If you think you hear electric guitar riffs that sound eerily like Mozart while passing Gibson Hall, chances are you are hearing parts of the senior honors project of Peter McLaughlin '10.
With the guidance of the music department, McLaughlin is working to arrange a non-traditional composition with the use of a computer.
"I'm writing music that mixes traditional composition notes on a page and some improvisational elements," he said.
While many computer-generated musical pieces are structured and meant to be played only on the computer, McLaughlin is learning to write music that can also be manipulated when played live.
Working with the software program Max/MSP, McLaughlin has been expanding on the traditional notion of music when combined with an electronic medium.
"The program allows you to write software that doesn't have to be musical," he said. "You can do just about anything [with it]...it's a limitless program."
McLaughlin said he spent the first semester of his senior year working with his advisor, Professor of Music Frank Mauceri, learning how to use Max/MSP.
"When people think of electronic music, they think of things people do in the studio or on a computer...that's less of what I'm interested in," said McLaughlin. "What I'm trying to get into with this project is exploring the possibilities of what you can do in a live setting. All of the pieces I've written so far are for a live performer, with live music."
The program, McLaughlin explained, "takes the live sound and cuts it up and spits it out in different ways."
"A saxophone can take a single note, but you can make a mosaic coming out, with little pieces of sound repitched and filtered in different ways, so it might not even sound like a saxophone," he said.
His honors project work has not been limited to the practice rooms in Gibson. McLaughlin said that he is using his project outside of the classroom, extending his new program skills to his band, The Milkman's Union.
"In the past year, I've explored a lot of [this programming] with my band, and now, often, when we perform live, I have a set up next to my drum set with electronic devices so I can [manipulate sounds] with it," he said.
McLaughlin's project will culminate with a concert, currently set for May, where he will present the music and programs he has composed over the year. He plans to perform with piano player Olivia Madrid '10 and Mauceri, who plays both the tenor and soprano saxophone. McLaughlin will play percussion.
"I've spoken vaguely to other people who want to be involved if I want to write [music] for their instruments," he said.
According to McLaughlin, his final concert will include both musical and theatrical aspects.
"I don't want to reveal too much, but there will be interesting things with special placement of speakers so I can use Studzinski effectively," he said.
McLaughlin's final concert will be open to the public.
In speaking with McLaughlin, his passion for music, and in particular his new compositions, is readily apparent. It comes as no surprise that when discussing plans after graduation, McLaughlin expresses an interest in continuing a career in music.
"We'll have to see what happens to [The Milkman's Union]," he said. "I think we're going to try to keep it together...it's still very much up in the air."