Re: [microsound] sine waves and white noise

[ndk <ndkent@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> > 1) why are there so many artists/composers/music makers using only sine 
> > waves and white noise to make compositions?

The sine wave is the simplest type of waveform. It is a pure tone at a
given frequency. It has no harmonics thus no timbre,.

 In reality though, a lot of gear and sound systems that produce sine
waves create slightly imperfect ones, those imperfections add tone
color. I guess it's up to the artist to either acknowlege or deny it.

People have their diverse reasons but perhaps being minimalist in their
raw sound material is inspiring. In theory, combining enough sine waves
in specific relationships over time will yeild any other waveform
(additive synthesis).

White Noise is essentially the other end of the spectrum. In theory it
cantains all frequencies of sound in equal amounts. 

There's no question that these are the two most minimal and in theory
uncolored types of sound and can be valuable raw materials to make sonic
statements 

> > 2) why do such artists/composers/music makers and their works often receive 
> > higher praise then if the works were conceived by other means?

Well it could be a side effect of critics and or artists identifying the
use of said sonic materials. It gives the critics something concrete
(ahemmmm), easy and tangible to mention expecially if the work is
abstract. 

I guess from a critics stanpoint, maybe one does get some "extra credit"
because perhaps it's easier to exceed expectations if the work with them
is somewhat compelling and made from seemingly the most basic materials.
In other words perhaps identifying it as "merely" sine waves and/or
white noise sort of lowers expectations, then if the critic feels it's
sucessful the work gets extra alcolades for surpassing what might be
preconceived or personal experience expextations.


nick
http://www.artcontext.org/music/artskool/jem/ndkent/

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