The Living Instruments Project is an interdisciplinary collaboration between the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music and the Grainger Museum at the University of Melbourne. Supported generously by a Melbourne Engagement Grant, this project multi-sampled the unique Grainger tuned percussion collection and explored ways these samples could then be turned into digital instruments – historically preserving the sound of the original instruments, but also investigating ways these sounds might be more widely accessed.

The following playlist by Interactive Composition students at the University of Melbourne reflects this sampling and instrument building process, and importantly examines how contemporary makers are not just preservers of sound but creative agents. Using these digital sampled instruments, (and a little creative freedom!), this playlist represents a range of new works reflecting the sampling process and a sound world from our own time.

This exhibition is presented within HOW IT PLAYS: INNOVATIONS IN PERCUSSION ONLINE
How it plays is a collaborative exhibition and performance project, involving the Grainger Museum, Federation Handbells (Museums Victoria/Creative Victoria), Speak Percussion, the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music, and Melbourne School of Design.

The exhibition is on display at the Grainger Museum from 8 May 2019 to June 2020 – Exhibition Curator: Heather Gaunt, Artistic Advisor: Peter Neville.