Tangible Scores: Shaping the Inherent Instrument Score

Tangible Scores are a new paradigm for musical instrument design with a physical configuration inspired by graphic scores. In this paper we will focus on the design aspects of this new interface as well as on some of the related technical details. Creating an intuitive, modular and expressive instrument for textural music was the primary driving force. Following these criteria, we literally incorporated a musical score onto the surface of the instrument as a way of continuously controlling several parameters of the sound synthesis. Tangible Scores are played with both hands and they can adopt multiple physical forms. Complex and expressive sound textures can be easily played over a variety of timbres, enabling precise control in a natural manner.