Contemporary approaches to live computer music : the evolution of the performer composer : a thesis submitted to the Victoria University of Wellington [i.e. New Zealand School of Music] in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
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2013
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Massey University
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Abstract
This thesis examines contemporary approaches to live computer music, and the
impact they have on the evolution of the composer performer. How do online
resources and communities impact the design and creation of new musical
interfaces used for live computer music? Can we use machine learning to
augment and extend the expressive potential of a single live musician? How can
these tools be integrated into ensembles of computer musicians? Given these
tools, can we understand the computer musician within the traditional context of
acoustic instrumentalists, or do we require new concepts and taxonomies? Lastly,
how do audiences perceive and understand these new technologies, and what
does this mean for the connection between musician and audience?
The focus of the research presented in this dissertation examines the application
of current computing technology towards furthering the field of live computer
music. This field is diverse and rich, with individual live computer musicians
developing custom instruments and unique modes of performance. This
diversity leads to the development of new models of performance, and the
evolution of established approaches to live instrumental music.
This research was conducted in several parts. The first section examines how
online communities are iteratively developing interfaces for computer music.
Several case studies are presented as examples of how online communities are
helping to drive new developments in musical interface design.
This thesis also presents research into designing real-time interactive systems
capable of creating a virtual model of an existing performer, that then allows the
model’s output to be contextualized by a second performer’s live input. These
systems allow for a solo live musician’s single action to be multiplied into many
different, but contextually dependent, actions.
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Additionally, this thesis looks at contemporary approaches to local networked
ensembles, the concept of shared social instruments, and the ways in which the
previously described research can be used in these ensembles.
The primary contributions of these efforts include (1) the development of
several new open-source interfaces for live computer music, and the examination
of the effect that online communities have on the evolution of musical
interfaces; (2) the development of a novel approach to search based interactive
musical agents; (3) examining how networked music ensembles can provided
new forms of shared social instruments.
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Keywords
Computer music, Network music, Interface design, Composition (Music), Music performance