Re: [microsound] past ghosts

[Ian Guthrie Yeager <iyeager@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Well, I feel some obligation as a member of this discussion group to
change the subject from insincere boyz 2 men and 'nsync tributes (funny
enough while it lasted)....

I have an album from a Contemporary Composers Series, whic features an
*outrageous* Subotnick piece for Orchestra and electronics called
"Laminations". Completely pointilistic orchestral texture and electronic
boops, glides, and beeps create an incredibly (and hilariously) dense
texture. After a few minutes of this, there is a clearing to a single fm
drone growing in volume, and then....*crack!*
Back to work! 

The same basic (fantastic) texture resumes. We had a party at my house
this year during which our Atari 2600 provided a important focal point for
many of the debauched attendees, myself included. In a stroke of
inspiration, I popped on Laminations, and launched in to a balls to the
wall Asteroids melee, hurtling wildly into infinitely scrolling space
whilst blasting indiscriminately. My roomate Nikolai and I had tears
streaming down our cheeks from laughing so hard....what a phenomenal piece
of work. I'm sure that Subotnick didn't intent for his music to function
as elaborate retro videogame music for f*cked-up 20-somethings with an
overdeveloped sense of the absurd, but on the other hand composers of
avant-garde musics need to take what audience they can get. 
It does raise some interesting questions though, on of which has to do
with reissuing of a lot of this classic electronic work....has Laminations
been reissued? I wonder how often this piece was recorded? Only once? If
anyone cares, I'll find out more specific info from the album cover.

We've got quite a few record albums of "serious" electronic music at our
house (I'm lucky to have roomates whose interests overlap with my own),
and I suspect that much of it hasn't been reissued at all.

On a final note, played a show (electronics, guitar, assorted objects)here
in Bloomington's Waldron Arts Center with my freinds Eric Weddle
(electronics) and Matt Griffin (Drums). It was an evening of no holds
barred first contact improv opening for Moscow-born guitarist Misha Feigen
(now based in Louisville) and Japanese-born percussionist Toshi
Makihara(now based in PA)....they played a fantastic set, very engaging,
funny, imaginative and challenging. If either of them are ever performing
near any of you, either together or in some other formation, I
strongly recommend checking them out.
 
cheers 
         
igy2k