Live Coding in a Scalable, Participatory Laptop Orchestra

Live coding (Collins et al. 2003 and other articles in this special issue of Computer Music Journal) is the central performance practice of the Cybernetic Orchestra, a laptop orchestra at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Inspired by the idea of participatory culture, the ensemble has been made open to a diverse and ever changing roster of participants, and may be likened to a human laboratory exploring this question: How is …