Re: [microsound] the great depression of experimental music?

[John Hopkins <jhopkins@xxxxxxx>]

> (im posting this to the microsound list and the phonography list... 
> as these are the two i find most productive...)
>
> are we in the great depression of experimental music?

I would say that there is the same level of creativity among 
individuals, it's just a social restructuring that is taking place 
around the heirarchic social gathering and redistribution systems. 
IMHO, great music is not measured by the level of distribution it 
acquires through these social systems.  It has its own intrinsic 
value if there is only one other person hearing it.  so, I'd say your 
drought is in one of two areas -- one, that the 'traditional' social 
system of music redistribution is changing its parameters, which 
affects what you hear; and two, your own network of first-person 
contacts is shrinking perhaps?   I don't think it's a problem -- 
actually, I've been able to catch FAR more intensive sonic things in 
the last couple years than in all my previous life, I think...  and 
few of them are on labels, maybe are direct from the artists.  I 
think that's a GREAT development!  I don't care about what is 
"popular" 'cause that's a bent concept from the beginning that denies 
personal idiosyncracy...

And about that "hobby" term... it's a slippery one.  I know of 
artists who have well-paying 'careers' recording and distributing 
their music (and it sucks), and I also know some who have little bits 
of time between raising families, working hard jobs that are not 
their choice, and who have minimal equipment (and their work is 
ELECTRIC!).  the difference lies in the outcome, the personal 
enjoyment, and the possibility to perhaps share the results with ones 
immediate network...  what could be better?  a 20-year contract with 
Sony?  no thanks...  I re-quote something from Blake which has been 
on the front page of my web site since 1994 (because so far I have 
never seen any evidence to the contrary!)  "Where any view of Money 
exists, Art cannot be carried on, but War only." -- William Blake

Having said all that, I can also say that I feel damn lucky to have 
walked out on a lucrative corporate career in taking Oil from other 
countries to pursue my own creative work which now includes teaching 
what I do as an artist, and I can live by that -- primarily because I 
have put a lot of energy into a large personal network which brings 
me all kinds of opportunities for exchange...  I can't ask for more!

cheers
jh

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