Re: [microsound] Cutting edge???

[Ian Andrews <i.andrews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Ian Said:
""I think Bob's point was that innovation occurs when
technology is used in a way in which it was not intended, a 
non-authoritive use if you like.  The technology of magnetic tape and 
splicing tape was made to put together radio programs and edit interviews, 
etc.  It was not made for the purpose of making music. Likewise phonogaphs 
were made to play recorded music, not to make music with.  An example of 
the non-authoritive use of the computer could be the use of a game engine 
to make music.""

It isn't always the case that music applications come secondary to
original purposes. If I remember correctly (from Chadabe's Electric Sound)
from the invention of the Telharmonium a means was discovered for
using one telephone wire for several houses. I am looking for more 
instances where musical applications and inventions created useful 
technologies for other fields. If anyone has another example please let 
me know.

""anyway, the term cutting-edge really refers to the marketing of
technologies. Eg. you can have cutting edge video equipment, or cutting
edge sports shoes.  But "the cutting edge of musical creation" really does
not make alot of sense. I prefer the term "innovation." Innovative music
creation is really about the carrying out of innovative ideas through
certain technologies, or sometimes in response to certain technologies. In
order to know that one's music is innovative, one must have a reasonably
good knowlege of innovative musics which preceded it. Ignorance is no
excuse.  The making of musique concrete now with a computer sound editing
program is hardly as innovative as the production of musique concrete on
phonographs in the early 20th century.  But that is not to say that a
completely new take on musique concrete, made on a computer, could not be
accomplished. But I would argue that, this new take, which may be quite
innovative,  would be less the result of the technology, and more to do
with a combination of new (non-technical) ideas.""

I agree that much of my frustration comes from a Western and capitalist
zeal for specialization and categorical anti-comprehensive thinking. 
Replacing "cutting edge" with "innovative" is a placebo salve. Yes folks, 
great music can be made today using instruments that have been around 
since Bach. One of the greatest musical minds of our time is James 
MacMillan--whom I consider a modern day Mozart--and he has hardly worked 
with anything other than traditional instruments. Another is Andriessen. 
These names and their influence will live as long as Aristotle's.

-- 
     ,ooo.
 .  a888888:..--.
\\\ 8888888:`\   \        Bob L. Sturm
 \\\`Y888P'   \.  \       
 =\\\_..' @ ^_ \   \      
 `c\`-'  `-\'   \.  \     Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla
    \  \   <\  .'`  )     http://www-ccrma.stanford.edu/~sturm/
     \  \n   .'  ._/      http://www.composerscientist.com/
      \__|).\  ._/        http://www.mp3.com/BobLSturm
      `--: .-)_/