About the role of mapping in gesture-controlled live computer music

Interactive computer music proposes a number of considerations about what the audience experiences in relationship of what-is-going-on-on-stage and the overall musical result. While a traditional music instrument is a compact tool and 'to play an instrument' has a precise meaning for everybody, the new electro-acoustic instrument is a system consisting of a number of spread out components: sensors and controllers, computer and electronic sound generators, amplifiers and loudspeakers. How to link information between the various parts of this exploded instrument is deeply correlated to new modalities of composing and performing in relationship with how the audience perceives and accepts these new paradigm. We here report our point of view and considerations about the role of 'mapping' derived from our experience both in developing original controllers and in the realization of interactive electro-acoustic performances.