The Body As An Instrument

US New book on gestural systems in live electronic music 19/01/22

A new book from Mary Mainsbridge is coming out in February exploring the Body as Instrument. It looks at how musicians interact with movement-controlled performance systems, producing sounds with their individual physical signature. It also features interviews and contributions from Laetitia Sonami, Atau Tanaka, Pamela Z, Julie Wilson-Bokowiec, Lauren Sarah Hayes and many more. It's out on the 22nd February and is now available for pre-order.

Here's a bit more info:

Using motion tracking technology, performers can translate physical actions into sonic processes, creating or adapting novel gestural systems that transcend the structures and constraints of conventional musical instruments. Interviews with influential artists in the field, Laetitia Sonami, Atau Tanaka, Pamela Z, Julie Wilson-Bokowiec, Lauren Sarah Hayes, Mark Coniglio, Garth Paine and The Bent Leather Band expose the transformational impact of motion sensors on musicians' body awareness and abilities.

Coupled with reflection on author-composed works, the book analyses how the body as instrument metaphor informs relationships between performers, their bodies and self-designed instruments. It also examines the role of experiential design strategies in developing robust and nuanced gestural systems that mirror a performer's movement habits, preferences and skills, inspiring new physical forms of musical communication and diverse musical repertoire.

Pre-order the book and find out more here: https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/body-as-instrument-9781501368547/

About the author [midierror]: midierror makes nifty Max For Live devices, innovative music hardware, award winning sample packs and hosts a podcast speaking to people in the music world.