The End Product of Project 3

I am amazed at how the end product of project 3 turned out. It turned out the way I had imagined it would turn out. It sort of takes the minimalist approach in the creation of art. My theme is Sound, Space and Universal Rhythm. There is rhythm in all aspects of life, from humans to animals to technological creations.

For the project I took a few seconds of the opening sequence of Alicia Key's song - Trying Sleeping with a Broken heart. It was by chance that it sounded like a train rhythmically beating throughout the song. In addition, it incorporated a sort of droning sound. I repeated that beat for the span of 5 minutes.

I also used the G note of the guitar. I strummed the G string only once. It sort of sounded like the dinging of a church bell. I layered the G note repeatedly throughout the beat of Alicia Key's.

I then went to Old Mill station and drove the car under the train bridge and recorded the sound of the train beating on the tracks. I layered those sounds over the beat and G note.

You sort of get this unifying element of all 3 layers to make a sort of psychological sound track. You imagine yourself siting in a train and the strumming of the G note acts like a ticking clock.

I feel that the theory of noise pollution does not take into account culture and the pre-determined roles and ideas of society (pre-conceived notions).

With this project, I emphasized the rhythmic and musical elements of a beating train. It defies the conventional ideologies of what music truly is, the ideas of pleasantness.

Project 3 Works

I really enjoyed listening to Mary Wood's, Afraid of the Dark. I liked hearing the unusual sounds. The basement is a place that contains natural music. The most creative works can be simplistic, the placing of a mere recorder in the basement. I could imagine a spooky movie with this as the soundtrack.

More Information about Sound Artists

Steve Reich is a pioneer of minimalist music, which incorporates the use of repetitive sounds and slow harmonic rhythms.

Music for 18 Musicians - A fascinating composition in the use of minimalism. The repetitive use of just a few notes, from pianos to cellos to violins etc. This composition is quite soothing to listen to.

South Bank Show - Steve Reich invented the technique called "Phasing", which consists of two melodic patterns that fall out of sync. It has now become a fully fledged composing style.

Ideas for Project 3

I decided to focus on the rhythmic aspects of sound such as beats, musical instruments (i.e guitar), and everyday technological instruments. I was thinking of layering these ideas on top of each other to create a rhythmic and interesting piece.

For the written portion, I want to discuss noise pollution, sound scape, and rhythmic elements in everyday life. I want to discuss the social and cultural influences of sound and noise, the psychological aspects that I have determined over the course of the fall term.

I am unable to play the guitar because I never really tried. However, the wonderful audacity will allow me to edit the guitar sounds to create a rhythmic piece. I have been inspired by Tony Conrad. By strumming one note, I can create something interesting.

As for everyday industrial sounds, I am thinking about trains and drills. Let us see how it goes.

IMPORTANT *****A question to ponder: When a train moves along the tracks accompanied by music, do people interpret the sounds of the train and tracks as part of the soundtrack. Or do they see them as separate entities, music on one side and train on the other. ******* IMPORTANT

Breaking glass just popped into my head.

Notes For November 18th

Presentation: Iannis Xenakis

To make music means to express human intelligence by sonic means. What does sonic mean? (of speed) having or caused by speed approximately equal to that of sound in air at sea level; "a sonic boom", relating to audible sound; "a sonic wave"; "Of pertaining to sound or sound waves, esp. within the audible range."

Studied with Messiaen.

Xenakis felt that there was a rational point to music making.

Metastaseis (1953-4) - An orchestral work for 61 musicians. He was inspired by Einstein's view of time, the sounds of warfare, mathematical ideas by Le Corbusier.

Messiaen also brought attention to non-retrogradable rhythm. "In music or music theory, a non-retrogradable rhythm is a pattern of note durations that is read or performed the same either forwards or backwards, ie. it is a rhythmic palindrome."

"Orient - Occident - for two track tape and two loudspeakers" (1960).

Pro-technology - utilization of computers in music.

UPIC - Unite Polyagogique Informatique du Cemamo - computerized musical tool that allows scribbles or drawings to turn into intricate sound or music. Wonderful - by far my favourite - like a child at a candy shop.

