Just a simple question. With all of the software capabilities, music has evolved to a precision that, in my opinion, could go to far. What are your thoughts on this?
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Very true. The first movement of Shostakovich's 2nd Piano Concerto is absolute perfection in every way.
Tombo Rombo said:
This discussion has gone a bit astray, but since we are already here...
Perfection is attainable I say. Let's take a simple example. I ask somebody to take two apples out of a bag. That person does so. Wallah, he has performed the task perfectly. Let's say a pitcher throws a "perfect game", meaning he got all 27 outs with no walks, no hits. Perfect. Sure, he could have been more perfect by getting each person out with one pitch each, but that doesn't matter. If you acheive a task exactly, you have done it perfectly! Of course, art is much more complex. But as art exists in our minds, if we think a piece of music is perfect, then by golly it is, at least at the moment for the person who perceives it. Of course, you can counter argue that perfection would mean that a piece of music is perfect every time anybody listens to it, but we are always dealing with a different piece of music, you know, the whole you cannot step into the same river twice thing. There are no absolutes beyond our perception when it comes to art.
How much imperfection should we allow in "perfect" music?
Just a simple question. With all of the software capabilities, music has evolved to a precision that, in my opinion, could go to far. What are your t…
Thread has degenerated into meaningless psychobabble... oh joy, my false webpage has a "stop following" button... hopefully, my false and nonexistent action starts a revolution, whereby artistic people cease to engage in meaningless, petty, pretentiousness and practiced insouciance...
this exact sort of thing is why I walked out of a philosophy class at university, and talked an adnmisistrator into signing off on my taking a STAT class in place of it... a little philosophy is good for the soul, too much and you begin to require medication...
sorry for the brusque-ness... but, "to thine own self be true" and "speak loudly what you proclaim today to be true, though it contradict what you said equally loudly, yesterday."
If each quarter note in a DAW has a value of 480 ticks, and I play a note that starts exactly on the quarter note, that note's timing is TOO perfect. If there's a string of notes that are equally accurate, it's even worse. Some people might like that sound. They might think it sounds 'musical'. ...sometimes a machine can sound 'interesting'.
Tombo's thoughts about 'perfection' make more sense than Jeff's, but that's just my subjective reality.
Well said Doug. I agree with you. Isn't it instresting that a level of perfection is something that we all strive for, but that perfection is something different to each of us?
"Well, since you say so... I'm so ashamed of myself!!!"
well... dont be... your speaking loudly today what you proclaim to be true. Tomorrow, maybe somethign different...
"How was that STAT class? Have you managed to gather data about the world around you and analyze it better than your brain already does by itself?"
Stat was difficult on me, but, i got thru it. And yes, Stat and formal logic DOES allow the humen brain to analyze data better than the brain does all by itself. left to its own devices, the human brain will prejudice itself with stuff. Your susceptible to an emotional argument. Or, to join in the crowds mentality of something. Statistics can in NO way tell you how any ONE case will turn out. Yet, you can state with almost certainty, given large enough of a clean sample... how many will turn out THIS way.
Formal logic allows one to take a befuddling, seemingly insolveable problem, and assign variables and letters to it, and to work with much like an equation. The answer, is the answer, and often one not arriveable at by any normal thought.
Formal logic and Statistical analysis are wonderful.
I must apologize for having been brusque and rude, i am in someone else's house. My apologies.
Recorded electronic music can be quantized and fiddled with to death. Music is something organic and there is nothing to state that electronic music can't be organic too. I never quantize anything to 100% because then it will not be organic any more. I quantize the performance to 50-70 % and the rhythmic parts (bass and drums) to say 80%. And I only quantize the notes that I can hear are off with my own ears. If it sounds good but looks awful - I leave it!
I think the same goes for production. The production of the recording need to be really good (that is as good as you can make it) but if it becomes to polished and nothing sticks out it too becomes inorganic.
The Beatles made a bigger impact with a technology that most of us would discard, than most of us does with technology they couldn't even dream about!
Bill Ricci said:
Thanks Matthew. I guess I was more looking at the electronic side of things. I like your compositions by the the way!
How much imperfection should we allow in "perfect" music?
Just a simple question. With all of the software capabilities, music has evolved to a precision that, in my opinion, could go to far. What are your t…
I agree totally, Lennart. I also use a similar quantization strategy. A good groove is always a little bit loose, sloppy... Today's music technology is a collection of amazing tools.
Replies
Tombo Rombo said:
this exact sort of thing is why I walked out of a philosophy class at university, and talked an adnmisistrator into signing off on my taking a STAT class in place of it... a little philosophy is good for the soul, too much and you begin to require medication...
sorry for the brusque-ness... but, "to thine own self be true" and "speak loudly what you proclaim today to be true, though it contradict what you said equally loudly, yesterday."
Tombo's thoughts about 'perfection' make more sense than Jeff's, but that's just my subjective reality.
...Must have finally read some of his comments... ;-D
well... dont be... your speaking loudly today what you proclaim to be true. Tomorrow, maybe somethign different...
"How was that STAT class? Have you managed to gather data about the world around you and analyze it better than your brain already does by itself?"
Stat was difficult on me, but, i got thru it. And yes, Stat and formal logic DOES allow the humen brain to analyze data better than the brain does all by itself. left to its own devices, the human brain will prejudice itself with stuff. Your susceptible to an emotional argument. Or, to join in the crowds mentality of something. Statistics can in NO way tell you how any ONE case will turn out. Yet, you can state with almost certainty, given large enough of a clean sample... how many will turn out THIS way.
Formal logic allows one to take a befuddling, seemingly insolveable problem, and assign variables and letters to it, and to work with much like an equation. The answer, is the answer, and often one not arriveable at by any normal thought.
Formal logic and Statistical analysis are wonderful.
I must apologize for having been brusque and rude, i am in someone else's house. My apologies.
Recorded electronic music can be quantized and fiddled with to death. Music is something organic and there is nothing to state that electronic music can't be organic too. I never quantize anything to 100% because then it will not be organic any more. I quantize the performance to 50-70 % and the rhythmic parts (bass and drums) to say 80%. And I only quantize the notes that I can hear are off with my own ears. If it sounds good but looks awful - I leave it!
I think the same goes for production. The production of the recording need to be really good (that is as good as you can make it) but if it becomes to polished and nothing sticks out it too becomes inorganic.
The Beatles made a bigger impact with a technology that most of us would discard, than most of us does with technology they couldn't even dream about!
Bill Ricci said:
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