Analysis, generation, and control of the rhythmic activity for real time interactions between instrumentalist(s) and computer system

• Grant number: 10/09625-5
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): November 01, 2010
• Effective date (End): October 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Linguistics, Literature and Arts - Arts - Music
• Principal researcher: Silvio Ferraz Mello Filho
• Grantee: Stéphan Olivier Schaub
• Home Institution: Instituto de Artes (IA). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Taking advantage of recent advances in music computing in general and of the possibilities offered by the O’Max environment in particular, the present project aims to extend the technological and conceptual means of generating and managing musical sequences based on rhythmic data retrieved "live" from the performance of one or more musicians. In the context of interaction between computer systems and performers, these means will make it possible to re-inject information gathered in real-time from an improvisation session later into that session. Contemporary analytical theories that study the rhythmical activity of musical discourse provide the general heuristic framework of the project. The objective is to derive strategies from these theories that will produce the desired type of interaction before creating functional prototypes that will be tested in real improvisational settings. Beyond the concrete applications this research will produce, the conjunction of analytical theories and the development of interactive systems will be the object of further reflection that will focus on possible extensions of this research. Expected to last two years, directed by Professor Dr. Silvio Ferraz, this post-doctoral research will be carried out by Dr. Stéphan Schaub at the Instituto de Artes of the University of Campinas, Brazil (Unicamp) in collaboration with: the Departamento de Música at the University of São Paulo, Brazil (USP), the Institut de Recherche et Coordination Acoustique Musique (IRCAM), in Paris, France, the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS-CAMS) in Paris, France, and the improvisation group Orchestre Errante from São Paulo, Brazil. Certain axes of research suggested in this project will continue the project directed by Professor Dr. Silvio Ferraz "O computador como espaço de composição e performance musicais" (Fapesp: 03/01253-8) and will, in part, dovetail with a project directed by Professor Dr Fernando Iazzetta "Processos musicais interativos" (Fapesp: 08/08632-8). (AU)