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Description
One
of the 20th century Big Ideas was the notion of 'environmental
music'. This piece of Colin Black's is intended for environments
such as shopping malls, cafes, galleries and the work place.
'An
intricate pattern of identical complex cross-rhythms repeat every
30 seconds producing a trance inducing effect. Because the composition
takes 4 hours and 17 minutes to yield all the possible note/pattern
combinations, the music unfolds and the listener is allowed to
explore the ever changing textures for multiple melodic possibilities
rather than being fed only one choice'.
So
how does this fit in to the Oz Ad Lib archive and into the history
of music in general? Well for one, it is realised in terms of
a keyboard
and, since it is designed to be performed by three keyboards,
you could say that it becomes a one-man-band
almost by definition (unless the CSIRO is now working on a six
armed pianist). Colin is trying to get Yamaha on side to supply
3 of their Disc Klaviers. They are regular pianos with real strings
and keys but they are driven by digital pitch information from
a computer. It's a development from the old player piano idea.
So with your utility and 4 hefty mates, you could unload 3 of
these monsters at your local shopping mall and, hey presto, you're
in business.
Meanwhile
back in the 20th century, Eric Satie was busy working on his
'Furniture Music' and speculated that the music of the future
might be something to be ignored (not wrong there), and that
it might have a practical function masking dissonant ambient
noise, filling in awkward silences in conversation, adding suitable
sound to weddings, house interiors or visits to the pissoir.
Then
came George Owen Squier who, in 1922, came up with Muzak. Being
part of the military, his vision of 'centralized transmission
in a rationalized system of stimulus codes, supported by scientific
studies that demonstrated links between music, productivity,
insanity or controlled tranquility' fitted the bill in the age
of obedient shopping. Thanks George.
Colin
Black is hopefully trying to stimulate the shopper's neurons
back into some kind of engaged activity.One of the 20th century
Big Ideas was the notion of 'environmental music'. This piece
of Colin Black's is intended for environments such as shopping
malls, cafes, galleries and the work place.
'An
intricate pattern of identical complex cross-rhythms repeat every
30 seconds producing a trance inducing effect. Because the composition
takes 4 hours and 17 minutes to yield all the possible note/pattern
combinations, the music unfolds and the listener is allowed to
explore the ever changing textures for multiple melodic possibilities
rather than being fed only one choice'.
So
how does this fit in to the Oz Ad Lib archive and into the history
of music in general? Well for one, it is realised in terms of
a keyboard
and, since it is designed to be performed by three keyboards,
you could say that it becomes a one-man-band
almost by definition (unless the CSIRO is now working on a six
armed pianist). Colin is trying to get Yamaha on side to supply
3 of their Disc Klaviers. They are regular pianos with real strings
and keys but they are driven by digital pitch information from
a computer. It's a development from the old player piano idea.
So with your utility and 4 hefty mates, you could unload 3 of
these monsters at your local shopping mall and, hey presto, you're
in business.
Meanwhile
back in the 20th century, Eric Satie was busy working on his
'Furniture Music' and speculated that the music of the future
might be something to be ignored (not wrong there), and that
it might have a practical function masking dissonant ambient
noise, filling in awkward silences in conversation, adding suitable
sound to weddings, house interiors or visits to the pissoir.
Then
came George Owen Squier who, in 1922, came up with Muzak. Being
part of the military, his vision of 'centralized transmission
in a rationalized system of stimulus codes, supported by scientific
studies that demonstrated links between music, productivity,
insanity or controlled tranquility' fitted the bill in the age
of obedient shopping. Thanks George.
Colin
Black is hopefully trying to stimulate the shopper's neurons
back into some kind of engaged activity.s
Biographical
notes
Colin
Black was born and raised in the rural farming community of Numulgi
(Far North Coast of NSW) where his interest in electronic music
began with childhood experimentations in audio multi-tracking
of original compositions using two domestic cassette tape recorders,
disassembled transistor radios and microphones.
He
has had a diverse and varied musical career ranging from, playing
lead guitar in a 70s Rock concept show across the East coast
of Australia to Musical Director for live TV variety shows, composing
soundtracks for short & feature films, video, TV and multimedia
presentations, the creation of an Enhanced (Multimedia) Music
CD and Industry awards for Best Experimental Song and Best Instrumental
Composition.
As
a composer Black has been featured on ABC radio (Australia) and
his works have been selected for performance at events including
"En Red O 2000" music festival Barcelona Spain, 30th
Festival Synthese Bourges 2000 France, Sydney Universityís
Live Wires concerts '97, '98, and Melbourne's Extatic Concert
for the Next Wave festival '98 and Wellington's Extatic Concert
'99. A finalist in the National Digital Arts Awards '98, his
composition "118, 120 122"was exhibited at Brisbaneís
Institute of Modern Art.
Black's
Nominations and Awards include: 2000 Australian Guild Screen
Composers Screen Music Awards Nomination for Best Music for a
Station ID or Promo 1998 National Digital Arts Award finalist
1996 NCEIA Award - Best Experimental Song 1996 NCEIA Award Nominee
for Best Instrumental Song 1995 NCEIA Award Nominee for Best
Rock Song 1995 1994 NCEIA Award - Best Instrumental Song
http://www1.tpgi.com.au/users/cydonian/c_black.html
cydonian@tpgi.com.au
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