SOUTHERN PACIFIC SUITE
music for train whistles
AMTRAK K5LA: D# F# G# B D#
STANDARD K5H: D# F# A# C D#
In the far west Texas towns of Marfa and Alpine the blast of train whistles punctuates the soundscape day and night. The sounds of trains are so common that many local residents learn to tune them out. Here at PREPARED EAR we became curious about how the chords used in train whistles were developed, since the sounds are neither so ominous as to keep frequent listeners constantly on edge, nor are they so cheerful or plain that they could be completely ignored. After much research, we discovered that most trains in the United States employ some variation on the K5H horn, which emits a D# minor 6th chord (D# F# A# C D#). Amtrak asked "motive power development manager" Deane Ellsworth to develop a variation on this tone for it's fleet of trains, and in 1977 introduced the K5LA, tuned to a B major 6th chord.
For SOUTHERN PACIFIC SUITE Alyce decontructed and reconstructed the two chords - including the Doppler Effect - using flute. Julian was inspired by the two chords to create the melody line, played on classic guitar.
southern pacific suite by alyceobvious