Re: [microsound] melody

[Bill Jarboe <billjarboe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

on 5/20/02 9:00 AM, Ant Weiss at antonv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> just wanted to ask what is everybody's opinion on the role
> of melody in "microsound" music
> I realize that any tones sequence can be defined as melody, but I am
> referring to the more common-sense melodical sequence, which can for example
> be repeated by voice or a standard musical instrument - do you think this
> kind of melody is bad taste/uninteresting/too straight-forward? what's your
> pick on fennesz's quite heavy use of conventional harmonies and melodies in
> "endless summer"?
> would be interesting to know what others think.
> 
> 
 Alot of "this music" ; here I am writing about tunes generated with
computers , dsp , compositions which explore the idiosyncrasities and
structures of coding seems to be a way of focusing or becoming aware of what
is already prevalent; the melody that exists.

 In that context singing can be rather redundant and limiting , rather like
having one's name or a designer logo embossed very large on one's clothing,
or pictures of oneself naked.


There is also much attention given to linguistics and pre-linguistics. There
are ways words and phrases can be articulated through electronic media which
are perhaps more universal ( language wise) and less like someone telling
you what's what.

 From my experience playing classical music it seems one is largely involved
with channeling vibrations , molecules, phrases in particular ways and
particular directions to produce a performance.One of the things that make
electronic compositions effective is that they open the listener to
different expectations , different ways of looking at the world and
listening.There isn't a reason different expectations and 'channelings'
cannot be constructed into the same piece, however one should make sure the
intentions are not self -cancelling , unless that is one's intention.



 On a related note:

 I live in the Central District of Seattle. Sometimes individuals will rap
on top of one of my compositions. Unfortunately, what they are usually
rapping is berating the composition or the composer.

 I thought it might be a logical extension of that technique to loop a
phrase from , say John Coltrane's 'a Love Supreme' , make rude noises, and
talk about how awful McCoy Tyner is, mock them etc.

 What I'm saying is , it's almost the right idea , I think one needs to
express one's passions and aspirations ( when adding vocals) instead of
looking at the flaws.