Hugh Davies’s Self-Built Instruments and their relation to Present-Day Electronic and Digital Instrument-Building Practices: Towards Common Themes

The first part of this essay describes some of Hugh Davies’s self-built instruments, focusing on their material characteristics and playing techniques. The context in which Davies’s instrument-building practice developed is outlined, and four themes that characterise his work are proposed: economy, materiality, community, and environment. The second part of the essay focuses on present-day electronic and digital instrument-building practices. A number of practitioners whose work has been directly influenced by Davies are discussed. Finally, some more speculative suggestions are made concerning how Davies’s practice might indirectly be connected—in terms of three of the themes mentioned previously—to the present-day practice of live-coding. This essay describes research in progress, and as such does not present any concrete conclusions. The research is being carried out as part of an AHRC-funded project in partnership with The Science Museum. For further information see http://hughdaviesproject.wordpress.com.