Ghost Apparatus

Many people use narrative to structure the way they listen to music. If a title or a program note does not immediately evoke a story, some will invent one to frame their listening experience. Video games—some more than others—also allow you to create your own story within the framework of a given world. Ghost Apparatus—a hidden network or force—is the soundtrack for a video game that exists only in my head. The narrative for this game is up to you. From the beginning, every note, every decision has a consequence—a cause and effect—that sets in motion a chain of events that cannot be undone. Every note, every gesture is part of a larger

puzzle—these single points of sound come together to form something bigger. It’s not apparent from the beginning, but there’s also a force working against the music, against the game. It comes in the form of a melody that emerges slowly—just quick, dramatic swells at first—gradually becoming longer and punctuated by low, loud pillars of sound from the low voices until, finally, the music melts into chaos and this force overtakes the music entirely.