Composing for cello and real-time processing

Artistic Research project by Ejnar Kanding

The context is the creation of a composition for cello and real-time processing in the classical score music tradition interacting with the computer as a musician. Performing cellist: Toke Møldrup.

The composition focuses on the musician's sense of phrasing and time, among other things through research and development of instrumental skills (the performing dimension). In addition to the composition itself, a digital user interface (the creative dimension) is developed to handle the computer's direct interaction with the performing musician. This interface should be easy for an educated musician who has no prior knowledge of electroacoustic music (dissemination, accessibility).

The interaction is experienced as a reflection of the real acoustic sound reflected by the computer's co-playing surreal in real-time generated sound projected into the room through speakers. The mirroring between the acoustic and digital sound is called real-time processing, the projection of the sound is called spatialization.

The qualities of the performing musician implement my focus in electro-acoustic music on real-time processing. Thus, the computer follows the musician and not the other way around. In this way, the musician's sense of time and phrasing is highly prioritized. The project thus contributes to the real-time processing area and a relevant notation practice in this field.

Exploring and developing the real-time dimension of the composition the visual programming language developed by Cycling74 to "the specialized needs for artists, educators, and researchers working with audio, visual media, and physical computing."

The classical music tradition with its specialized professionalism in the performing as well as the creative field is thus actualized in a contemporary digital reality, where the best of both worlds merge into a new work of art.

Along with the composition for the cello, which will be notated in a score, the programming of the user interface that controls the work's real-time processing is developed using the programming tool Max. The work's spatialization (sound diffusion in the room) is realized in New Hall's multispeaker setup. In addition, a stereo version of the work is being developed in respect of the distribution possibilities. A relevant notation form in the score of the real-time processing is developed. There is no widely accepted notation practice as the field is constantly evolving. The world premiere of the work in New Hall, will be performed by cellist Toke Møldrup. A reflective article on process and result will be provided in Danish and English for use on RDAM's site and in professional journals. Publishing of the work on relevant streaming platforms, Apple Music, Spotify, Soundcloud, Youtube; the score is promoted by Edition • S.

Final results

• a score
• a performing user interface (Max patch)
• an audiovisual recording (for Youtube) of the work
• a reflecting article in Danish and English