Re: OT: Programmed/Hand made music (was: Random word generators (was Re: Worthwhile Engelang Goal))

This reply comes from a great appreciator of progressive rock
*and* electronic music:

Henrik wrote:
<<
Indeed, it's a matter of taste.  What exactly is 'progressive rock'?
 >>

Progressive rock is the kind of music that typically has lots of
complex instrumentation, lots of time signature changes, strange
time signatures, incredibly long songs (20+ minutes isn't unusual),
and generally a kind of "grandiose" feel, if other progrock fans
will allow such a qualification.  I believe that progressive rock
kind of got started in the 70's with bands like Hawkwind and
King Crimson.  Nowadays, probably the most recognizable
progressive rock bands are bands like Queensrÿche (where Zhyler's
y+diaresis comes from, though these guys are closer to metal--
and nowadays are even closer to mainstream rock), Dream
Theater and Fates Warning (in fact, the three toured together
recently).  Of course, a hard core progrock fan will probably
note that there are bands few people have heard of that are
the *real* progrock bands--of these I have little knowledge.

I'm a big fan of heavy metal, and came to progressive rock from
heavy metal, and I love them both dearly.  The instrumentation
is about as complex as one will find in rock music, I believe.

Looks like this site lists every progrock band there is:

http://www.gepr.net/

Electronic music I love in all its forms.  Ignoring the experimental/
industrial stuff, for the time being, what I really love is the layering
effect.  So, yes, machines can produce the beats, and they produce
them perfectly.  Machines don't layer the beats, though, and the
various other melodies that go into it.  They also don't choose
what sounds go into each song.  In this way, it's kind of like an
arrangement of set parts, but the parts are created, as well.  If I
can draw a conlang example, it's kind of like what I did with Kelenala.
Kelenala is a language I created from a wordlist.  Anybody can
create a language from this wordlist, and the result will be different.
There is no grammar: You use the words to create a grammar.
In this way, you combine set parts to produce a greater whole.
This is something I can appreciate, even though most of my
languages are created from the ground up.

In addition, though, the umbrella term "electronic music" covers
a *whole* lot of stuff that's far different from the typical dance/
techno
stuff you hear at clubs.  The further away you get, the more
innovation you'll find.  If I can make a shameless plug, a friend
of mine has a band that blends electronic music and non (and
vocals, and random sounds) to create some truly bizarre music.
It may not be as complex as progressive rock, but it ain't techno,
that's for sure.  There are songs that are freely downloadable
from his site, so those interested can check them out:

http://www.promislovesyou.com

-David
*******************************************************************
"sunly eleSkarez ygralleryf ydZZixelje je ox2mejze."
"No eternal reward will forgive us now for wasting the dawn."

-Jim Morrison

http://dedalvs.free.fr/

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