Mycenae Alpha (1978)

The computerized technology was developed by Xenakis himself that involves vectors.

I understand that mathematics play an important role in creating intricate pieces. However, I am unable to concentrate in calculus. Would I be able to survive in the sound creation industry without the use of mathematics, knowing quite well that it is a universal language? Questions, questions and more questions.

Tony Conrad Presentation

Tony Conrad's concern lies in the relationship between the spectator and the space( I.e the film, Flicker). To fully understand his work, one must actually be in the space (psychological impact).

The Theatre of Eternal Music played continuously for hours at a time. This involves a lot of stamina and does not only push the limits of the audience, but of the performer as well. It is a psychological (mental) battle - pushing the limits of one's own self . The artist, Michael Snow also participated in such activities.

I really enjoyed watching Ten Years Alive on the Infinite Plain and Unprojectable: Projection and Perspective. During the presentation, I would have preferred them to be louder. I found it interesting that people covered their ears when listening to his performances.

I also found myself inspired by this droning method that Tony Conrad helped pioneer. I might try this minimalist or droning perspective for my third project.

Thoughts that made me question: What is more psychologically effective as in grabbing a hold of one's mind? The use of one sense such as hearing or seeing or the combination of both senses?

Notes for November 4th, 2009

Presentation: Tasman Richardson

His work corresponds with the rise of MTV, the emergence of commercialization and VHS cassettes. His desire lays in the deconstruction of sound. Richardson's work can be divided into two phases, his earlier and later compositions. They combine aural and visual landscapes.

Mediation:

There is a close circuit between sound and vision - No outside influence. The audience is bombarded with image and sound oversaturation. In addition, there is an influence of channel flipping,

Richardson reverses the relationship between sound and image. In hollywood, images are a predominant factor. Normally sound is part of the background. In Richardson's compositions, sound is the predominant factor.

"I stole the soul of Rock & Roll"

Involves the obstruction of sound, appropriation of video and the distortion of images. Over mediation.

"The Game" - My favourite piece.

Highly oversaturated. Consists of artificial sound. Our ideas of war are constructed by movies. "The construction of sound." Sound plays an important role in the assimilation of an image.

The AVANT-GARDE - involves experimentation, discontinuity over continuity, unconventional over conventional.

His excess of oversaturating oversaturation falls into the avant-garde mode. In order to get a message across, he is taking it to the next level through extreme oversaturation. I prefer extremities.

Project 2 Ideas

I was thinking about noise pollution and the idea that certain prolonged exposure to technical or artificial sound can be psychologically and physically damaging. I want to figure out the accuracy of this theory, since I work at a photo lab, which consists of various technological sounds. For my first project, I tried to capture the sounds of my work environment.

I am also thinking about the meaning of soundscape. The imposition of man-made or animal sounds on sounds of nature. For my second project, I will probably create a composition that involves both artificial and natural sound.

EDT:

I created a composition that involves wind, airplane, car and traffic sound. The first layer consists of only wind. For the second layer, I combined sounds of airplanes and cars. I have to admit this makes for an interesting war zone like piece.

EDT:

I do believe that noise pollution is a socially constructed theory. People are culturally trained to think that certain noises are annoying, too loud or irritating. I realized that if you already have pre-conceived notions about certain sounds, you will end up covering your ears or turning away.

For example, I had pre-conceived thoughts about being nervous during the presentation. When I presented, I was definitely nervous.

Notes for October 21, 2009 continued

Presentation Janet Cardiff

Her work deals with illusion, sound and space.

"The Missing Voice" is audio based - involves audio walks and a narrative voice. This piece evolves around a women and city life. It sounds like a detective story. The artist is directing the fictional world that she has created, which involves the public space and unconsciousness. She is basically dramatizing her life, making life more cinematic. Humans are someway dramatizing moments in life.

Can hear footsteps, gun shots, helicopter and an ambulance. This makes for an exciting piece.

2nd work: Munster Walk from 1998.

This piece grabs the atmosphere of Germaness. It is part of a sculpture exhibition. She addresses both the history and memory of Germany combined with her own interpretation of the space.

