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Ecoacoustic and shamanic technologies for multimedia composition and performance

Matthew Burtner

Organised Sound April 1, 2005 DOI: 10.1017/s1355771805000622 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed
Topics Shamanism
Key points Argues that traditional Alaskan culture and shamanic ritual objects inspired new multimedia instruments, and that 'ecoacoustics' ties musical processes to environmental systems, transforming composition, performance, and instrument design.

Abstract

The author's close connection to traditional Alaskan culture has inspired the creation and implementation of new multimedia instruments based on the use of ritual objects in shamanic cultures of the far north. Simultaneously, the musical processes articulated by this music are structurally tied to environmental systems in a technique discussed here as ‘ecoacoustics’. In this work, performer/composer interaction, musical composition theory, multimedia performance, and musical instrument design have been transformed in response to these influences.

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