XIX (2025)
Articles

Feedback System and Performative Expression in Totem

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  • Giovanni Verga
Giovanni Verga
Accademia di Belle Arti di Frosinone, Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera, Italia
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36253/music_tec-15470

Published 2025-06-10

Keywords

  • feedback system,
  • live electroacoustic music,
  • performative gesture

How to Cite

Verga, G. (2025). Feedback System and Performative Expression in Totem. Musica/Tecnologia, 19(1), 79–93. https://doi.org/10.36253/music_tec-15470

Copyright (c) 2025 Giovanni Verga

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Abstract

This paper delves into the compositional process and performance of the work Totem, a piece I composed in 2019 triggered by the desire to explore and manage the unpredictability of feedback system. The paper outlines the development of the created system that leverages physical feedback, by incorporating acoustic instruments and exploring their resonant properties. An analysis of instruments preparation, system components, and the performative gestures highlights the symbiotic relationship between the musician and the feedback mechanism. The dramaturgical aspect emphasizes the ritualistic interactions of the performer with the feedback system, symbolizing a journey towards self-acceptance and challenging societal norms. The paper also discusses the technical setup, including the system in Reaper and Max, score, spatialization technique, and the collaborative dynamics between the performers. Insights from the performer’s experience further contextualize the performative and sonic exploration within Totem, offering a comprehensive overview of the piece’s approach to live electronic music performance.

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