Re: Brian McLaren

From about 92 - `95 I was very interested in attempting to
get my music 'out there.' As this was microtonal music (and
given that I had not the financial resources to make a CD),
I decided I would try sending off tapes (and usually scores)
to anyone whom I could both secure an address, and an
apparent [microtonal] interest (relation... connection...
etc.).

The majority of these unsolicited overtures would simply
never receive a response.* [Which in truth was the response
I should have (more or less) expected.] But one of those who
did respond was Brian McLaren �- AND HOW! Three or four
times over the next year or so I would find COLOSSAL
packages of miscellaneous (historical and contemporary**)
microtonal literature waiting for me at the Rutland post
office...

I can only guess how many times Brian has so generously
given up his time and energy (not to mention postage
expenses!) in this fashion - But I�d be willing to bet that
it�s fairly emblematic of the type of person he is.

Dan

*And that was the good news... for the majority of the
responses I did get were of a variety that either hated the
music outright (especially the minimalist and JI sensitive
types), or assumed I didn�t know what I was doing - Thereby
reassuring me of the fact that there was indeed some
potential hope for my future microtonal/musical
undertakings! [Not including reviews and microtonal folks I
already personally knew... I�d say that the whole `92 - `95
tape sending endeavor roused about three (unequivocally)
positive respondents: Neil Haverstick, Didier Aschour, and
Brian McLaren...]

**One of my personal favorites was Brian�s own "Brief
History of Microtonality" which would help reaffirm in me a
conviction that any intonation procedure _could_ work just
as well as any other (given that an individual had the
inclination, will, and aptitudes necessary to animate that
particular 'intonation interest'), and that antithetical
contrariety seemed to be [and often for better _and_ worse]
a deeply lodged fundamental cog in the tuning narrative...

I have never met Mr. McClaren but Randy tells me he figured out the gsplay
tempo thing so he's a gem in my book.
But why do you want the music out there?? How does the artist get heard??
that is the question
I personally would love to hear some music
I do like Loooong extended Just tones/chords but respect what others are
trying in microtonality from Alves To Young
So send me some or lets set up a trade
sincerely
Pat

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Can any of you guy and girls do me a BIG favour?

Ring that guy Brian McLaren, and THANK HIM for his generosity.

And do it sincerely, and well.

I never have really ever met anyone like him!

He is a really good guy!

I only asked for a few CDs, and he sends me about 10.

Please do this, and also apologise to hime that I have been so late in
responding-I have been very busy.

I am sending him a card soon.

Sarn.

> Ring that guy Brian McLaren, and THANK HIM for his generosity.

Last I heard anyway, he doesn't have a phone. Perhaps you could send
him a postcard?

> I can only guess how many times Brian has so generously
> given up his time and energy (not to mention postage
> expenses!) in this fashion - But I�d be willing to bet that
> it�s fairly emblematic of the type of person he is.

It is.

There is also the fact though that, as I understand it anyway, he *has*
the time, since he lives off an inheritance rather than working a job. Not
that I'm complaining of course; I'm delighted that he has that much more
time to compose and explore.

I sensed something very funny about Mr. Zill from the
beginning -- too short for McLaren!

Brian may have social problems, but he's a good person,
and everything I've ever heard him say was said from the
heart, with the best intentions. It's easy to take him
the wrong way... his writings are similar to what you
find in a lot of punk zines... what he says is just his
brand of trying to improve the world. Granted, he really
goes off the deep end sometimes, and I didn't read what
he wrote on practical microtonality, but impersonation
is a far worse act than anything I've known Brian to do.
I feel he's been done an injustice.

If he did something truly bad on practical microtonality,
rebut him there, not here. If somebody really wanted to
get him back for anything he did there, that list could
have been left intact, and his deeds left for the world
to see. Besides, practical microtonality doesn't sound
like such a bad idea for a list, to me.

-Carl