Electro Contra: Innovation for Tradition

Abstract

Technological interventions in American traditional fiddle and dance music are presented and specific design and development problems are considered. As folk dance communities and events explore the notion of incorporating modern electronic dance music into the experience certain inherent problems are exposed. Maintaining strict musical forms that are required for the traditional choreography, maintaining the fluidity and control of live bands, and interacting with the other performers require new software tools. Initial solutions developed in Ableton Live are described and show a successful method of solving these challenges.