Approaches for Flute and Interactive Violin Automaton

Karl F. Gerber

Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression

Abstract

Even before the Corona Pandemic became known, I had the idea for an interactive piece with my violin automaton. Besides the pitch, the distance of the player to the machine was a parameter for the communication with the machine. Striking coincidence with social distancing and loneliness during lockdown. The title of the work has a double meaning: musical and physical approach of the flautist to the automaton.On the one hand, the interactive system with the violin automaton represents a flexible improvisation system for the flutist. On the other hand, it is an enigmatic labyrinth in which the performer moves. Developing this requires difficult learning with surprises. The learning effects are the result of testing the reaction algorithms by playful improvisation of the flautist with the system. In parallel, the system was refined. This simultaneity in learning has demands not known in traditional music. The piece is dedicated to the performer of the 2020 premiere Ms Karina Erhard.The use of technology is rather playful and does not compare to robotics. The automaton allows extended sounds and rhythms by means of three bows, vibrato, percussion on the strings and ponticello. New sounds emerge from conflict rhythms between vibrato and tremolo.

Citation

Karl F. Gerber. 2021. Approaches for Flute and Interactive Violin Automaton. Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression. DOI: 10.21428/92fbeb44.a9149ce2 [PDF]

BibTeX Entry

@inproceedings{nime2021_music_8,
 abstract = {Even before the Corona Pandemic became known, I had the idea for an interactive piece with my violin automaton. Besides the pitch, the distance of the player to the machine was a parameter for the communication with the machine. Striking coincidence with social distancing and loneliness during lockdown. The title of the work has a double meaning: musical and physical approach of the flautist to the automaton.On the one hand, the interactive system with the violin automaton represents a flexible improvisation system for the flutist. On the other hand, it is an enigmatic labyrinth in which the performer moves. Developing this requires difficult learning with surprises. The learning effects are the result of testing the reaction algorithms by playful improvisation of the flautist with the system. In parallel, the system was refined. This simultaneity in learning has demands not known in traditional music. The piece is dedicated to the performer of the 2020 premiere Ms Karina Erhard.The use of technology is rather playful and does not compare to robotics. The automaton allows extended sounds and rhythms by means of three bows, vibrato, percussion on the strings and ponticello. New sounds emerge from conflict rhythms between vibrato and tremolo.},
 address = {Shanghai, China},
 articleno = {8},
 author = {Karl F. Gerber},
 booktitle = {Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression},
 doi = {10.21428/92fbeb44.a9149ce2},
 editor = {Eric Parren and Wei Chen},
 issn = {2220-4806},
 month = {June},
 title = {Approaches for Flute and Interactive Violin Automaton},
 track = {Music},
 url = {https://doi.org/10.21428/92fbeb44.a9149ce2},
 year = {2021}
}