posted 19 December 2010 10:05            

Order > Chaos

Any clues to the construct?

posted 20 December 2010 17:35            

Should there be one?

I hope I don't 'sound' too abrasive here but sometimes I wonder why it is that often - music somehow has to justify itself by means of being backed up by something. Perhaps this is a throwback to the days when classical composers were writing opera based on some classic literary work such as Otello (by Verdi) or Orfeo ed Euridice (by Gluck) based on a Greek myth.

A similar trait I have seen is with some electroacoustic works, whereby as much emphasis (if not more) is given to the explanation of the technique involved in creating the music as the music itself. Or maybe I'm missing the point here and not realising that perhaps the technique is the music (the symbolic meaning) whilst the music becomes a non-symbolic by-product of the technique applied.

(I wasn't at KISS2010 but I did notice a presentation slide (from the photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/prantasa/sets/72157625052317537/ ) was entitled 'Music is not a language'. )

On reflection, a back story does have an impact. I especially like the back-story to Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir - 'Lux Aurumque', where each member of the choir also has their story of how each recording was made and sung. The sum of which I find very powerful.