A Wireless, Real-time, Distributed Music Composition and Performance System

Developed at the University of Huddersfield, United Kingdom, known for its association with the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival and National Sonic Art Forum, Cellmusic presents the performer with a set of composition and performance tools. During a performance, mobile devices communicate with each other, and may create sonic events in a passive (non interactive) mode or influence the performance using the device’s interface. Launched in September 2008, Cellmusic is soon to debut in public performance after having made a number of successful private performances. Its accessibility and portability enable the system to be used by composers and sonic artists who choose to explore a variety of physical environments for composition (such as parks and other public spaces). This paper describes the Java programming environment, the system hierarchy, pieces written for the system, the evolving compositional processes and future considerations for system development.