Hybrid Sonic Identity and Ecological Timbre in Biological Music: An Interdisciplinary Analysis of Environmental - Instrumental Sound Relations

Abstract:

This study examines how biological sounds and instrumental performance interact to create hybrid sonic identities and ecological timbres. Although research in ecomusicology and ecoacoustics has explored environmental sound, little work has shown how biological sound structures can be meaningfully adapted through musical techniques. To address this gap, the study used ecological listening, spectro-morphological analysis, bioacoustics, biomimicry, and semiotic interpretation to analyse selected biological recordings alongside violin, flute, viola, and cello samples. The findings show that biological sounds contain ecological cues that strongly shape timbre perception, and that instrumental techniques can reproduce or adapt these cues to form hybrid sonic identities. Listeners interpreted these textures as blends of natural and musical qualities, revealing that ecological timbre carries both acoustic and symbolic meaning. The study concludes that environmental-instrumental sound relations offer new insights for music research, performance, and ecological communication, positioning sound as a meaningful bridge between artistic expression and environmental understanding.