Satellite Gamelan: Microtonal Sonification Using a Large Consort of Mobile Phones

Abstract

This paper describes an approach to sonification based on an iPhone app created for multiple users to explore a microtonal scale generated from harmonics using the combination product set method devised by tuning theorist Erv Wilson. The app is intended for performance by a large consort of hand-held mobile phones where phones are played collaboratively in a shared listening space. Audio consisting of handbells and sine tones is synthesised independently on each phone. Sound projection from each phone relies entirely on venue acoustics unaided by mains-powered amplification. It was designed to perform a microtonal composition called Transposed Dekany which takes the form of a chamber concerto in which a consort of players explore the properties of an microtonal scale. The consort subdivides into families of instruments that play in different pitch registers assisted by processes that are enabled and disabled at various stages throughout the performance. The paper outlines Wilson’s method, describes its current implementation and considers hypothetical sonification scenarios for implementation using different data with potential applications in the physical world.

Pemanfaatan Aplikasi Smartphone Sebagai Subtitusi Perangkat Gamelan Degung Konvensional Dalam Pembelajaran

“…Hal tersebut relevan dengan pernyataan Nart (2016) bahwa proses pendidikan musik yang efektif dan efisien didukung dengan pengaplikasian perangkat lunak yang tepat sesuai dengan materi yang akan diajarkan pendidik. Aplikasi gamelan salah satunya, hadir pada perangkat smartphone mampu menawarkan fleksibilitas pada penggunaannya (Schiemer & Havryliv, 2005). Aplikasi musik degung ini berpotensi memecahkan permasalahan pembelajaran musik tradisi di sekolah-sekolah di Jawa barat.…”

A Landscape of Design: Interaction, Interpretation and the Development of Experimental Expressive Interfaces

“…Two choices are immediately apparent: mobile phones or wearable devices. Using an application, mobiles could work to provide a sonification unique to each phone and may work in concert with others [24]. Wearable devices, such as the MozziDuino 3 could be used to allow humans to interact the environment without relying on being able to download and application.…”

Wireless Body-worn Sound System for Dance and Music Performance

“…In recent decades, various artists and technology developers have carried out different kinds of projects involving the design and implementation of mobile sound systems (Di Scipio 2003: 271; Tanaka and Gemeinboeck 2006: 26; Schiemer and Havryliv 2007; Weismann 2015). Hahn and Bahn designed an original interactive platform for dance that included a ‘sensor-speaker performer’ interface (Hahn and Bahn 2002: 231–2).…”