Re: Re: [microsound] laptop as a performance device.

[Sean Rooney <srooney@xxxxxxxx>]

> errr....like what ? grandiose keith emerson-ish keystrokes ? i don't see
> the point in artificially creating visual cues for people who aren't used
> to watching laptop performances...seems silly.

actually, I had meant to make clear that I was talking about subtle cues.
Apologies for not making this more apparent.


> i went to a chamber music concert last week that offered very little in
> terms of visual simulation, but i enjoyed it.
>

Chamber music concerts in general are full of visual cues. Maybe not
stimulating but still communicative in some way. Unless the performers
were behind a curtain I'd be surprised if you attended one that wasn't.

>
> i kind of wonder if this discussion actually means to focus the amount of
> pre-programming that a laptop permits, which in my opinion is peripheral
> (though still relevant) to the issue of the laptop's merit as a
> performance tool.

I'd agree that the question of "how much is pre-programmed" is important
to people. I'm not willing to totally dismiss the question as peripheral
or invalid. That being said, I guess I should be careful not to
misrepresent myself as someone who needs some sort of zany stage show in
order to enjoy myself. In fact most often i react pretty viscerally
against that sort of thing (exceptions being Hans Grusel's Krankenkabinet
and Rubber O Cement, who are just utter fucking genius and zany as hell
but not "microsound" -- google them). If the music is engaging and of the
moment then I have no problem just shutting my eyes and listening. Its
definitely possible for someone to make clear the sponaneity of what
they're playing with just a computer keyboard. I see it all the time in
the shows that i curate. But its not required. If it becomes required,
then its just another aesthetic to react against and its practitioners
become latter-day Keith Emersons.

/sean


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