Children of Grainger: Leather Instruments for Free Music

Grainger’s Free Music remains a rich source of discovery for contemporary Australian musicians. Free Music represents a significant departure point for electronic musicians and instrument makers searching for new musical language, form and expression. This paper presents research undertaken by the Bent Leather Band exploring Grainger’s Free Music ideas within a 21 century music-making context embracing live improvisation, instrument and software design. Research outcomes presented in this paper includes a range of creative works; meta-serpent wind controllers, the 4 generation of the light-harp controller, new MAX-based software engines for signal processing, control-modes and strategies for the instruments and music including Bent Leather Band’s latest collection of works “Children of Grainger”. This paper discusses technical issues confronting the contemporary electronic instrument builder and presents Bent Leather Band’s aim to develop playable instruments.