Thoughts on Building a Contemplative Modular System

This chapter constitutes part of a practice-based, autoethnographic doctoral research, which focuses on performing with modular instruments in response to the author’s experience as a meditation practitioner. In particular, the chapter aims to explore building a modular system to create works that immerse listeners in meditative contemplation. During system building, textual and audio-visual journals were captured and later analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis. The first theme discusses the roles at play within the production of modular performance. The second and third themes explore how change might manifest in modular composition and performance, through sonic manipulation and pattern repetition. A fourth theme highlights the importance of physical interaction and cross-modal sonic perception within modular performance practices. The final theme examines how modular praxis might urge a reflection and re-evaluation on practitioners’ tendencies and habituation. This prompt further investigation into how this system in question might be utilised to develop a performance portfolio, and how this process might inform the suggested themes.