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Abstract
SynkroTakt is a technology created by myself and two others that synchronizes tracks of audio being streamed to a multitude of web-enabled devices. I have used this technology as an integral part of several compositions that I have written during my doctoral studies. In these pieces, the audience is asked to get out their web-connected devices and connect to a server to receive and play back audio as part of a live performance. The audio coming from each audience member's device is composed in such a way that it musically interacts with other audience members devices, as well as live music being performed on stage.This convergence of electronic media, live performers, sound spatialization, and audience interaction presents a little-explored area of research, as well as fertile new ground for composition in the 21st century. By asking the audience to take part in the performance, greater levels of engagement between them and the performance can be attained. Additionally, harnessing the power of each audience member's very own digital instrument (their smartphone with its own speaker) can easily change what a live music experience can be, with sound potentially coming from every corner and spot of a performance space. Thus, new music composed for this combination of media, live performers, and concepts stands to transcend being a novelty and experiment.Chapter 1 of my dissertation examines previous experiments, projects, and works that set a precedent for musical pieces of this sort. Chapter 2 details the technology of SynkroTakt, describing how it works and evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of its method of audio track distribution in comparison with the technology from the works of others. Chapter 3 overviews several of my own composition that utilize this audio-streaming technology, noting the pros and cons of each piece, as well as important compositional strategies learned from the creation and performance of each piece. This chapter reviews these pieces in chronological order, while also detailing the development of improvement of the technology. A conclusion reviews the progress made while also looking forward to other implementations of the technology along with possible feature additions.