Re: [microsound] |-| Re: // techniques ]]

[jonah dempcy <jdempcy@xxxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Michal Seta" <mis@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

> And if you don't care about rules governing "traditional" music you need
to
> know them all before you start breaking them through experimentation.

excuse me, "need to" ???

and, ahem, "know them all" ??? there is a certain set of rules? i'm sorry i
wasn't aware of that. how about the rules of jazz songwriting/harmony? how
about the rules of raga construction in a 5- or 7-tone equadistant scale??
etc.

and further "breaking them through experimentaion" is a bit misleading. yes
it is possible to "experiment" within a certain construct or mode, if by
"experiment" you mean exagerrate, flourish, expand, or otherwise further
"construct" ... but experimentation in music to me means something that
precedes constructs (or at least uses constructs at the whim of the creator
and not as a deciding factor for how the piece should form) .. this
definition is quite obviously proven when one examines recognized
experimental music like free jazz, microsound, noise, etc.

i do not consider most IDM to be on this level of experimentalism by the
way, nor do i consider the music that i produce to be anywhere near this.
however i am forever conscious of the relationship between my music (and the
stylistic constructs i work with) and the "rules" of these constructs, so i
suppose in some ways i agree with you that yes a knowledge of "rules" can be
helpful. but only if you make pop music like me. ;)

btw: http://www.revolutionvoid.com

> It is self evident that in order to discover new ways you need to be
> aware of all the old and present ways.

it is self evident that everything is new in some sense. the degree to which
it is "new" (or the multitude of "senses" in which it can be considered
new/creative/etc) are defined by the difference between said piece and the
current norm.

knowledge of the "norm" is a must for a music critic, but just gets in the
way for the musician trying to be creative.

** who knows if this is true, and who cares really, but: aphex twin said he
doesn't listen to any outside music for weeks at a time when he's recording.

> That could be charming.  I wish they'd start teaching those techniques at
the
> university.  I would not have dropped out!

breaking appliances is cathartic. especially other peoples' ...

-jonah
np: http://www.downtempo.com/sjb/j.mp3