Creating ad hoc instruments with pin&play&perform

Abstract

Drawing from conceptual discussions and a reflection on extended techniques in musical performance, we offer the notion of an ‘ad hoc instrument’ as an instrument constructed during the course of interacting with it. To concretise the idea, we explore the utility of ‘Pin&Play’ technology where interface elements like dials, sliders and buttons are pinned to a conductive substrate. We describe an ad hoc sound mixer and ad hoc synthesizer, and report on our performance experience with them. We conclude by discussing ad hoc instruments in relationship to physical interfaces, live coding, ‘living scores’, and issues in contemporary music performance.