Cactus, frogs (was: A Chord of Nature)

[Monz:]

>> You guys would be interested in this:
>> http://researchmag.asu.edu/stories/sound.html

[Joe:]

> This is interesting, Monz... but I don't believe the author
> mentions
> that John Cage actually already *does* have a piece where he
> amplifies a cactus and listens to the result.
>
> I'm not certain of the name of the piece... but I've heard of
> it...

Wow Joe! That makes at least 4 people working in cacti!
Was Cage the first, I wonder...

I've heard two different live concerts bmy two
different dudes that used the 'amplifed catus' as an
instrument. At one concert I asked him some questions
and he said that the stress of the whole scene kills
the cactus after a few performances and so he has to
keep getting new cactuses. He also had some theories
about the high water content of the cactus interior
contributing greatly to the sound and such. I don't
remember. The concerts were over 10 years ago I think.

Anyway, the article posted is cool since the guy
records them out in the natural environment and lets
the rain naturally pluck the cactus instead of plucking
them himself until it keels over dead. Very respectful;
very nice.

Anyway one thing I wanted to say about the frog file
I posted is that our natural environment creates far
better, more complex, and more interesting microtonal
music than we do.

- Jeff

--- In crazy_music@y..., "X. J. Scott" <xjscott@e...> wrote:

/crazy_music/topicId_953.html#953

> [Monz:]
>
> >> You guys would be interested in this:
> >> http://researchmag.asu.edu/stories/sound.html
>
> [Joe:]
>
> > This is interesting, Monz... but I don't believe the author
> > mentions
> > that John Cage actually already *does* have a piece where he
> > amplifies a cactus and listens to the result.
> >
> > I'm not certain of the name of the piece... but I've heard of
> > it...
>
> Wow Joe! That makes at least 4 people working in cacti!
> Was Cage the first, I wonder...
>

I believe the Cage piece is somewhat "legendary" so it's quite
possible. Note that the author of the article said he had studied
with Cage...

_________ _________ ______
Joseph Pehrson

on 8/7/01 9:47 PM, crazy_music@yahoogroups.com at
crazy_music@yahoogroups.com wrote:

>> that John Cage actually already *does* have a piece where he
>> amplifies a cactus and listens to the result.

I'd guess that cacti play better in the 'sharp' keys :-)

> Anyway one thing I wanted to say about the frog file
> I posted is that our natural environment creates far
> better, more complex, and more interesting microtonal
> music than we do.
>
> - Jeff

Ain't that the truth. I too, am continually quite inspired by the orchestra
of peepers in the swampy field next door. A friend of mine came up to our
house one evening and after hearing the particularly spectacular performance
they gave as we were standing outside listening as the almost full moon
rose, was inspired to record them. He came up the next three nights at the
same time, minidisk recorder in hand, not a sound... I think he finally got
a decent recording in another location, if so, I'll copy it sometime and
post an excerpt.

Seth

--
Seth Austen

http://www.sethausten.com
emails: seth@...
klezmusic@...