Only One Of Many

Algorithmic synthesis and composition for dance

Only One Of Many Algorithmic synthesis and composition for dance

with Sebastien Roux

Sebastien Roux and I met on this specific music composition for dance performance choreographed by D.D. Dorvillier. The first idea of this project was to work on an algorithmic composition producing never repeating sounds. We meant sounds that was the most distant sonically from each other. We designed for this purpose a specific framework written in Python programming language that could generate the entire music piece. Only synthesis was used in the form of several “instruments”. The parameters of these instruments were randomized but with specific algorithm to enhance the sonic “contrast” between each successive sounds according to specific sonic features and cues. Namely we used pitch or brightness, length, roughness, amplitude envelope and dynamics, spatialization.. These datas were scrambled in a way that we get the more sparse ensemble of sounds. This goal focused us on the concepts of distance and sparsity in the listening experience.

Description of the project from http://www.sebastienroux.net/


How does your perception of a dance or music sequence change when it is combined with a different choreography or a different musical composition? In Only One of Many, composer Sébastien Roux and choreographer DD Dorvillier invite you to experience the six possible pairs of four elements: Dance 1, Dance 2, Music 1, Music 2. What meanings, impressions and images are conjured, and what unexpected relationships to listening and looking are stirred?

D1 = Dance made with one repeated movement

M1 = Music made with one repeated sound

D2 = Dance made with movements that never repeat

M2 = Music made with sounds that never repeat (for more informations about M2, check Never Repeated Never Repeating Music in the Algorithmic Music section)


Example of M2 :

Only One Of Many