The Laptop Orchestra at UI

The Laptop Orchestra at University of Iowa represents a technical, aesthetic and social research opportunity for students and faculty. The ensemble is open to anyone who is interested in exploring aspects of the creation, performance and development of multimedia works. While music and software serve as a focal point, participants are encouraged to develop ideas collaboratively, contributing their own area of expertise and learning about other disciplines. This approach enables the exchange of ideas between a computer programmer and a dancer or an instrumental performer and a data robotics engineer.

Over the course of the 2015-16 academic season, LOUi is beginning an investigation into the role and types of performance a laptop ensemble can present. The goal is to explore the elements of performance and a range of musical ideas by focusing the creative energy on performing the works of composers beyond the Iowa community and then creating works in reaction to lessons learned. The Fall semester is devoted to the performance of four to six works, some of which are brand new, and that approach the ensemble in different ways. The emphasis is to not spend time in the particulars of developing a work, but rather to observe what others have done and use the opportunity to focus on the act of performance and develop criteria for a performance/work that successfully challenges and supports a performer(s) and audience(s). The spring semester will serve as a time to develop new works that implement lessons that have been learned and explore the affordances that a focus on performance has created. One unique opportunity that results from having played others peoples music in the first semester is an opportunity to collaborate with students and faculty at other institutions in the second semester. This collaboration could involve sharing sonic ideas or even sharing a performance across multiple ensembles. The non-hierarchical structure of the laptop ensemble creates a pedagogical space for a range of people to emerge as leaders throughout the assertion of their unique skill-set and to expand collaborative dexterity.

- Christopher Jette 2015