Level: All Max users

South Indian Carnatic music is home to a huge array of fascinating rhythms, composed from algorithms. Rooted in maths and aesthetics, Carnatic music has many facets that can be applied to computer music. In this workshop you will be given an introduction to this tradition, and provided with the opportunity to observe, create, and hack various patches that demonstrate some of these ideas.

Session Learning Outcomes

By the end of this session a successful student will be able to:

• Be capable of reciting a simple rhythmic konnakol phrase

• Be capable of conceiving simple rhythmic algorithms

• Be capable of translating these concepts into simple Max patches

• Understand South Indian rhythmic concepts & terminology such as Tala, Jhati, and Nadai

Session Study Topics

• Learning a konnakol phrase

• Understanding Tala cycles

• Understanding Jhati and Nadai

• Translating rhythmic algorithms into code

Requirements

• A computer and internet connection

• A webcam and mic

• A Zoom account

• Access to a copy of Max 8 (i.e. trial or full license)

About the workshop leader

Dom Aversano is a Valencian and London based composer and percussionist with a particular interest in combining ideas from the South Indian classical and Western music traditions. He has performed internationally as a percussionist, and produced award-winning installation work that has been exhibited in Canada, Italy, Greece, Australia, and the UK.

For a decade Dom has studied South Indian Carnatic music in London and in Chennai. He has studied with mridangam virtuoso Sri Balachandar, the resident percussionist of The Bhavan music centre in London, as well as shorter periods with Somashekar Jois and M N Hariharan.