MIDI Polyphonic Expression: A Bridge Between Acoustic and Electronic Instrument Experience?

This paper is about MIDI Polyphonic Expression controllers. Since the invention of the synthesizer and computer music instruments a decoupling between performers and sound generators has occurred. Expression has in some ways been lost and the need for performers to physically interact with instruments has not been fulfilled by the proliferation of MIDI keyboards and controllers. Computer music can feel sterile and less expressive than music played with acoustic instruments. The inability of musical controllers to capture expressive gestures makes performing emotionally engaging electronic music difficult for instrumentalists. By looking at the history behind MIDI and MPE and discussing the human need for expression in music, the author gives a framework for an experiment he conducts. By testing several MPE controllers in a systematic way he hopes to answer questions over MIDI Polyphonic Expression’s role in restoring tactility and gestural expression to musical instruments