Decolonizing the Violin with Active Shoulder Rests (ASRs)

Seth Thorn, and Byron Lahey

Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression

Abstract:

Beginning, amateur, and professional violinists alike make use of a shoulder rest with a typical form factor for ergonomic support. Numerous commercial devices are available. We saturate these inert devices with electronics and actuators to open a new design space for “active shoulder rests” (ASRs), a pathway for violinists to adopt inexpensive and transparent electroacoustic interfaces. We present a dual-mode ASR that features a built-in microphone pickup and parametric control of mixing between sound diffusion and actuation modes for experiments with active acoustics and feedback. We document a modular approach to signal processing allowing quick adaptation and differentiation of control signals, and demonstrate rich sound processing techniques that create lively improvisation environments. By fostering participation and convergence among digital media practices and diverse musical cultures, we envision ASRs broadly rekindling creative practice for the violin, long a tool of improvisation before the triumph of classical works. ASRs decolonize the violin by activating new flows and connectivities, freeing up habitual relations, and refreshing the musical affordances of this otherwise quintessentially western and canonical instrument.

Citation:

Seth Thorn, and Byron Lahey. 2022. Decolonizing the Violin with Active Shoulder Rests (ASRs). Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression. DOI: 10.21428/92fbeb44.91f87875

BibTeX Entry:

  @inproceedings{NIME22_20,
 abstract = {Beginning, amateur, and professional violinists alike make use of a shoulder rest with a typical form factor for ergonomic support. Numerous commercial devices are available. We saturate these inert devices with electronics and actuators to open a new design space for “active shoulder rests” (ASRs), a pathway for violinists to adopt inexpensive and transparent electroacoustic interfaces. We present a dual-mode ASR that features a built-in microphone pickup and parametric control of mixing between sound diffusion and actuation modes for experiments with active acoustics and feedback. We document a modular approach to signal processing allowing quick adaptation and differentiation of control signals, and demonstrate rich sound processing techniques that create lively improvisation environments. By fostering participation and convergence among digital media practices and diverse musical cultures, we envision ASRs broadly rekindling creative practice for the violin, long a tool of improvisation before the triumph of classical works. ASRs decolonize the violin by activating new flows and connectivities, freeing up habitual relations, and refreshing the musical affordances of this otherwise quintessentially western and canonical instrument.},
 address = {The University of Auckland, New Zealand},
 articleno = {20},
 author = {Thorn, Seth and Lahey, Byron},
 booktitle = {Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression},
 doi = {10.21428/92fbeb44.91f87875},
 issn = {2220-4806},
 month = {jun},
 pdf = {16.pdf},
 presentation-video = {https://youtu.be/7qNTa4QplC4},
 title = {Decolonizing the Violin with Active Shoulder Rests ({ASRs})},
 url = {https://doi.org/10.21428%2F92fbeb44.91f87875},
 year = {2022}
}