

Auckland Art Week
2013 October 17th
2008
Live musical performance with
SCOUT interactive AV accompaniment
Music : Tim Gruchy & James
Pinker
SCOUT
: LIVE is a live performance by myself and James Pinker.
Primarily it utilises the original sound elements we created for SCOUT
the installation. These we recompose live through the performance. A
number of other elements have also been added.
First and foremost is the addition of beats none of which appear in the
original soundscapes. There are also some contextual found samples.
In performance James is triggering and moulding all the rhythmic
elements plus some other layers.
I am triggering and live mixing a range of other components, typically
up to seven per section.
There are eight sections to the work that progress and evolve fairly
seamlessly.
I am using a new interface called Leap Motion, much like the theremin
of old it allows me to control and manipulate certain parameters
through hand and arm movements, but in a highly resolute and gestural
recognising way. This has a direct relationship to my earlier work in
the 80s and 90s with the Mandala system as seen best in Synthing.
I also like it's relationship to the classical musical conductor.
The third performer in this is SCOUT herself.
This happens in two ways.
She is listening to what James and I are doing and responding with
sounds and visuals as well as responding to direct audience input be it
touch or audio.
These responses are in the same realm as her day to day responses but
heightened considerably by the placement of our PA system.
On this occasion I purposely chose not to directly control SCOUT in any
way beyond her usual interface.
James and I have been working in the studio on soundscapes for various
art projects for around 6 years now since having originally met as
touring band members on Big Day Out in 1996. This performance marks our
first foray into live performance together and we intend it to be the
first of many.