From the Body with the Body: Performing with a Genome-Based Musical Instrument

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: In this paper we present Silico, a new Digital Musical Instrument which ideally represents the performer itself. This instrument is composed by two parts: an interface (a sensor glove), which relies on the movements of the performer’s hand, and a computational engine (a set of patches developed in Max 7), which generates sound events based on the genomic data of the performer.

OBJECTIVES: We want to propose a new reflection on the relation between the body and musical instruments. Moreover, we aim to investigate the voluntary and involuntary aspects of our body, intended as a starting point for a musical performance. As a metaphor of these two layers, we used here the hand and the genome of the performer.

METHODS: We have investigated our objectives through the whole design process of a Digital Musical Instrument, using a practice-based approach.

RESULTS: Our system is a multilayered composed instrument which maps its computational part and its interface on the performer’s body. Silico can be used as a standalone musical instrument to generate music in real time.

CONCLUSION: Our works shows a new path about the use of genomic data in a musical way, as a new perspective of human-computer interaction in a performative contexts.