So, my life seems to have taken a different course than I expected, somewhat.
I don't seem to have pursued either philosophy or music as a career. Still, I write music of a few different varieties. I discuss philosophy weekly and, if I'm successful, some people learn from me and I learn from them. I'm going back to school (if Great Cthulhu doesn't rise up between now and then) for digital audio. I suppose I should feel rather bad about not choosing either music or philosophy, but I'm kinda glad I've found a career path I actually want to pursue.
As for this blog, well, I suppose I abandoned it for a while. Now, I guess I'm back to write some stuff of little consequence.
So, I'm planning to take a look at some lyrics I consider perfect, here, soon.
Okay, update over. Talk to you later.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Friday, February 5, 2010
Cage Syndrome
So, I believe I have contracted John Cage's obsession with sound.
There are some good things and bad things about this:
Good: I've been reveling in the beauty of the sounds around me, with a rather childlike wonder. It's an entire world that I'd only had limited access to, by simply thinking that music was limited to what we usually call it. Plus, there are so many sounds out there that would be wonderful for a piece of music. Instead, they're usually just ignored in favor of traditional instruments. Of course, it's also because someone hitting a piece of cardboard looks really silly and gimmicky on stage.
I can also finally see where Cage was coming from in his music. Part of his goal was to get music as far away from the traditional model of music as possible (which requires a composer, performer, a performance environment, and an instrument). His chance procedures try to take the composer out of the picture, to make the music independent, much as sound itself is. Some of his percussion-like music is simply indistinguishable from daily sounds, such as But What About The Noise Of Crumpling Paper Which He Used To Do In Order....
I really want to see a blog post about Cage that doesn't mention his 4'33." Unfortunately, this won't be it. It's a perfect example of this philosophy, by making the audience pay attention to the background sounds in life.
Bad: This wonder I've found is pretty darn hard to communicate. I'm annoying the family and friends a bit. "Check out the way this sounds; isn't it awesome!" gets kinda tiring, of course.
It's kinda like this: http://xkcd.com/324/
Also, there are so many sounds around me, it's hard to find an overarching concept to narrow them down a bit.
Cage Syndrome also seems to prevent people from writing music that people enjoy listening to. The consensus seems to be that people like his philosophy, but don't get his music. I still find some of it pretty boring as traditional music. When listening to But What About The Noise Of Crumpling Paper Which He Used To Do In Order.... last night, the only one that found it interesting was the cat.
Still, there are other reasons I can find for why a good deal of Cage's music doesn't really work. Those are surmountable. And, the beauty I've found in the sounds of everyday life is pretty priceless.
It's worth it.
[Note: There's probably something to be said about Futurism and "The Art of Noises." Their noise-instruments, for example, looked really silly on stage, but they were the first to really get away from the traditional musical instruments.]
There are some good things and bad things about this:
Good: I've been reveling in the beauty of the sounds around me, with a rather childlike wonder. It's an entire world that I'd only had limited access to, by simply thinking that music was limited to what we usually call it. Plus, there are so many sounds out there that would be wonderful for a piece of music. Instead, they're usually just ignored in favor of traditional instruments. Of course, it's also because someone hitting a piece of cardboard looks really silly and gimmicky on stage.
I can also finally see where Cage was coming from in his music. Part of his goal was to get music as far away from the traditional model of music as possible (which requires a composer, performer, a performance environment, and an instrument). His chance procedures try to take the composer out of the picture, to make the music independent, much as sound itself is. Some of his percussion-like music is simply indistinguishable from daily sounds, such as But What About The Noise Of Crumpling Paper Which He Used To Do In Order....
I really want to see a blog post about Cage that doesn't mention his 4'33." Unfortunately, this won't be it. It's a perfect example of this philosophy, by making the audience pay attention to the background sounds in life.
Bad: This wonder I've found is pretty darn hard to communicate. I'm annoying the family and friends a bit. "Check out the way this sounds; isn't it awesome!" gets kinda tiring, of course.
It's kinda like this: http://xkcd.com/324/
Also, there are so many sounds around me, it's hard to find an overarching concept to narrow them down a bit.
Cage Syndrome also seems to prevent people from writing music that people enjoy listening to. The consensus seems to be that people like his philosophy, but don't get his music. I still find some of it pretty boring as traditional music. When listening to But What About The Noise Of Crumpling Paper Which He Used To Do In Order.... last night, the only one that found it interesting was the cat.
Still, there are other reasons I can find for why a good deal of Cage's music doesn't really work. Those are surmountable. And, the beauty I've found in the sounds of everyday life is pretty priceless.
It's worth it.
[Note: There's probably something to be said about Futurism and "The Art of Noises." Their noise-instruments, for example, looked really silly on stage, but they were the first to really get away from the traditional musical instruments.]
Sunday, November 22, 2009
First!
Hi world! How are ya?
There's a'gonna be an entry here, soon, but there's a matter of sleep to attend to.
So, good night for the moment.
There's a'gonna be an entry here, soon, but there's a matter of sleep to attend to.
So, good night for the moment.
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