Mulholland Revisited

Héloïse Garry

Mulholland Revisited
Image credit: Héloïse Garry

Abstract:

This project explores the intersection of real-time algorithmic sound generation and live piano performance through ChucK and MIDI-based interaction. Inspired by the interplay between dream and reality in David Lynch’s “Mulholland Drive” (2001), the piece utilizes a series of ChucK scripts that dynamically respond to the pianist’s input, shaping an evolving soundscape. The system employs MIDI-triggered processes to generate and manipulate electronic textures in real-time, expanding the piano’s expressive range beyond its traditional acoustic boundaries.

The work is structured around four key sonic gestures, each corresponding to a moment in “Mulholland Drive”: (1) a synthesized telephone bell signifying Diane’s psychological rupture, (2) a dynamically generated arpeggio that mirrors the tension of her conversation with Camilla, and (3-4) progressively complex textural layers that blur the line between live performance and algorithmic sound synthesis.

By integrating reactive electronic sound with live piano, this piece demonstrates how real-time programming can transform the piano from a traditional interface into a multidimensional, interactive system.