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.