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14 April 2021 @ 4:00 pm

Resistance, Mastery and Agency in Musical Instruments

The FAAB is a double bass modified by electronics, embedded signal processing and a built-in speaker. Through this design, the instrument’s strings become prone to entering into self-oscillating states of feedback. By demonstrating the FAAB and discussing its design, Adam Pultz Melbye will address technical as well as performative concerns which arise when engaging with an instrument that exhibits a certain sense of autonomy. 

This forum was held on 14 April 2021, and moderated by Ciaran Frame, PhD artist, composer, and a PhD candidate from SensiLab.  

Adam Pultz Melbye is a double bass player, improvisor, composer and sound artist. A fascination with resonance, acoustics and psychoacoustics has led to the development of new instrumental techniques and approaches to the double bass that causes the instrument to sing and vibrate in unexpected ways.

Recently, much of his time has gone into the development of double bass-specific performance systems, based on the dialogue between acoustic instruments and digital technology, often using feedback as a mediator.

He is currently undertaking practice-led PhD research at Sonic Arts Research Centre, Queen’s University in Belfast, Northern Ireland.