Interfaces Montréal

Digital Sound

Cléo Palacio-Quintin

Flutist-Composer

Hyper-flute…from instrumental gesture…to digital processing

Flutist-composer Cléo Palacio-Quintin is a multitalented musician who, over the last several years, has devoted much of her time to an original artistic approach blending elements of improvisation, composition and interpretation. Always open to new means of expression and passionate about creativity in all its forms, Ms. Palacio-Quintin often contributes to premières, multidisciplinary improvisational performances, and the composition of instrumental and mixed pieces for various groups. The integration of new technologies is essential to all her creative efforts.
In order to explore every dimension of sound produced by the French flute, Cléo Palacio-Quintin has developed and honed the various resources and interpretative techniques for the instrument. The end result of her research and efforts is the hyper-flute. Connected to a computer using electronic sensors, this flute allows the composer to control digital processing in real time in order to create new worlds of electro-acoustic sound. In January 2007, she will commence her Doctoral studies at Université de Montréal and, under the tutelage of Marcelo Wanderley ofthe Music Technology department at McGill University, will begin development of a new prototype as well as the composition of original musical pieces for the hyper-flute.

When curiosity got the best this accomplished instrumentalist and she plunged into the era of digital sound, she was concerned about retaining control of her sound. To ensure this, it was necessary for the computer to become a virtual extension of her acoustic instrument, which she had already mastered.

Following several years spent enhancing the richness of the acoustic sound produced by her flute, it became obvious to Cléo Palacio-Quintin that she needed to explore the use of digital technologies in order to further develop her expressive horizons. Although the computer allows her to expand her sound palette exponentially, it is essential that, as an interpreter, she maintains the intimate relationship that exists between her body, her instrument, and the sounds it produces. The interaction between the flute and the computer is therefore the key to the success of her artistic approach. Cléo uses electronic sensors to convert physical energy into electricity. In essence, these sensors represent the bridge between the human world and the world of machines.