Tangible Performance Management of Grid-based Laptop Orchestras

Laptop Orchestras (LOs) have recently become a very popular mode of musical expression. They engage groups of performers to use ordinary laptop computers as instruments and sound sources in the performance of specially created music software. Perhaps the biggest challenge for LOs is the distribution, management and control of software across heterogeneous collections of networked computers. Software must be stored and distributed from a central repository, but launched on individual laptops immediately before performance. The GRENDL project leverages proven grid computing frameworks and approaches the Laptop Orchestra as a distributed computing platform for interactive computer music. This allows us to readily distribute software to each laptop in the orchestra depending on the laptop’s internal configuration, its role in the composition, and the player assigned to that computer. Using the SAGA framework, GRENDL is able to distribute software and manage system and application environments for each composition. Our latest version includes tangible control of the GRENDL environment for a more natural and familiar user experience.