Cameron Undy

Research Student - PhD

Thesis Title

Algorithmic Transformations of the Regular Pulse, African and Clave Rhythm Family - Impact Testing and Analysis for Creative Application and Listener Preference.

Research Project

My aim is to create computational, integer based algorithms which transform the standardised codifications of African and clave rhythms in order to generate novel transforms of those same rhythms and in some cases, altogether new rhythms which hope to inspire the creation of novel music. A part of this process is to understand the core organising principles of African/clave and form hypotheses about their nature.

The algorithms devised are coded in MAX MSP for consistent audible outputs which aid in assessing there appeal for creative application and subsequently learning how to perform them manually.

The two basic premises at the core of this process are: African/clave rhythms exist in culture with more than one expression pertaining to the number of regular pulses used to articulate them; and any given rhythm may generate a complementary one.

The findings from the auto-empirical study will inform the development of a testing sequence to be conducted among a group of professional musicians familiar with African/clave rhythm in order to generalise any findings. It is expected at the outset that the empirical method will benefit the creation of effective and novel musical outputs.

Qualifications

• Masters in Music Performance

Publications

"An Algorithm for the Human Embodiment and Computer Realisation of African/clave"

Recorded musical works:
(Cameron Undy, Ghost Frequency, Earshift Music, EAR063, 2021)
(Cameron Undy Ghost Frequency II - Resonance, Earshift Music, EAR083, 2024)

For a full listing of my publications please see my website.

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