Microtonal Design - a seminar this winter-spring in Urbana, IL

Hi friends,

Jacob Barton and I, microtonal activists and founders of Oddmusic U-C
(http://www.oddmusicuc.wordpress.com) are teaching a seminar in Microtonal
Design at the School for Designing a Society in Urbana, Illinois this
winter-spring. We're wanting to get a group of interested folks together to
design around microtonality -- instruments, concert formats, experiments,
compositions.... You're invited to apply and join us in Urbana for the 12-week
seminar!

Microtonal Design would be one of three Design Groups that would be working
near each other and cross-pollinating. The others are Feminist Composition and
Design, and Connecting Cybernetics to Social Change.

See the SDaS website for more information and to apply:
http://designingasociety.org/

And here is a more specific description of the Microtonal Design emphasis:

“Microtonal” refers to systems of pitch which functionally differ from 12-tone
equal temperament—the single acceptable tuning in the current culture. That
alternatives exist to the pitch systems hardwired into keyboards and locked
onto current guitars with 12-equal fretting, is not only an uncommon idea, but
potentially radical. What one discovers through working in Microtonal systems
is that current usage of “in tune” and “out of tune” hides distinctions which
would permit the generation of music otherwise considered impossible.
Participation in Microtonal Music-Making offers a “freshening up” of the ear,
an expansion of thinking around alternatives, and a rare chance to discover
for oneself what has been inherited and what can be appointed. To design in
microtonal systems is to offer an alternative to what everyone already knows,
to sing “out of tune” with conventional wisdom. It is a unique contribution to
the question of designing a society.
As Microtonality as a Doing is currently invisible, and in some cases
unthinkable, it needs Design. There are existing Microtonal Designs out there:
modified or invented instruments, experimental ensembles, workshops and study
groups, email lists, and experiments in concert format. This seminar, taught
at the Independent Media Center by members of Oddmusic, is itself a Microtonal
Design toward generating new ones. Participants at all levels of experience
are welcome. Come with a project or come with an interest.

Hope to hear from you,
Andrew

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Fantastic news! Denny mentioned something like this was in
the works. I'm so glad. If only this opportunity had come up
when I was 19 and available and looking for just such a thing...

Congratulations aren't strong enough and excitement isn't
conveyable enough for me to express how I feel about what's
going on in Urbana these days...

-Carl

At 08:49 AM 11/2/2010, you wrote:
>
>Hi friends,
>
>Jacob Barton and I, microtonal activists and founders of Oddmusic U-C
>(http://www.oddmusicuc.wordpress.com) are teaching a seminar in Microtonal
>Design at the School for Designing a Society in Urbana, Illinois this
>winter-spring. We're wanting to get a group of interested folks together to
>design around microtonality -- instruments, concert formats, experiments,
>compositions.... You're invited to apply and join us in Urbana for
>the 12-week
>seminar!
>
>Microtonal Design would be one of three Design Groups that would
>be working near each other and cross-pollinating. The others are
>Feminist Composition and Design, and Connecting Cybernetics to
>Social Change.
>
>See the SDaS website for more information and to apply:
> http://designingasociety.org/
>

Thanks for th enthusiasm, Carl!

We're very excited to get a core group together this spring. As we all know,
making micro music in a paucitonal dominant culture can feel awfully lonely
sometimes. It means a lot to me to compose in good company. Carl, if you can't
make th program in th spring, maybe you can do our 2-week Xenharmonic Praxis
summer camp.... more on that in a later email!

All are welcome to apply for th spring as well as spread th word. Here's th
latest description of Microtonal Design:

Microtonal Design is a seminar for unsticking the ear and everything attached
to it. Microtonal means other than our culture’s One True Tuning of 12 equal
divisions of the octave. There are infinite pitches available to us – slide
your voice from the top of your range to the bottom to hear some! To design in
Microtonal systems is to offer an alternative to what everyone already knows, to
sing “out of tune” with conventional wisdom. It is a unique contribution to the
question of designing a society. Microtonal Design is taught by members of
Oddmusic U-C. Domains to design in include: new and modified instruments,
scales, scores, language, performance, tools, concert formats. All levels of
experience are welcome.

http://www.designingasociety.org

Regards,
Andrew

________________________________
From: Carl Lumma <carl@...>
To: MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tue, November 2, 2010 3:00:13 PM
Subject: Re: [MMM] Microtonal Design - a seminar this winter-spring in Urbana,
IL

Fantastic news! Denny mentioned something like this was in
the works. I'm so glad. If only this opportunity had come up
when I was 19 and available and looking for just such a thing...

