Abstract
Undersong is a composition for solo performer with interactive digital notation, exploring dynamic morphology of embodied concepts of stability, balance, and tension. Addressing Leppert’s (2017) assertion that notation abstracts music’s embodied essence, this research investigates how musical form can emerge through networks of interaction rather than static notation or free improvisation. Grounded in Ingold’s correspondence theory (2013), Undersong treats notation, performer, and instrument as co-creators of form (Armitage & Magnusson, 2023).
Methodology
Undersong integrates real-time FFT sound analysis to profile and visually represent the musician’s tone, dynamically influencing performer interaction. Iterative workshops with Judith Hamman and Lina Andonovska informed the score’s design. Early prototypes evaluated stability and noise, but as Hamman observed, the absence of clear goals limited performer engagement. This prompted further experiments with form. Inspired by Nguyen’s (2020) "striving play," the score introduced a shifting "sweet spot" mechanism, requiring performers to adjust controls and explore sonic targets.
[Fig. 2 Moving ‘Sweet Spot’]
To aid practice, additional controls overlaid the moving "sweet spot" with a reference vector for the performer’s audio. These overlays were removed in performance. The performers’ experiences aligned with concepts of "aesthetic striving play," Andonovska reflected on the interplay between goal-directed action and aesthetic experience, noting the tension between structured and exploratory approaches.
[Fig. 2 Score with added controls and reference vectors]
Findings
Undersong advances practice-led research on process-oriented aesthetics, highlighting the distributed nature of agency and embodiment in musical creation. The aesthetic value of the work rises from the interaction of performer, score, and instrument. It is, as Andonovska observed, ‘an exercise in persistence and tonal control.’ The balance between structured goals and the freedom to explore fosters an aesthetic experience rooted in the dynamic interplay of striving play and creative spontaneity, deepening performer engagement.
Premiered: RAMP in Donegal, Ireland (07/07/2024)
Methodology
Undersong integrates real-time FFT sound analysis to profile and visually represent the musician’s tone, dynamically influencing performer interaction. Iterative workshops with Judith Hamman and Lina Andonovska informed the score’s design. Early prototypes evaluated stability and noise, but as Hamman observed, the absence of clear goals limited performer engagement. This prompted further experiments with form. Inspired by Nguyen’s (2020) "striving play," the score introduced a shifting "sweet spot" mechanism, requiring performers to adjust controls and explore sonic targets.
[Fig. 2 Moving ‘Sweet Spot’]
To aid practice, additional controls overlaid the moving "sweet spot" with a reference vector for the performer’s audio. These overlays were removed in performance. The performers’ experiences aligned with concepts of "aesthetic striving play," Andonovska reflected on the interplay between goal-directed action and aesthetic experience, noting the tension between structured and exploratory approaches.
[Fig. 2 Score with added controls and reference vectors]
Findings
Undersong advances practice-led research on process-oriented aesthetics, highlighting the distributed nature of agency and embodiment in musical creation. The aesthetic value of the work rises from the interaction of performer, score, and instrument. It is, as Andonovska observed, ‘an exercise in persistence and tonal control.’ The balance between structured goals and the freedom to explore fosters an aesthetic experience rooted in the dynamic interplay of striving play and creative spontaneity, deepening performer engagement.
Premiered: RAMP in Donegal, Ireland (07/07/2024)
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Media of output | Online |
| Publication status | Published (in print/issue) - 13 Jul 2024 |
Keywords
- music
- composition
- Interactive Performance Art Work
