[sdiy] OT: making "IDM"

[Metrophage]

--- anthony <aankrom at bluemarble.net> wrote:
> > This is sort of interesting from a technical point of view, but
> > musically a lot of it sounds like not very good jazz improv.
> 
> Bingo.

I don't think so. This is what I was expressing my perplexity over in
regards to apparent "randomness". Just because some don't hear the
relationships doesn't make it improv, or jazz. I guess composition is
the same thing as "free" music. Of course it can be... I suppose if I
felt compelled to compare Autechre to other composers then Brian
Ferneyhough and Conlon Nancarrow would come to mind.

> Iannis Xenakis is an excellent example of a composer who uses
> stochastic techniques. Soem of his music is unlistentable although 
> technically interesting.
 
Xenakis did implement stochastic techniques, and much more
deterministic mathematics as well. I am partial to the aesthetics of
his music, although there are pieces of his which I listen to more than
others. I suppose it depends what sort of qualities one is listening
for!

> But some of his music is sublime. Like Edgard Varese - who 
> really didn't use stochastic techniques as such - but I just can't
> mention Xenakis in a conversation without mentioning Varese 
> too. In fact I'd recommend him over Xenakis if you could buy 
> just one album. 

Varese was a composer who I would very much like to hear more of,
although I can't think of any reason to compare he and Xenakis. I am
guessing that La Corbusier was likely much more of an influence on
Xenakis than Varese might have been.

> He once lamented that he was born too early to really take 
> advantage of electronics in music. But Poeme Electronique is a 
> milestone in electronic music. I wish I could have been at the 
> World's Fair where they played. I think it was the Philips
> pavilion.

I am sure that must have been amazing. Xenakis' premiere of Concret PH
would have been another wonderful thing to hear there. 

There is an interesting documentary on Varese from the Other Minds
radio show. I see another now, which I'd not heard. Enjoy these links
to some Varese info:

<
http://www.archive.org/audio/audio-details-db.php?collectionid=VareseSonicLiberation&collection=other_minds
>
<
http://www.archive.org/audio/audio-details-db.php?collectionid=OnVareseIonization&collection=other_minds
>

CJ


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