A portfolio of compositions

Abstract

This thesis describes a portfolio of musical compositions and artworks that explore the development of real-time acousmatic music composition, multimedia music and dance performances, interactive sound and video installations, and collaboration between interdisciplinary artists. Two works, Cell and Gong, are analyzed for their role in the development of Max/MSP software and improvisation performance techniques to create live acousmatic music. Musical material created with these methods was used in studio compositions and live performances. Improvised multimedia (Live Cinema) performances were also explored with the development of Max/Jitter software for that purpose. The creative process of interdisciplinary collaboration between a composer and dancers in performances that use multimedia elements, live acousmatic music performance, and computer vision interfaces for motion tracking is detailed with the explanation of three dance performances: Phases, Knowledge Box, and Tu:la. Two computer interactive sound and video installations that explore audience interaction are documented. Polyphonic Passport Photo is a photo booth-like installation that transforms the RGB (Red, Green and Blue) values of a photograph into a melody. The Bather is an interactive installation that allows the audience to trigger bathing sounds and the choreographed bath movements of an individual in a bathtub, using a touch sensor as an interface