On making and playing an electronically-augmented saxophone

Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression (NIME) 2006

Paris, June 4-6 2006

A low-tech electronically-augmented saxophone has been developed with a modular palette of sensors and their corresponding control interfaces. This paper describes the modules and proposes mapping strategies derived from a reflection on the various uses of live-electronics and an analysis of the functions of gestures applied to the saxophone. It also discusses the functional mutation of the performer’s gesture induced by the electronic augmentation of an acoustic instrument.