In this thesis I have examined how to transcribe sounds from our everyday environments and use them as a tool in composition. The sounds that I transcribed, mainly human speech, make up the basis for two approximately twenty-minute-long original compositions or suites and one shorter piece meant for improvising over a selection of recorded city background noises. The music was written for a “chordless” jazz-quartet, and had its premiere on the 1st of March, 2022. 

In the first chapter, I explain how I first came to think of this idea, what other musicians and composers already have done in the area, and what the purpose of this thesis is. In the second chapter, I go through my way of both recording and transcribing the sounds and the challenges I met in the process. In chapter three, I cover the compositional process regarding all three pieces, and my thought process regarding the concert. In the fourth chapter, I discuss and problematize the different thoughts and reflections during the project. In the fifth and final chapter, I summarize the project with what I’ve learnt and how I could make use of it in the future.