Re: [microsound] Performing "Live">

[Ian Guthrie Yeager <iyeager@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

In Vance's defense, his point had nothing to do with reducing
*performance* at all....as I understood him, he was only talking about the
underlying similarities between acoustical and electronic instruments. I 
found his reduction in this case to be insightful. 

Ian Yeager

On Tue, 13 Mar 2001, m wrote:

> im sorry, i have to post on this one. to reduce performance with a guitar 
> or any other instrument into a simple sound generation device is 
> reductive to say the least. in the case of performing the PROCESS may be 
> just as or even more important. use of different instruments shouldn't be 
> seen as a simple search for new timbres and thats it. to use this logic a 
> tympani is the same thing as a harp is the same thing as a splash, the 
> only different being the produced sound....i dont think so folks....
> 
> m
> 
> On Wed, 14 Mar 2001 12:26:14 -0500,
> microsound@xxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote...
> >Well Jonah dempcy,
> >
> >I'd have to say that you entirely missed the most important and pertinent
> >part of jason's post. I fact is that the guitar can only make sounds. . . 
> >It
> >is a two component "synthesizer" consisting of an oscillator (the string)
> >and a resonating filter (the body). . . And I understand that you can
> >"tweak" the guitar an infinite way. . . And trigger it differently (look 
> >I'm
> >hitting the string with my thumb. .  oh wait no I'll use a peace of 
> plastic
> >(imagine the possibilities)). I'm not insulting those possibilities. . .
> >It's just that the guitar is simply an organic synthesizer. . . perhaps 
> the
> >hands on factor makes it seem more versatile to someone who does not know
> >the computer inside and out (and I do mean the computer, not programs,
> >programs have a limit to what they can do, the computer does not, (that's
> >why I write my own programs))
> >    So you have given the computer these broad categories of things it can
> >do live such as: synthesize ; sample playback ; process sound ; record
> >sound. Wile that seems like quite a lot to me, especially compared to the
> >guitar ability to resonate. . . that's all it can do.  . .
> >    To be honest there are many ways to use a computer with a more limited
> >"moment of impact" than other, more traditional, instruments, but this is 
> a
> >choice of the performer not a limitation. . . I, in fact, see it as a
> >benefit that I am not trapped playing the same phrase over and over and 
> >that
> >is all I can do. Your example of the sequence seems to be a problem you 
> >have
> >with your sequencing program. . . because there are plenty that change the
> >sequence the second you click, tap the keyboard, or tap any number of
> >'alternative controllers.'
> >    And all of things a computer can do have an infinite "tweekability"
> >making each "broad category" an infinite set. . .
> >    It seems to me that your putting down of the computer comes from
> >ignorance (just like any prejudice), and can only be cured through your 
> own
> >education.
> >
> >hugs and kisses,
> >v(ance)stevesnon.
> >  
> >p.s. . . .I get the digest version and wont hear your response till much
> >latter.
> >> From: "jonah dempcy" <jdempcy@xxxxxxxx>
> >>