Ambient is the direction of electronic music. The characteristic features are the length of the compositions, the violation of the classical structure of the melody, the absence of vocals. Most of the compositions performed in this direction have a calming effect.
Ambient is a genre of electronic music based on sound timbre modulation. Differs in unobtrusive background sound, "enveloping" action. It is characterized by psychedelic overflows of synthetic sounds.
History
The direction originated in the 70s of the last century thanks to the work of Brian Eno. In the USSR, at the same time, Mikhail Chekalin became interested in him. Since then, several directions have been identified that are popular in certain circles to this day.
The concept of the new genre appeared thanks to the French composer Eric Satie. He was the first to introduce the term "furnished music". The peculiarity of both types is the unobtrusiveness of the melodies. Their user can listen or be the background. Very quickly, such melodies began to be used in shops and cafes to create a cozy atmosphere.
You can find music for:
- meditation;
- self-knowledge;
- reflections.
The human brain perceives such music as "spilled".
Subgenres
The style acquired its rebirth in the 1990s, when the creativity of such artists as The Orb and Aphex Twin appeared. Today, ambient has several subgenres:
- chaos;
- techno;
- industrial;
- dark;
- drone.
Ambient House
This is music that combines synth strings and high vocal. The direction belongs to electronic music, which can often be heard at discos. The British group Orbital became the founder. She created a rhythm that was considered club, but was too peculiar for youth discos. The compositions stood out from the rest with their emphasis on atmosphere.
Sibient
This is a genre of electronic music that combines elements of psychedelic trance, ethnic sounds and some others. The concept itself has become an abbreviation of the two words psychedelic and ambient, which translates as “psychedelic ambient”.
Space Ambient
This direction is characterized by a measured, slow pace of sound. Synthetic, dull sounds are used, which are often looped and serve as a background. Depending on the composition, rhythmic electronic plays are superimposed on it. It can be supplemented with choral singing or overflowing synthetic melodies. This is a great option for lovers of soothing and relaxing music.
Dark Ambient
It appeared in the late 1980s as the result of experiments by ambient composers. According to some musicians, this direction is opposed to the classical or basic direction.
Many projects in this style are created to evoke certain emotions in the listener, not only at the level of conscious perception. For this, low-frequency sounds and resonances are added to the compositions. The direction is characterized by a minimalistic one devoid of emotional outbursts with an episodic sharp increase in volume. It can be supplemented with sounds:
- knocking doors;
- falling objects;
- clapping.
This is done to build up tension. Monotony gives the sound a hypnotic effect.
Drone ambient
In the late 90s, a new direction appeared, combining drone and ambient. Vibrations, frequent changes of tempo, humming at low frequencies, resonances and other sound recording techniques are characteristic of such melodies.
Their distinguishing feature is the lack of conformity with the classical structure of the songs. Because of this, they become something abstract and overly long. Musical lines are often built using electric guitars, the parts of which are passed through a huge number of synthesizers and equalizers.
Dungeon synth
This genre is the result of an experiment by black metal musicians from Norway. They ditched the heavy guitar sound, focusing on synth harmonies. Initially, the music was of poor recording quality. This was due to the use of cheap cassette recorders and the desire to protest against the mass music industry.
Russian ambient
The origins of the direction in Russia are considered to be the academic music of Shostakovich Rachmaninov, Scriabin and others. In the academic environment, the tendency to stretch sounds in overtones rather quickly appeared. The composers' love for cold melodiousness is the main feature of Russian music. Some drew inspiration from nature, others - in loneliness, and still others - in the drama of earthly life.
A huge role in the formation of the Russian school was the unification of composers around Eduard Artemiev. They were the first to explore the capabilities of the Soviet synthesizer ANS, and in 1964 they recorded their first compositions with electronic sound. Very quickly, such music began to be used in films, soundtracks.
The direction received a new impetus in the development of the development of computer technology and the desire of Russian composers to comply with Western trends. All this made it possible to combine the incongruous. Dark and drone ambient aroused especially great interest. You can hear modern famous performers on VKontakte.
Music in life
It has already been noted that ambient compositions are often used in cinema. For directors, they are another language with the help of which the mood conceived in the picture is conveyed to the viewer.
Used in advertising as well. Developers of various virtual applications are trying to independently demonstrate to the audience the features of such sound. This is done for the same purpose - bringing the player closer to the virtual environment. Such musical accompaniment is especially often used in various space stimulators.
Advertising uses the term ambient media, which means the use of environmental sounds for advertising purposes. Usually, the technique is effective for outdoor advertisements placed in crowded places.
Ambient did not become commercially successful. Many criticize him for being boring and intelligent. Ordinary listeners, on the other hand, are repelled by their length, lack of vocals and familiar structures. According to the researchers, the target audience is young people between the ages of 16 and 33.
However, thanks to the opportunity to get acquainted with this direction through the Internet, the direction has more fans. This led to the emergence of new groups and artists. Most of them work in Australia, USA, Canada and Germany. Ambient can be heard on soundtracks for films: "The Social Network", "Lovely Bones", "Drive", "Mister Loneliness" and some others.