USING TIMBRE IN A COMPUTER-BASED IMPROVISATION SYSTEM
William Tsun-Yuk Hsu · 2005
Timbre is an important structural element in nonidiomatic free improvisation [1]. An interactive software system that improvises in such a context should be able to analyze and respond to gestures with rich timbral information. We have been working on a system that improvises with British saxophonist John Butcher, whose complex vocabulary incorporates extended saxophone playing techniques, amplification and feedback [16]. We classify Butcher’s saxophone sounds into broad perceptual categories that might be useful for improvisers. The general behavior of our system is responsive to real-time timbral variations. The emphasis is on working with abstract sound, gesture, and texture, rather than more traditional parameters such as pitch and harmony. 1.