Congratulations aren't strong enough and excitement isn't
conveyable enough for me to express how I feel about what's
going on in Urbana these days...

-Carl

At 08:49 AM 11/2/2010, you wrote:
>
>Hi friends,
>
>Jacob Barton and I, microtonal activists and founders of Oddmusic U-C
>(http://www.oddmusicuc.wordpress.com) are teaching a seminar in Microtonal
>Design at the School for Designing a Society in Urbana, Illinois this
>winter-spring. We're wanting to get a group of interested folks together to
>design around microtonality -- instruments, concert formats, experiments,
>compositions.... You're invited to apply and join us in Urbana for
>the 12-week
>seminar!
>
>Microtonal Design would be one of three Design Groups that would
>be working near each other and cross-pollinating. The others are
>Feminist Composition and Design, and Connecting Cybernetics to
>Social Change.
>
>See the SDaS website for more information and to apply:
> http://designingasociety.org/
>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Andrew

I might be able to attend. What are the days/ hours?

Also I might be able to share some of the techniques I use. Including my GR 20, psaltry and axis 49

Chris
*

-----Original Message-----
From: Andrew Heathwaite <gtrpkt@...>
Sender: MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thu, 4 Nov 2010 09:00:47
To: <MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com>
Reply-To: MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [MMM] Microtonal Design - a seminar this winter-spring in Urbana, IL

Thanks for th enthusiasm, Carl!

We're very excited to get a core group together this spring. As we all know,
making micro music in a paucitonal dominant culture can feel awfully lonely
sometimes. It means a lot to me to compose in good company. Carl, if you can't
make th program in th spring, maybe you can do our 2-week Xenharmonic Praxis
summer camp.... more on that in a later email!

All are welcome to apply for th spring as well as spread th word. Here's th
latest description of Microtonal Design:

Microtonal Design is a seminar for unsticking the ear and everything attached
to it. Microtonal means other than our culture’s One True Tuning of 12 equal
divisions of the octave. There are infinite pitches available to us – slide
your voice from the top of your range to the bottom to hear some! To design in
Microtonal systems is to offer an alternative to what everyone already knows, to
sing “out of tune” with conventional wisdom. It is a unique contribution to the
question of designing a society. Microtonal Design is taught by members of
Oddmusic U-C. Domains to design in include: new and modified instruments,
scales, scores, language, performance, tools, concert formats. All levels of
experience are welcome.

http://www.designingasociety.org

Regards,
Andrew

________________________________
From: Carl Lumma <carl@...>
To: MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tue, November 2, 2010 3:00:13 PM
Subject: Re: [MMM] Microtonal Design - a seminar this winter-spring in Urbana,
IL

Fantastic news! Denny mentioned something like this was in
the works. I'm so glad. If only this opportunity had come up
when I was 19 and available and looking for just such a thing...

Congratulations aren't strong enough and excitement isn't
conveyable enough for me to express how I feel about what's
going on in Urbana these days...

-Carl

At 08:49 AM 11/2/2010, you wrote:
>
>Hi friends,
>
>Jacob Barton and I, microtonal activists and founders of Oddmusic U-C
>(http://www.oddmusicuc.wordpress.com) are teaching a seminar in Microtonal
>Design at the School for Designing a Society in Urbana, Illinois this
>winter-spring. We're wanting to get a group of interested folks together to
>design around microtonality -- instruments, concert formats, experiments,
>compositions.... You're invited to apply and join us in Urbana for
>the 12-week
>seminar!
>
>Microtonal Design would be one of three Design Groups that would
>be working near each other and cross-pollinating. The others are
>Feminist Composition and Design, and Connecting Cybernetics to
>Social Change.
>
>See the SDaS website for more information and to apply:
> http://designingasociety.org/
>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

oops,

Not at all what I thought now that I've finally seen the website.

Spring Semester 2011: $1500 for 3 months, not including room & board.

I will not be attending

Chris

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Andrew,

>We're very excited to get a core group together this spring. As we
>all know, making micro music in a paucitonal dominant culture can feel
>awfully lonely sometimes. It means a lot to me to compose in
>good company. Carl, if you can't make th program in th spring, maybe
>you can do our 2-week Xenharmonic Praxis summer camp.... more on that
>in a later email!

Yes, def keep us posted! That may be a possibility.

-Carl