Rasper: A mechatronic noise-intoner

Abstract

Over the past few decades, there has been an increasing number of musical instruments and works of sound art that incorporate robotics and mechatronics. This paper proposes a new approach in classification of such works and focuses on those whose ideological roots can be sought in Luigi Russolo’s noise-intoners (intonarumori). It presents a discussion on works in which mechatronics is used to investigate new––and traditionally perceived as “extra-musical”––sonic territories, and introduces Rasper: a new mechatronic noise-intoner that features an electromechanical apparatus to create noise physically, while regulating it rhythmically and timbrally.