Brian
MCTC Sound Arts
CONCEPTS
Working Backwards to Minimalism
Go as far as possible using minimal materials
But not necessarily sparse or spare results
Minimalism
- Uses simple musical building-blocks assembled into larger works
-
Process is important and audible
- Strong sense of repetition and pulse
- Return to more focused musical materials
- Desire to connect with broader audiences
TECHNIQUES
On the next slide, listen to the piece while reviewing the facts about it, and think about the specific questions posed. The audio is an edit from different points throughout the piece.
Facts:
Created in the 1969
By a trained musician
Used readily-available analog technology
Created in the composer’s home
45 minutes
Questions:
1) What are the raw sound materials (not the tools) used?
2) What did you hear that suggested which technologies might be used?
3) What compositional process (not technology) might be used? What did you hear that suggested it?
Process
Alvin Lucier
I Am Sitting in a Room
(1969)
Facts:
Created in the 1966
By a trained musician
Used readily-available analog technology
Created in the composer’s home
25 minutes
Questions:
1) What are the raw sound materials (not the tools) used?
2) What did you hear that suggested which technologies might be used?
3) What compositional process (not technology) might be used? What did you hear that suggested it?
Again, listen to the audio while considering the facts & questions...
Phasing
Steve Reich & Alvin Lucier
Steve Reich
Pendulum Music (1968)
Giving Listening its Time...
In Zen they say: If something is boring after two minutes, try it for four. If still boring, try it for eight, sixteen, thirty-two, and so on. Eventually one discovers that it's not boring at all but very interesting.
–John Cage
Minimalism
By Brian
