bell

These components are woven into the piece to create an immersive listening experience that is both familiar and subtly disorienting. Soundscapes are central to disciplines such as sound design, music, urban planning, and environmental studies, offering insights into how sound shapes our spatial awareness and emotional response. This performance invites deeper listening through recontextualized sonic textures.

Please note: The piece uses environmental sounds at everyday intensity, with no abrupt or jarring effects. Audiences may experience a heightened awareness of familiar noises in an unfamiliar context.