Collective Talent : A Study of Improvisational Group Performance in Music

Abstract

The research presented in this doctoral thesis has been conducted as part of the research program "Support, Survival and Culture" at the Centre for Innovation and Cooperative Technology (CICT), University of Amsterdam, under the supervision of Professor Dr. G. de Zeeuw. This program brought together a broad scope of people with varying interests and backgrounds, such as social sciences, organization sciences, computer science, mathematics, methodology and arts. It was focused on topics that concentrate on the development of social support systems. As a nurturing ground, it has enriched my study with ideas associated with systems research and second order cybernetics. Preface-13-accepted my role within the 'Spinoza' project. It takes courage to accept someone external to actively participate in the music lessons for a full year so intimately as I have had the opportunity to. The 'Sensitive Chords' project drew upon the enthusiastic cooperation and creative responses of the members of my development team. In the first place, I want to thank Bert Bongers, for his invaluable role in the technical realization of Sensitive Chords, including the sensor technology, as well for his relentless support during the majority of presentations and demonstrations with Sensitive Chords. More in general, I want to acknowledge the people at the Institute of Sonology of the Royal Conservatory in the The Hague for their generous concern and support of this project. I want to thank Theo Borsboom for the precise construction of the mechanical components and for building the hardware of the musical instrument. I am very grateful to Günther Rötter for providing me with opportunities to demonstrate Sensitive Chords in Germany and for composing musical licks to be especially used for Sensitive Chords. I also want to acknowledge Marion de Laat, who as well took the challenge to compose five different licks for Sensitive Chords, while knowing that these compositions would never be performed in their original form.