The Pencil Project

Martin Messier, and Jacques Poulin-Denis

Music Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression

• Year: 2008
• Location: Genova, Italy

Abstract:

Program notes: The Pencil Project is a performance piece created by sound artists Martin Messier and Jacques Poulin-Denis. Their intention was to craft a live electronic music piece inspired by the physicality of writing and the imagery it articulates. The performers translate scribbling, scratching, dotting and drawing with pencil music. The computers are hidden and untouched throughout the piece, allowing object manipulation and the creation of sound to be the performers' main focus. The Pencil Project is about musicianship. Liberated from the computer screen and equipped with hands-on objects, the performers explore a new form of expressivity. Through an authentic and stimulating performance, the musicians bring computer music intimately close to playing an actual musical instrument. About the performers: Martin Messier: Holding a diploma in drums for jazz interpretation, Martin Messier has completed a bachelor's degree in electroacoustic composition at the University of Montreal, and De Montfort University in England. Recently, Martin has founded a solo project called « et si l'aurore disait oui... », through which he develops live electroacoustic performance borrowing stylistic elements from Intelligent Dance Music, acousmatic and folk. Based on strong aptitudes for rhythm, Martin's esthetic can be defined as a complex, left field and happily strange sound amalgam, constantly playing with construction and deconstruction. Jacques Poulin-Denis is active in projects that intersect theater, dance and music. He has completed his undergraduate studies in electroacoustic composition from the University of Montreal, and De Montfort University in England. Most of his music was composed for theater and dance. Jacques explores innovative ways of presenting electro-acoustic music. Jacques' musical style is evocative and filled with imagery. Combining traditional and electronic instruments with anecdotic sound sources of everyday life, he creates vibrant music that is fierce and poetic.

Citation:

BibTeX Entry:

  @inproceedings{nime2008-music-Messier2008,
 abstract = {Program notes:
The Pencil Project is a performance piece created by sound artists Martin Messier and Jacques Poulin-Denis. Their intention was to craft a live electronic music piece inspired by the physicality of writing and the imagery it articulates. The performers translate scribbling, scratching, dotting and drawing with pencil music. The computers are hidden and untouched throughout the piece, allowing object manipulation and the creation of sound to be the performers' main focus.
The Pencil Project is about musicianship. Liberated from the computer screen and equipped with hands-on objects, the performers explore a new form of expressivity. Through an authentic and stimulating performance, the musicians bring computer music intimately close to playing an actual musical instrument.

About the performers:
Martin Messier: Holding a diploma in drums for jazz interpretation, Martin Messier has completed a bachelor's degree in electroacoustic composition at the University of Montreal, and De Montfort University in England. Recently, Martin has founded a solo project called « et si l'aurore disait oui... », through which he develops live electroacoustic performance borrowing stylistic elements from Intelligent Dance Music, acousmatic and folk. Based on strong aptitudes for rhythm, Martin's esthetic can be defined as a complex, left field and happily strange sound amalgam, constantly playing with construction and deconstruction.

Jacques Poulin-Denis is active in projects that intersect theater, dance and music. He has completed his undergraduate studies in electroacoustic composition from the University of Montreal, and De Montfort University in England. Most of his music was composed for theater and dance. Jacques explores innovative ways of presenting electro-acoustic music. Jacques' musical style is evocative and filled with imagery. Combining traditional and electronic instruments with anecdotic sound sources of everyday life, he creates vibrant music that is fierce and poetic.},
 address = {Genova, Italy},
 author = {Martin Messier and Jacques Poulin-Denis},
 booktitle = {Music Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression},
 editor = {Roberto Doati},
 month = {June},
 publisher = {Casa Paganini},
 title = {The Pencil Project},
 year = {2008}
}