Re: CHAT: Philip Glass Knockin'

On Thu, 12 Oct 2000 16:03:38 -0600, DiRK writes:

>  Hang on there, big guy. I *am* a big fan of Philip Glass (especially
>  the early stuff). But the joke is still funny! It could equally well
>  have been Steve Reich in the punch line (another of my faves), and it
>  would still have been funny. So relax; no offense was intended.
>
::wry grin:: sorry... I have heard too many Glass jokes when I was on an AOL
Classical Chat (BTW as you can see I am no longer part of the AOLhell ISP).

>  I'm not sure I would agree though that there is an "Asian-sense" to
Glass' music (early or late). In fact, I see Glass, Reich, Riley, and Young
as being proto-typically Western in their willingness to plunder foreign
traditions and appropriate their material and techniques and call it their
own. What a Western thing to do, after all!

Yes. But at least Reich, Young and Riley have AFAIK been quite open in
regards to Asian influences (specifically Indian and Balinese).

<SNIPSNIP>

>  Indeed. I find that I'm increasingly drawn to music which has a
ritual/ceremonial function or orientation; I've always enjoyed liturgical
music of all sorts. But then this sort of music is meant to be an adjunct to
the ritual or ceremony which it accompanies and not an object in and of
itself.
>
Yes, Indonesian music falls into this sensibilty ::smile of agreement and
vigourous nodding of braincase::

>  I have always rejected the assertion that music is a "universal
language." Here's a specific example, why is it that the parallel seconds in
Bulgarian folk music (as realized by the Bulgarian Women's Choir) evoke joy
in that tradition, when in Western Europe they are merely shrill and
grating? So much for the "universal language."
>
:)

I wrote:
>  > For instance,I like soundscapes and DarkAmbient music...(amongst other
>  > musics)... some consider these kinds of music _soft noise_ or _boring
>  > environmental sounds_. I come from a different "head-space" than these
>  > "philistines" who don't understand the idea of sonic awareness and
>  > soundscape aesthetic appreciation. In thisday and age, it takes a
>  > meditative/contemplative ability that not many are willing or able to
>  > cultivate.
>
>  I'm *not* very fond of ambient music or soundscapes, but I reject the
idea that that makes me a "philistine." I do enjoy Morton Feldman, who
>  has a similar sense of time(lessness).
Nice-ness ;)

>  Now for a completely different sonic experience, check out Glenn
>  Branca. I'd recommend Symphony #3 "Gloria"; it's essentially an
>  amplified wall of sound tuned to the overtone series. I play it when I
>  want to be left alone (among other occasions), since no one will come
>  into the room while it's on.
>
*gigglabyte* I use Merzbow in the same context. Merzbow has created some of
the most aggressive colour-saturated noise I have ever heard (if interested
in this I recommend the CD _Rainbow Electronics_... it's AFAIK an out of
print import, but sometimes can be found offered on-line by various
independent music stores).

czHANg

"Before the beginning of great brilliance, there must be chaos. Before a
brilliant person begins something great, they must look foolish to the
crowd."
- from the _I Ching_





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