3rd piece: Forty Part Motet

40 speakers in 8 groups. Each speaker must play a recording of one voice in the group singing Spem in Alium by English composer Thomas Tallis.

It plays with the idea of role and position of the audience. Furthermore it also incorporates the experience and view point of the singers.

4th piece: Video Walks: In Real Time.

Paradise Institute (2001)

I find this to be an interesting work because it involves sound, film images and the experience of the audience/spectator - the overlapping of all three.

Audience is immersed within the environmental sound. One may experience feelings of eeriness. This work also plays with fictional and realistic boundaries.

Notes for October 21, 2009.

Presentation:

John Cage - composer, philosopher, musician etc.

Two major works - 4 minutes and 33 seconds by David Tudor

1951 - consisted of echoes in the room. There are high and low sounds in a room. High = nervous system Low = blood.

John cage was influenced by Emmanuel Kent and his idea about two things that don't really mean anything, that being, music and laughter. Sound cannot be more than it really is.

John cage wanted to hear silence in 4 minute and 33 seconds piece but he found that to be impossible. This is quite the controversial piece in that audiences expected much more.

Question to ponder: What would the reaction be then and now? What would the audience reaction be since they expected a big performance?

Second piece: Water Walk - This piece was more about environment sounds than silence.

Is he trying to make a statement or is it accidental? John Cage pushes the buttons of audiences in order to get a reaction. Laughter an important part of performance.

Chance and Determinancy

Draws attention to unwanted sounds. Disrupts experience of what is to be performed. Audience is conditioned to focus on what is in front of them.

Additional Notes for September 30th.

SCHIZOPHONIC

There is a difference between the original sound and its reproduced version. Sound does indeed change once recorded with technological instruments, hence, the word electroacoustic.

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"Knizak" - phonograph - hands on device.

"De Marims"

Reads ancient form of decoding laser. It is not intended as sound recording.

"NEU"

William S. Burroughs.

Tape as material. Tape used as an aesthetic.

"Reymols" - Blank tapes are digitized.

"Larie Anderson" - Tape-o-Violin

Anton Bruhn - pausing repeatedly - discrete intervals to produce unique sound.

Notes for September 30th

Christian Marclay presentation:

I truly enjoyed Christian Marclay's work. One aspect involves records. He unconventionally uses records to create music. His methods include: breaking records, shaking records, and scratching records etc. Normally scratching or skipping are avoided, especially in club scenes. However, that ruins the whole purpose of the record. What makes a record different from the rest is the scratching and uneven playing of music.

By using unwanted sounds, his performances are indeed enjoyable and fascinating. He is enforcing their importance by taking it to the next level. Furthermore, he accompanies these intricate sounds with visual footage.

Ideas for Project 1

I've decided to play my work place as an instrument. I work at a one hour photo lab, which consists of a variety of interesting sounds. I will use and manipulate the sounds to create a composition, hopefully, a lot of high pitched tones. It will involve the appropriation of technology.

Instructional piece: What determines an annoying sound? Is it psychological OR does it actually cause physical pain?

Questions that should be asked? Is sound just sound or have people convinced themselves that a certain sound is annoying because of social and cultural influences.

I could ask this question in class: How many people on a normal day would find these sounds annoying.

Notes for myself: What is the difference between noise and sound? What are the different definitions that involve performance?

Notes for September 16th

Alvin Luicier - Alpha waves - This illustrates feedback in a global sense with or without technology. Brain waves sound is amplified when individual is calm. Feedback of sound on consciousness is paradoxical since reaction can trigger another reaction.

This piece is quite fascinating in that it demonstrates the unique ways in which sound can be captured. Such sounds can create an interesting composition.

Project # 1 - Performance and Sound

5 minutes of continuous recording - real time.

There are 2 parts - proposition and realization

First Step - Must be entirely text based - written instructions that allow the audience to realize work.

Second Step - Realized version.

Fluxus - philosophical statements, which creates versions of that in one's mind.

***What defines performance and sound? The term performance can be understood in many ways.

Ideas:

Technology used beyond its functionality, outside of what it was intended for.

Technology used as an instrument. Ex. using radio as a performing communication.

Involves interaction.

Read: "The Edison Effect Article"