Assistant Professor of Music and Theater Arts Brett Masteller has been invited to attend three different music conferences this spring semester. On Saturday February 24 he presented three pieces during the conference of the SEAMUS, the Society for Electro-acoustic Music in the United States, hosted by the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA. He performed these pieces using a variety of electronic instruments including modular synthesizers, homemade electronics, as well as an electric bass guitar.
On Saturday March 2, Professor Masteller attended Electronic Music Midwest at Lewis University in Romeoville, IL where he presented his piece BowMu STUCK MoBue, performed by percussionist Patti Cudd. A link to the program notes and audio samples are below as well as a link to a stream from the conference.
Percussionist Patti Cudd performed Professor Masteller’s BowMu STUCK MoBue
View BowMu STUCK MoBue details.
View BowMu STUCK MoBue concert stream.
Another performance of BowMu STUCK MoBue will be given at MOXsonic, the Missouri Experimental Sonic Arts Festival, operated by the University of Central Missouri Center for Music Technology. The festival takes place at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, MO.
BowMu STUCK MoBue is a piece that embraces the ideas of indeterminacy, algorithmic composition and structured improvisation. The indeterminacy comes from the fact that the performer is allowed to choose their instruments based on a specific set of parameters. The algorithmic composition is an aspect of the computer programming, created by the composer, which involves pitch and amplitude tracking of the chosen instruments as well as audio spectrum analysis/resynthesis using a Fast Fourier Transform. The pitch and amplitude data is used to synthesize sounds and create a duet between the human performer and computer, therefore the computer is reliant on the human and the human is also influenced by the computer to realize elements of a structured improvisation. It is a feedback network, or could also be viewed as a symbiotic relationship.
Tags: Performing and Fine Arts
