Capturing the contemporary conductor: Using motion-capture technology to study conducting gesture

Oliver, Benjamin, Polfreman, Richard, Metcalf, Cheryl and Halford, Daniel, James (2018) Capturing the contemporary conductor: Using motion-capture technology to study conducting gesture. Oxford Conducting Institute International Conducting Studies Conference 2018, St Anne's College, Oxford, United Kingdom. 21 - 23 Jun 2018.

Abstract

In September 2017 seven professional instrumentalists and three conductors (Holly Mathieson, Geoffrey Paterson and myself) convened in the Biomechanics Laboratory at the University of Southampton to rehearse and record my brand new three movement composition Captured: Three Mo-Cap Conducting Experiments for Small Ensemble. More than one hundred motion-capture markers were attached to each conductor (face, hands and body) following a specially designed and tested protocol, which allowed the multi-disciplinary project team to capture precise three-dimensional representations of all movements made by the conductors with a high-end, high-resolution motion capture system. A multi-track audio recording of the ensemble and a wide range of video documentation were also collected. The mo-cap data set and other documentation is currently being prepared for future study by the team and other researchers through open online access. In this paper I will discuss my contribution to the project outlining some of the key conducting gestures I identified for capture through drawing on my own conducting experience and a review of relevant literature, considering how my compositional approach and preoccupations were informed by the unique exploitation of the new work and reflecting on my experiences as a conducting laboratory guinea pig. I will also use the data- set to undertake a comparative analysis of how the three conductors approached a short section ofCaptured.This project is funded by the British Academy and the Leverhulme Trust. We are grateful to VICON who provided additional cameras and technical support.

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Contributors

Author: Cheryl Metcalf

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