notesdontmatter

Improv and Forum 10-08-06

Improvisation workshop 10-08-06:

It was a scattered and only sporadically productive event this week. Given that studio five was not particularly accommodating to our needs – sound goes in, sound goes out, was an unreasonable request of the patchbay it would seem – it was difficult to get a feel for what the group would sound like as a whole when we were half out of action. That being said, there were some promising developments in the demonically distorted human beatbox department with MC Probert carving it up on the mic, and some tasteful musicianship in the acoustic piano department at selected intervals.

Dragos and Matt were unable to get sufficient audio output with the turntables or the analogue synthesizers which was frustrating to say the least. After hearing Dragos’ and Adrians tracks at the forum presentation I’m looking forward to hearing what they come up with on the fly. A microscopic level of audio that Matt managed to channel from the decks to my guitar amp proved to be a cruel tease, as it was all we were able to draw from them for the session. Our resident Super Collider guru Adrian confessed his Mac is currently in computer hospital so that kept him out of action in the jamming department as well.

Hopefully all these setbacks will teach us a valuable lesson regarding the folly of relying on university equipment, and next week I’ll have the beginnings of a world famous electronic sextet to report on……


An example of the creative process



Forum – Student Presentations:

Adrian Reid: track formerly known as ‘Forces’

Adrian presented a piece of Super Collider produced ambience for our listening pleasure. A dark piece of work, it lulls the listener into a false sense of melancholic trance, before metallic staccato percussion reaches out to stab ones eardrums and make sure you’re paying attention. I found this to be an engrossing experience filled with rich sonic texture, and felt that care and attention to subtle detail were paramount in its composition.


Dragos Nastasie: ‘Induced’

Dragos introduced himself as someone who is not a fan of atonality or serialism. Is anyone out there really able to call themselves a ‘fan’ of these genres in the most honest and gratuitous sense of the word? Eg; jumping up and down screaming for Schoenberg to play a twelve tone encore to one of the most testing sonic experiences yet created? I don’t know if the term can be used in quite the same way when admiration is focused on the persons will to think outside the square in their pursuit of discovery, rather than the collective sonic results of all their experimental work.
I myself am certainly no ‘fan’ of serial or atonal music, but I am grateful for my exposure to its teachings. I think mediocrity, complacency and just plain lack of originality sometimes require extreme measures to combat and overcome. Schoenberg and his twelve tone composition method is just an example of a frustrated composer who reached a point where he would try anything in the pursuit of something different. If any of us are planning to compose music and would like to be remembered for doing so, I think we should take at least a small leaf out of Schoenberg’s book. After all, we still know his name…..

Anyway there’s my opinionated bile for the week. ‘Induced’ was a very enjoyable track. Dragos has clearly spent a lot of time working with reason, and the effort is paying off. The rhythm was captivating (I noted several nodding heads in the audience) and the pulse remained clear and steady throughout. This was blended brilliantly with an interesting and haunting melody intertwining itself across various levels of synthesis, for a powerfully motivating musical journey. I felt some visuals may have helped with understanding the connection to the subject matter in the program note but it didn’t detract from the music. Great stuff…


Vinny Bhagat: ‘Rag Yaman’ http://shivnakaun.blogspot.com

Great piece of improv’ on the ivories Vinny …… want … to …. Say …. More … word …. count … set …. by …. bureaucracy … suppressing … creative …. expression …


Listen to this example instead


References:

Stephen Whittington. “Improvisation Project”. (Lecture presented at EMU Space 5th floor Schulz building, University of Adelaide). 10-08-2006

Adrian Reid. “Forces”. (Student Presentation at EMU Space 5th floor Schulz building, University of Adelaide). 10-08-2006

Dragos Nastasie. “Induced”. (Student Presentation at EMU Space 5th floor Schulz building, University of Adelaide). 10-08-2006

Vinny Bhagat. “Rag Yaman”. (Student Presentation at EMU Space 5th floor Schulz building, University of Adelaide). 10-08-2006

posted by David J Dowling @ 12:15 PM