Spectral Quartet

Original description from 2010:
Spectral Quartet is a composition by Woody Sullender, and is a web adaptation of the project Whispering Spectres, a series of FM micro-radio transmissions originally launched in NYC in 2010.

The audio content consists of filtered radio signals, culled from various web streams from the Internet. These signals are being passed through many "band pass filters", a type of equalizer that allows a small range of frequencies through while attenuating frequencies outside of this range. In effect, most of the audio signal is "erased" except for a narrow stratum of frequency material. This work highlights small, hidden musical moments that are occurring on radio, but are usually rendered inaudible by other elements in the sound.

Although the Internet can bridge disparate communities, our experience on the web is of a customized landscape, with content tailored to our ideological views, our shopping behaviors, our socio-economic demographics, etc.. Spectral Quartet literally re-unites these voices into a singularized, aestheticized, quiet moment.

Update from 2026:
Spectral Quartet was originally built in Flash and relied on outdated web audio streams. The piece has been redeveloped in 2026 using contemporary web approaches - although it will certainly decay as the technology shifts.

Micro-site devoted to the project: https://spectralquartet.woodysullender.com/