|
"I have nothing to say / and I am saying it / and that is poetry / as I
needed it" -- John Cage
I think 4'33" sets the base point for this discussion.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Michael Mossey [mailto:mpm@alumni.caltech.edu]
> Sent: Friday, 10 February 2006 4:51 p.m.
> To: csound@lists.bath.ac.uk
> Subject: [Csnd] Algorithmic composition - the simplest model
>
>
> I'm interested in the question: if you were to reduce music
> to the simplest form which still interested you, what would it be?
>
> One can ask this about any kind of composition, but since I'm
> interested in researching algorithmic composition, it seems
> like a good way to approach it.. that is, to research music
> in its simplest form.
>
> What would that form be for you? Would, for example, a melody
> with no accompaniment be a basic model for music? Would that
> contain enough of the essential "features" of music that it
> would be a worthy testbed for ideas?
>
> I have "Composing Music With Computers" by Miranda, which
> discusses some simple compositional systems.. ie.,
> compositional programs which produce music in a simple form.
> (They have to be simple because the book is a survey of
> techniques.. I think it's great actually, but you do have to
> find more sources if you want to understand anything in depth.)
>
> I've noticed that most of the example composition programs or
> systems he describes don't appeal to me as *music*.
>
> My favorite music resonates with living movement.. dance, for
> example, or any kind of animal movement, or breathing. The
> thing about animals is that they don't move in the same way
> over and over.. there is some variety. Likewise, I like a
> sense of a "living pulse" to music. It can be a regular
> pulse, but just not like a drum machine (bumper sticker:
> "drum machines have no soul"). Or better, it would be an
> irregular pulse, perhaps one that speeds up and slows down in
> a cycle about the same length as a breath. (Our heartbeats do
> that.) And it would vary in dynamics.
>
> In essence, good music for me acts as an expression of a
> living being in the moment of creating that music.
>
> If you look at the simple examples in Miranda's book, a lot
> of them are about composing a single line melody. And rhythm?
> Some of the methods he presents use all quarters (i.e., all
> the same length notes). Other examples have some notes of
> different durations, but everything is played in
> drum-machine-like precision through midi.
>
> For my tastes, the simplest model of interesting music is
> beating on a drum, with a somewhat free and irregular pulse,
> and lots of dynamic variation. Just a single drum. But the
> dynamic variation and living pulse would be key.
>
> What's key for you?
>
> Mike
>
>
>
> --
> Send bugs reports to this list.
> To unsubscribe, send email to csound-unsubscribe@lists.bath.ac.uk
>
######################################################################
Attention:
If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender.
This email may contain privileged or confidential information intended
only for the named addressee(s). If you are not the intended recipient,
any use, dissemination, distribution or reproduction of this information
by you is prohibited. Any views expressed by the sender of this message
do not necessarily reflect the views of TNS New Zealand.
###################################################################### |