Snoring as Involuntary Vocalisation: Mapping Its Rhythmic, Timbre-Based, and Affective Qualities in Experimental Music Composition.

Abstract:

Snoring is usually treated as a private annoyance, yet it is a complex bodily sound shaped by breath, vibration, and emotion. While medical research has examined snoring for diagnostic purposes, little attention has been given to its creative or musical potential. This study addresses that gap by analysing snoring as an involuntary vocalisation that can inform experimental composition. Using spectral analysis, rhythmic examination, phenomenological listening, and practice‑based experimentation, the study identified clear patterns in breath‑cycle shapes, micro‑rhythms, noise‑based timbres, and expressive gestures. These features were translated into a compositional model that supports breath‑shaped phrasing, irregular pulse structures, timbre‑led writing, and affective shading. The findings show that snoring contains structured and emotionally meaningful sonic qualities that can be transformed into coherent musical strategies. The study concludes that everyday bodily sound, when listened to closely, can expand contemporary compositional practice and open new ways of understanding the musicality of human life.