Pilot Testing

On Thursday 19^th July the very first stage of pilot testing for Architexture III took place. This took place at the Arthur Sykes Rymer Auditorium and was run as a workshop session between a four voice SATB ensemble and composer Prof. Ambrose Field, along with the team from the Audio Lab and a small audience.

During the testing, the quartet were given a sheet containing a collection of short musical passages with varying features such different rhythms, different note lengths or having words. This variety was then utilised by setting the system up such that it could be morphed between a large and a small acoustic. This allowed Prof. Ambrose Field to explore the relationship between musical elements and the virtual acoustic, and how this affects the performers. Setting up in this way allowed for a detailed exploration into how morphing between virtual acoustic spaces affected the overall texture of the sound. Having an open dialogue during the pilot testing also allowed for clear and detailed knowledge as to how the performers and audience were finding the experience and what could be done to ensure they were getting the most out of the system.

This testing helped to develop the ideas behind how Prof. Ambrose Field approaches the overall composition of the piece in order to get the most out of the system from the performers and, in turn, create the best possible experience for the audience.

A couple of short segments from the testing can be seen below.