Different parts of the installation were developed separately and in the end joined in a single software.
Music
For the music part we used three different type of chords. Through interaction the users can choose chords and create different type of music. Every chord is composed of three or four single notes. Mixing the notes in different ways it’s possible to make different sound atmospheres. For our installation we used Major, Minor and Seventh chords.
The major chords are composed of three notes and give an idea of happiness and joy.
The minor chords are composed of three notes, they change from the major chords for the Modal note. They give a gloomy and sad atmosphere.
The seventh chords are composed of four notes, obtained by adding the Seventh note to the major chords. They are used to connect chords musically and give an idea of instability.
Graphics
Graphics have been developed for visualizing the three variables of the interaction: time, chord and rhythm. Time is shown through pulsing circles; they pulse every 4 seconds and give a feedback to the user about time. Chords are shown by color (magenta, green or blue); the user chooses which kind of chord to play (major, minor or seventh). Rhythm is visualized only for the user who plays solo tracks. It’s shown through smaller circles that pulse according to the speed of the rhythm.
Interaction
The installation is activated when someone stays still in the active area at least 2 seconds. If he simply crosses the active area without stopping, nothing happens. If, instead, he stays still 2 seconds, the installation is activated, a graphic path will appear at his feet and audio will play. The first user who comes in the active area is identified as “chord user”. He can choose which chord will be played next (major, minor or seventh). If another user comes in the active area while the first one is still playing, this one is identified as “solo user”. Solo users have a different graphic path on their feet: they can choose the kind of rhythm of a solo singer. If others users come in the active area, they all will be identified as “solo user”, everyone with a different solo singer track. If the first user doesn’t follow his path, graphics and audio disappear. So the second one, the “solo user”, becomes the “chord user”. If he keeps on following the path he will play music: if not the path will be deleted. If again he stays still, he’s newly activated.
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