'AirStorm,' A New Piece for AirSticks and Storm: Gestural Audio-Visual for Electronic Percussionists

Abstract

'AirStorm' is a semi-improvised short 10-min piece for solo AirSticks and physical model visualisation performed by Alon Ilsar and Andrew Bluff respectively. It will be made up of a drum synth, drum samples, other selected samples and room feedback triggered and manipulated by Ilsar on this newly built interface for electronic percussionists. The piece will display some of the capabilities of the AirSticks along with Ilsar's dedication to practicing and composing for this new interface. "AirStorm" will be based around the conferences theme of "Computers, Arts and Data" through the choice and samples and ways are played. The movement data from Ilsar's Airsticks is processed in real-time by Bluff's physics based visualisation engine, Storm. Particles are pushed around a virtual 3D world in response to the movements of the AirSticks and rigid body collision adds a sense of real-world authenticity and complexity. The system responds to drums and movements of the AirSticks with a combination of different visual and physical effects. The real-time visualisations exemplify the movement and sonic complexity of Ilsar's AirSticks performance, providing a visually stimulating and highly synesthetic element to the piece.