notesdontmatter

Forum – Week 7 – “Tristram Cary”

Homage was paid to a most interesting composer and Adelaide university legend today. I had the pleasure of meeting Tristram briefly in 2006, and I have to agree with David Harris’ sentiments regarding his aura of kindness and generosity. He was no longer the imposing figure that David described, age having compromised much of that, but he seemed fascinating nevertheless. Intelligent elderly people often have that effect, my Grandfather was the same and my Grandmother still does, they compel you to listen and try to take some of their objective experience on board – no matter the subject at hand.

It is almost an impossible thing for our spoilt minds to imagine what it would have been like to take part in the invention of electronic sound generation/manipulation technology. Even today, the VCS is a fun and versatile device to use, providing a wide range of tones in infinite analogue glory. To hear such things for the first time seems an overwhelming experience. I found his electronic composition a little on the complex side (little or no repetition, rarely a definable pulse), but there was careful attention to detail ensuring the sound-scape never came across as harsh.


Reference:

Whittington, Stephen. “Trsitram Cary.” Workshop presented at EMU Space, Level 5, Schultz building, University of Adelaide, 1st of May 2008.

posted by David J Dowling @ 5:22 PM