| Keywords: | extended techniques, piano, microphones, experimentation, collaboration between composers and performers |
| Duration: | Started in 2019 |
| Period: | 21st century music |
| Musician type: | keyboard |
| Host institution: | Leuven University |
The appearance of microphones and loudspeakers allowed composers to explore new musical territories. Until then, grinding noises coming from mechanic of piano or sounds emitted by the pianist were only perceived as disturbing the performance. With the development of amplification, those noises have become sounds that composers could use in a musical discourse.
New pianistic techniques have appeared: inner and outer parts of the instrument are investigated with the hand or with various accessories, while, in turn, properties of these accessories are revealed through their use inside the piano. The pianist himself becomes a study object: he is asked to make amplified finger snaps or tongue clicks, he has to speak, to sing or to whistle in a kind of choreographed show.
Live electronics have brought new steps of amplification, increasing virtuosity, filtering resonance, working on acoustic diffusion. The pianist can then interact and play along with live electronics, expanding the possibilities.
This research will be done from the performers’ perspective, but in collaboration with different composers for experimenting new amplified piano / pianist music.
