Prime Composition (2009)

A short sound study into the structure of the number sequence.



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Each positive integer is broken down into its prime factors, with each factor corresponding to a harmonic partial. We then proceed to count upwards, for each integer only playing those harmonics which correspond to its factors.

For example, the number 66 has prime factors 2, 3 and 11, which are the 1st, 2nd and 5th primes. With a fundamental (base) frequency of 60hz, this would therefore trigger sine partials of 60hz, 120hz and 300hz. The fundamental frequency cycles through a triadic sequence every 64 numbers - the only compositional decision besides the underlying structure.

Factors are visually represented as logarithmically-scaled circles, with hue determined by their value. A flash is seen upon reaching a prime number (whose sonic representation is a single partial, corresponding to its single prime index).

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