Re: [microsound]

[Ian Guthrie Yeager <iyeager@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks to Dale and Robert for that interesting info....I have to admit I'm
not yet familiar with those composers' works, although I was pleased to
see the name of Franco Evangelisti.
A few months ago I read the Phaedon book on Ligeti, and there was some
nice descriptions of Darmstadt....one of my favorites was the description
of "hardcore avant-gardeist Franco Evangelisti" who was never seen without
his sunglasses and leather jacket. Earl Brown was in Darmstadt for a time,
and relates that he would typically be a few minutes late for
performances, and as often as not would see Evangelisti storming out just 
as he was going in1!
(Christian, how's that for "lifestyle?")
By the way, has anyone heard that compilation called "Only in America"?
It features a track of musique concrete assembled by some guy entirely out
of Chef Boyardee jingles. The cd is very worthwhile for those who are
into the "Songs in the key of Z" experience. Like Shooby Taylor, the
world's strangest scat singer. Tits.
What happened at Darmstadt was really incredible: all of the assemebled
composers were strenuously debating the future of European music, and
conciously making history. Just goes to show that movements are more
powerful than individual composers oftentimes.
Some might argue that the 60s was really the beginning of the end of
any traceable linear trajectory for music, and now, everything is
completely fragmented. It's like that Babbit article "Who cares if you
listen?", where he argues that music is like any scientific discipline,
where the cutting edge is no longer understandeable or interesting to any
but a few specialists. The average Joe doesn't understand new developments
in mathematics, physics, or "serious" (serial) music, he argues. I hope
it ain't necessarily so.
I was just talking to a freind and asscociate the other day, and he
posited that the main artistic concern of our time is really distribution.
How is any longer possible to compile a linear history of cultural
activity when the sheer volume of information is so fantastically immense? 
(of course it's not really possible at all. I guess this is part of what
Terrence Mckenna (RIP) meant when he spoke of the end of history.)

Obviously this entire mailing list is in some sense "specialist" in
nature, and there's nothing wrong with that. It's unfortunate that those
interested in sonic challenge, exploration, innovation, and fascination 
comprise a minority.  

Anyone have any idea how many of us there are on this list?

Has everyone seen Harry Smith's "Early Abstractions" and "Heaven and Earth
Magic"? I saw Oskar Fischinger's name crop up, that was nice.

Anyone have any recomendations on magazines relating to experimental
electronics? The Wire is great and all, but I need more, damn it.

alright, this is more than enough
         
igy2k

Bloomington Indiana, USA