Performance Practice in the Presentation of Electroacoustic Music

In something as rich and diverse as electroacoustic music, the basic carriers of musical meaning may be ambiguous and difficult to identify, leading to a lack of comprehension on the listeners' part. As with any music, we need to know what aspect of the material defines structure; such a basic understanding is absolutely necessary to its effective communication. I would like to propose that the "gentle art" of sound diffusion over a carefully designed and installed array of loudspeakers should be recognized as a necessity rather than an option in the public presentation of electroacoustic music, as it is only through careful performance that such "carriers of meaning" can be effectively communicated. One reason for the limited appeal of electroacoustic music is cited by Jeff Pressing (1994 p. 27),