Microtonal Musical Challenge for 2001

Microtonal Musical Challenge for 2001

Now that I'm approaching a full year on this list, and have been
eagerly awaiting the final musical distillation of the purely
*theoretical* ideas put forth here, I would like to issue the
following challenge to the dominant Alpha Male
mathematician/theorists on the list (meant in good humor and spirit,
and to inspire music creation):

By the end of 2001, compose just one piece of
melodically/harmonically compelling music, with the intent on
creating music that will endure repeated listening (lab experiments
and slacker solo keyboard not allowed), which will provide us with
the final tangible and audible verification of your theoretical work.
Write a piece of music that uses at least four different timbres in
your composition, with optional percussion instruments. Try to write
a piece of music which is several minutes long. Create an mp3 of your
composition and share the results and experience of your
aesthetic/mathematical choices with the members of this list, with
explanation. Where you may not compose, hire or collaborate with an
actual musician or composer by giving them the scales and stylistic
direction which will finally help all to understand your theory in an
*audible* manner. Join in the joyous experience of music creation by
coming out from behind the abstract barrier of ASCII, and transmit
your findings in the form of living, breathing and evolving music.
Bonus points are given to those who can produce more than one
composition or CD by the end of the year.

When I came here about a year ago, much of the these theoretical
concepts were manifest in the form of isolated chord examples, and to
my knowledge this is the frozen state which they remain in
(astounding to me). I yearn to hear these theoretical concepts, which
I have been so intensely following, manifest in actual music which
moves the spirit, and compels one to look closer at the underlying
theory. Especially interesting to me, would be even just one example
of a compelling melodic line, which would show me that the
transposition of the theory onto actual music is indeed possible.
Show me by example, the value of what you have to offer
theoretically, in the tangible form of music and I will be enriched
by the experience of seeing and hearing the results of your theory
come full circle by reaching this final stage. Let the fruits of your
theoretical labors be revealed in 2001, after this long period of
aging.

I propose here, that this will be of greatest importance to all on
this list who come here to learn from you, as I originally did. We
frequently speak about the "pre-compositional" work being done here.
I'm sure that many would like to see something audible come forth,
and would feel it unfortunate if it all perpetually languishes in
a "pre-compositional" state. The challenge is to balance the scales
back toward the musical direction. We also give great weight to the
audibility of this and that - so lets hear it!

Eagerly awaiting your musical contributions to the list,

Jacky Ligon

P.S. Audiences and list members can not live on dyads and isolated
chords alone. Frank Zappa used to use a great metaphor - he spoke
about "putting the eyebrows on the music". I want to hear your
eyebrows. With all the paper flapping, I can't hear a thing.

Profusion of Eyebrowed smiley things coming at you!

}: ) }: ) }: ) }: ) }: ) }: ) }: ) }: ) }: ) }: )

Jacky Ligon wrote,

<<Now that I'm approaching a full year on this list, and have been
eagerly awaiting the final musical distillation of the purely
*theoretical* ideas put forth here,>>

There are of course some very different theoretical ideas put forth by
some very different folks here, and my bet would be that if you don't
much care for an individuals ideas in their purely theoretical state,
then said somebody's probably not going to exactly light you on fire
if they set out to make them manifest in music... I don't think a
challenge like this would be a way to get good music happening <!>...
To make a point? Well, that's sort of another can o' worms altogether
I guess.

John Starrett's "Tuning Punks" went quite a ways towards giving this
forum something like an experiential non ASCII musical life, but I
guess things obviously won't ever satisfy everybody's personal idea of
what's best.

Leave music making to those who are honestly driven to do so, and the
theorizing to those who are really driven to do so, and everything's
bound to fall into place -- well, close enough anyway!

--Dan Stearns