ABSTRACT
This chapter is a speculative exploration of the near-future possibilities of spatial music. Technologically, we can control many hundreds of loudspeakers and, conceivably, many thousands. Music can metaphorically depict spatial matters such as object properties (ponderous and heavy, or quick and light) and trajectories, along with place characteristics such as open or enclosed, intimate or spacious. Ceremonial music tends to be heard in large places, finely detailed delicate music in more intimate places. Theories of why music exists are extrinsic to musical theory, and are best contextualised in the wider arguments about why we physically construct so much of our environment. Music can be just one item in the overall auditory environment such as a radio in the room, a complete auditory environment such as listening over headphones with eyes closed or part of a multimodal environment such as when experiencing a film.
