Touch

piano and live electronics | 2002

Touch represents an experiment in transparent electronics. I wanted to create a performing environment where technology expands, magnifies and projects the musical gestures of the performer. Four identical musical objects are observed from different points of view, each time using a different transformation tool in order to emphasize a different aspect of piano playing: touch, resonance, the harmonic and melodic dimensions.

The performer is completely in control of the technology and external intervention is kept to a minimum. I achieved this by creating an interface that reacts to the nuances of musical performance in a very subtle way. Specific attention has been given to the detection of the attack of the piano sound: the pianist’s touch triggers each time the whole transformation process.

Technical Notes

The performance requires another person to operate the computer and control the sound diffusion.

The electronics consist in a MaxMSP software patch. The score indicates which “performance environment” needs to be loaded at the beginning of each section.

Technical requirements for the performance (between brackets minimum requirements):

computer (Mac or PC) running MaxMSP
4 in/8 out audio interface (4 in/4 out)
1 small condenser microphone to be placed inside the piano for detection
2 condenser microphones on stands for piano amplification
Reverb unit
6-point sound diffusion system with 6 speakers: front L/R 1-2, sides L/R 3-4, rear L/R 5-6 (4-point, front L/R 1-2, rear L/R 3-4)

First performance
Laure Pinsmail, piano | 2002 | Arena Foyer, Birmingham Conservatoire

Download the score.