ET-Extended Trombone

ET, Extended Trombone

Abstract
Are search engines musical? Can we use them in combination with sound libraries as a direct route to creating sonic structures? Is it possible to perform a sound library?

Keywords
Configurable composition, Extended instrumental technique, sound libraries, MaxMSP

ABOUT
ET Extended Trombone was started with support from the University of Edinburgh’s DTRF (Development Trust Research Fund). The fund helped initiate a new project with virtuoso Trombonist John Kenny. The purpose of the research was to develop a sound library of John Kenny’s extended playing techniques and use this library as a source for creating a new piece of music for computer and trombone and also to produce a CD of the library that is available to the public for re-use and remixing through custom made software.

Project schedule December 2004-March 2007

Sound Library Recording (Stage 1) December 2004
Recordings of trombone multiphonics

Sound Library recording (Stage 2) February 2005
Recordings of trombone multiphonics with female trombonist.

By this stage, we had generated a library of sounds that are quite probably unique across the world. John Kenny’s lip and voice multiphonic technique is very rare and he is one of the masters of this art. Emily White is one of John’s prodigies and has also mastered the skill. We now have a largely complete range of lip and voice multiphonics for Tenor Trombone with both male and female voices.

Live performance February 2005
Performance at the dialogues festival. http://www.dialogues2005.com

Sound Library recording (Stage 3)
Recordings of improvisations cut up and made into an informal library

This library is of variable quality. At this stage, I began to develop a naming and archive system. A way of naming sound files was used to enable real-time categorisation and look-up of sound types to create consistent and reliably sympathetic sonic structures while performing live with the trombone.

The files are to be stored on another University of Edinburgh creation, our online database called Infrar.ed, which is searchable.
http://blue.caad.ed.ac.uk/infrared/
I can dynamically search for features within the filenames to create meaningful relationships based on specific search criteria. These are then collected into groups and downloaded, then used in live performance to structure spontaneous material with or without a live musician.

February 2006
Presentation at the Access Sound File Conference in Dundee.
This talk introduced the extended trombone project as part of a developing trend in computer music with roots in historical composition techniques. Tightly controled discreet sonic elements are combined to create complex, randomised overarching structures.

March-Sept 2006, Project pause

Jan 2007-March 2007, project completion with live performance and production of CD documentation.

SEMPRE Day Conference, Composition and Computer-Assisted Music-Making

Title ET - Extended Trombone, making music with sound libraries Abstract Are search engines musical? Can we use them in combination with sound libraries as a direct route to creating sonic structures? Is it possible to perform a sound library? Sound library and categorisation systems are essential tools in sound design and computer-based composition. Categorised thinking about sound in order to create compositional structures is not a new idea, the work of Edgar Varèse illustrates the potential for “library thinking” well. Conventionally, a library of sounds will be searchable by keywords relating to a particular sound and this is useful for getting the right (or nearly right) sound for a particular task. We have found that search results reveal structures that can be musically useful, especially in improvised and live performance contexts. John Kenny has been developing extended techniques for the trombone across his entire career and we have been working together to develop a sound library of some of these effects. We have been using the library to create live performance structures and have also been experimenting with using live musical input to search the library and display results. Working in this way permits the roles of the two musical agents (performer / computer) to switch responsibility from leader to follower whenever this is required. Keywords Configurable composition, Extended instrumental technique, sound libraries, MaxMSP, improvisation with computers Resources Martin Parker; http://www.tinpark.com John Kenny; http://www.carnyxscotland.co.uk Bibliography Russolo, L. (1913). Coral Musica Futurista The art of noise, LTM Publishing / DRA http://www.emusic.com/samples/m3u/song/10876185/13556569.m3u Tufte, E. R. (1990). Envisioning information. Cheshire, Conn. (P.O. Box 430, Cheshire 06410), Graphics Press. Varèse, E. (1924). Hyperprism, for small orchestra and percussion. London,, Curwen. Webern, A. (1929). Symphonie, für Klarinette, Bassklarinette, 2 Hörner, Harfe, 1. und 2. Geige, Bratsche, und Violoncell, op. 21. Wien,, Universal Edition.

Trombone Fanfare Duo

This is short trombone fanfare made with two versions of "Virtual John". "Virtual John" is a system that generates material from structures collected from the Sound Library.

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