CONCERT PIECE
where the <body> begins was a concert curated by Gwen Howard engaging with cyborgism in contemporary music.
I collaborated with Hugh Beckwith (tenor) to produce a composition for solo singer and electronics.
The Parting Glass [4min 22sec]
We produced the piece using MIDI implementation of the ‘Leap Motion’ controller, which employs the latest hand-tracking technology to allow touch-less control of digital parameters.
We responded to the topic of cyborgism by reworking a folk song through intense electronic processing. We wanted to highlight at once the opportunities of technology-assisted performance and the uncanny elements of the digital.
Using the Leap Motion, Hugh controlled spatial effects and panning, as well as the rate and dry/wet parameters of an auto filter, a composite bitcrush/grain delay effect, and the level of an accompanying soundscape. The soundscape was constructed entirely from recordings of Hugh exploring extended vocal techniques.
Client:
Gwen Howard
Project Duration:
2 months
Date:
April-May 2022
leonard maassen 