Principles of Instrument and System Design for LaptOperas

In this article, we explore practical and artistic considerations of instrument design and the creation of an instrument ensemble control system for The Furies: A LaptOpera, an opera for laptop orchestra and live vocalists based on the Greek tragedy Electra. We outline the artistic principles that guided the creation of the rope instrument and, specifically, our use of instrument design to forge direct and visceral connections between the music, the narrative, and the relationship between characters. This discussion is followed by an overview of the practical considerations that inspired the creation of an instrument ensemble control system for the opera and the principles that guided this system's design. Through a detailed description of the development of the rope instrument, the growth of this instrument through the course of the opera, and the design of the instrument ensemble control system, this paper offers tools and reflections on the potential of instrument design to invigorate an embodied connection to opera and useful design strategies to support rehearsal and performance of evening-length multimedia works.