Augmenting traditional instruments with a motion capture system

This paper describes some composition works where the real instruments have been augmented through a motion capture system (Phasespace). While playing his instrument in the traditional way, the player is also controlling some other sound effects by moving his hands: the instrument becomes totally new enlarging the expressive possibilities of the instrument opening new ways of thinking the composition to the author . The player gestures become an essential part of the score itself and the composer has to face the
necessity to compose the gesture while composing the music. In this paper we will address two different musical approaches: an improvisation by Roberto Fabbriciani and a composition by Claudio Ambrosini.