Anna Troisi - research projects

A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT USING IN VITRO NEURAL NETWORKS (ICMC 2011)

Eduardo R. Miranda, Slawomir J Nasuto, Anna R. Troisi, Julia Downes, Antonino Chiaramonte, Matthew Spencer.

This paper presents a musical instrument, which uses in vitro neuronal networks to synthesise sounds. Cultures of dissociated neurones are grown on a dish with embedded rectangular array of electrodes (MEA).
Isolated neurones reconnect with one another via
extensive network of synaptically connected projections to form a dense monolayer of neurones. Cultures are provided with stimulation, which influences the cultures activity, and can modify the culture’s state. The core of the sound synthesis engine of our musical instrument is a monophonic additive synthesizer using sinusoidal oscillators. We devised a method to generate frequencies, phase and amplitude values for the oscillators from the electrical activity of the neurones.

It will be presented at Neuroarts Conference 10-2-2011/11-2-2011 Craigie Cinema, Roland Levinsky Building, University of Plymouth.

It has been selected for ICMC 2011 (International Music Conference, University of Huddersfield)

Download paper

CLOUD CHAMBER: A PERFORMANCE INVOLVING REAL TIME TWO-WAY INTERACTION BETWEEN SUBATOMIC RADIOACTIVE PARTICLES AND VIOLINIST (ICMC 2011)

Alexis Kirke, Eduardo Miranda, Antonino Chiaramonte, Anna R. Troisi, Jeff Radtke, Nicholas Fry, Catherine McCabe, Martyn Bull

Development of a new software system for an electroacoustic performance (Alexis Kirke and John Mathias). Radioactive material will be placed in a piece of physical apparatus onstage called a Cloud Chamber, saturated with ethanol and cooled by liquid nitrogen. The subatomic particle tracks in the radioactivity and cosmic radiation are made visible by the Cloud Chamber, and a camera above the chamber will follow the particle tracks and convert them into synthesized music which accompanies the violin.

The image from the camera is also magnified onto a screen on the stage.

ICCMR members Anna Troisi and Antonino Chiaramonte (known collectively as Electroshop) worked with Prof Eduardo Miranda to produce an advanced visual recognition to sound interface called the Cloud Catcher. The Catcher tracks subatomic particles and uses them to drive the control “knobs” on a digital sound synthesizer in real time. The software is developed using Max/MSP patch.

Article on "Wired" by Olivia Solon

Download Paper

Neuroscience

Use of dotplot method from bioinformatics for the detection of changes in patterns of brain activity according to musical tonality (work in progress)

Music performance

Development of a new hardware/software system for an electroacoustic performance called Electroshop, performed for Peninsula Art Festival 2010, University of Plymouth and Nuova Consonanza Festival 2009, Rome. (Partners: “Nuova Consonanza”, ICCMR, University of Plymouth and Electroshop.) This project implies the use of sculptures, “Arduino” boards and Max/MSP patches. See Scultpures section in this website.


	E-MoTion Electronic Music and use of ICT for young at risk of exclusion Association for Culture, Sport and Leisure (Italy) – Leading partner Liverpool Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UK) Centre for Innovation and Development in Education (Romania) Barcelona Media Foundation - Pompeu Fabra University (Spain) Interdisciplinary Centre for Computer Music Research (UK) European-funded Lifelong Learning Programme

Background
As in the recent EC communication (Communication of the Commission to the European Council and Parliament, to the European Socio-economic Committee and to the Committee of Regions – “Lifelong Learning for Knowledge, Creativity and Innovation” 11.12.2007), early school leaving, completion of upper secondary studies and crucial competences are still the core of the issue. Since 2000, the situation has improved; yet, this is not enough to reach the EU standards set for 2010. In some countries, results have become even worse in the years 2000 – 2006. Very high school drop out records still affect a number of countries (higher than 20% in 2006). In Europe, too many young people drop out of school without those competences that are fundamental for the knowledge society and to obtain a job. They face the risk of social exclusion; furthermore, they have been practically excluded from lifelong learning since birth.
A change and innovation in the didactic methodology is indeed the key to reduce premature school drop out, particularly of young people at risk of exclusion (migrants, ethnic groups, difficult socio-economic background.