The Augmented Orchestra

The Augmented Orchestra (AO) is a technology created, developed and implemented by the composer Anna Clyne and sound designer Jody Elff. The idea is to expand upon an acoustic orchestra: to integrate contemporary audio technologies to the traditional orchestral model. Not a playback-with-orchestra model, and not looping or amplification, but rather a true merging of current sound manipulation tools with the long established sound world of the symphony orchestra.

They say: “Examples of AO processes are pitching shifting double basses down an octave to create an organ-like quality, running clarinets through distortion to emulate the sound of electric guitars, and adding harmonic clouds to flutes so that they hover above the orchestra long after they stop playing.” So why not just use an organ and electric guitars? It is because the quality of the sound is different – it is a completely new sonority, which is what drew Anna and Jody to this sonic exploration from the very start.

The Augmented Orchestra was first used in the world premiere of Anna’s Wild Geese, with conductor Cristian Mӑcelaru, at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music in 2023. The Augmented Orchestra has since featured in Anna’s The Gorgeous Nothings, premiered at the BBC Proms in August 2024 with the Swingles Singers and BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, with Nicholas Collon conducting. AO also features in Anna’s PALETTE, to be premiered by the St Louis Symphony Orchestra in February 2025.