Developing a Musical Practice in XR: Music Composition, Performance, and Improvisation Along the Virtual Continuum

Extended reality (XR) technology has become widely available to consumers in recent years, with ‘tech’ companies releasing new headsets and controllers for virtual and augmented reality on almost a yearly basis. The wider access to this technology presents a myriad of opportunities for artists and researchers to develop novel musical instruments and musical experiences using 3D interactive immersive environments. Various design frameworks have been proposed for the creation of musical instruments and experiences with XR technology, however, this is still a developing field when considering the output of creative works that take an audio-first approach or focus on music composition, improvisation and performance more specifically. What can XR contribute to the development of existing musical practices? What new musical practices can be developed through XR? How can these technologies change our perception, expectations and shape our mental models regarding making and experiencing music? This dissertation consists of a written document and a series of XR musical pieces that were developed over the course of the Ph.D. Each of these pieces has served as an exploration of the different possibilities and creative routes afforded by XR technology, and the challenges to the design, composition and performance of musical pieces that range from fully immersed individual experiences to ensemble performances that incorporate virtual environments.