Re: [microsound] microvising...and structures

[david turgeon <david.t@xxxxxxxx>]

> Well, not really.  I certainly would shy away from using the term "normal
> instruments."  But I do see your point.  Improvisation may be a harder term
> than I thought to pin down.  I guess I'm interested in the notion that in
> much improvisation, the body of the player is involved in an unconscious
> way.  I would see totally improvised jazz sessions as the antithesis to any
> sort of composed music.  I don't think that this sort of improvisation is
> impossible using a laptop at all.  But it is different than the way you are
> using the word improvisation.  Maybe it just requires a conscious limitation
> of the parameters you wish to control, a really intuitive interface, and a
> lot of practice to feel this comfortable with your instrument.

the kind of improvisation you describe would be, as far as i'm
concerned, impossible to achieve whatever your instruments.  an
"improvised idea" must be channelled through _something_.  even if we
supposed a totally imagined, anti-composed approach (which i think is
nearly impossible as we're all influenced by something), your instrument
will still constrain the music that you can play: as much as you may
want, you can't play piano with a guitar, say.  :)  "once the music
leaves your head, it's already corrupted" as quoted in sonic youth's
_experimental jet-set_ cd (incidentally their worst album).

(thinking again, i realize that with some dsp operations & such, you
could indeed "play piano with a guitar"...  metaphors never totally fit,
as i find out everyday...)

~ david