In class we critiqued Sammi Lee's abstract sound project using rhythm, so I listened to the one using pitch:
It starts with a trickle of water, and then many other sounds are layered on top. Most of the sounds come from a bathroom, like running water, toilets flushing, hand dryers, etc. However, some of the sounds are ambiguous, like the scratching sound. This sound is one of those sounds that makes you cringe when you hear it, and when it provides an interesting contrast from some of the softer, more fluid sounds. Though the intention of this piece is to focus on different pitches, the repititon of some sounds gives me the impression of rhythm. Overall, it is a very unique and complex combination of sounds. I think it is humorous that the water trickes at the end.
Friday, February 23, 2007
Listen & analyze examples
Student examples
1) "Ley"- This example is all about poetry. It starts with a low drumming sound in the background. Then all of a sudden there is language. Some of this language is studderd. The artist is obviously experimenting with overlapping, because the language slowly builds on itself throughout the piece. The drumming also builds along with the language, and then when the language climaxes, it dissappears as soon as it appeared, and the drumming slowly fades. The contrast between the soft repititous drumming, and the sometimes harsh pitch of the language is quite beautiful.
2) "Ton"- This example is all about ADD and ADHD. It is mostly compiled of interview clips from men and women. They are just snipets of each one that overlap and interrupt each other. By doing this it creates quite a chaotic effect. Sometimes there is a rhythm in the background, like a fork tapping a glass. The combination of language and tapping makes me feel anxious. There is also a lot of repitition with the language when they name medications. The constant switching between male and female voices makes it hard to concentrate, which is ironic considering the piece is about ADHD.
Professional examples
1) "Net"- This example is all about abortion. This is also compiled of interview clips. It begins abruptly with music in the background and voices in the foreground. First there are just single words, sometimes being repeated. Then the music stops and there is a full sentence. I feel like there is no climax. It begins and stops abruptly, without any peaks and valleys.
2) "Great turn ons"- This example is all about things being turned on, from a hairdryer to a microwave, to a vacume. It beings abruptly, suprising the listener. There are a sereies of clips of things turning on. Each lasts just a few seconds, but they come right after another with only a split second of silence in between to divide them. Sometimes there isn't enough contrast between the types of sounds, so they can blend together.
1) "Ley"- This example is all about poetry. It starts with a low drumming sound in the background. Then all of a sudden there is language. Some of this language is studderd. The artist is obviously experimenting with overlapping, because the language slowly builds on itself throughout the piece. The drumming also builds along with the language, and then when the language climaxes, it dissappears as soon as it appeared, and the drumming slowly fades. The contrast between the soft repititous drumming, and the sometimes harsh pitch of the language is quite beautiful.
2) "Ton"- This example is all about ADD and ADHD. It is mostly compiled of interview clips from men and women. They are just snipets of each one that overlap and interrupt each other. By doing this it creates quite a chaotic effect. Sometimes there is a rhythm in the background, like a fork tapping a glass. The combination of language and tapping makes me feel anxious. There is also a lot of repitition with the language when they name medications. The constant switching between male and female voices makes it hard to concentrate, which is ironic considering the piece is about ADHD.
Professional examples
1) "Net"- This example is all about abortion. This is also compiled of interview clips. It begins abruptly with music in the background and voices in the foreground. First there are just single words, sometimes being repeated. Then the music stops and there is a full sentence. I feel like there is no climax. It begins and stops abruptly, without any peaks and valleys.
2) "Great turn ons"- This example is all about things being turned on, from a hairdryer to a microwave, to a vacume. It beings abruptly, suprising the listener. There are a sereies of clips of things turning on. Each lasts just a few seconds, but they come right after another with only a split second of silence in between to divide them. Sometimes there isn't enough contrast between the types of sounds, so they can blend together.
Brainstorming for research sound piece
1) The two topics I am considering are water, and alcohol (a bit of a contrast), but I haven't really decided which one.
2) What leads to alcohol abuse? How do different bottles sound when you open them? What are the different drinking games? Why do people like it? What does it taste like? How is someone different when they are sober vs. drunk?
3) If I do alcohol, I will record on thursday, friday, and saturday nights (when there are most likely to be parties and people drinking). I could also go to the bars almost any week night and record sounds there. I could interview my friends too. If I do water, I could go to the pool when the swim team has practice, or just use the bathroom for showers, sinks, toilets, and the kitchen for boiling water.
4) I've been swimming since I was very very little. I've done swim team since I was 7, and I was a lifeguard for a long time. I practically live in the water. It is where I feel the most relaxed, and where I go to de-stress. However, alcohol I feel is a big part of college life. It has some kind of impact on everyone, even if they don't drink.
5) Since I'm not 21, I don't have legal access to alcohol, or even some bars, so that could be a roadblock.
2) What leads to alcohol abuse? How do different bottles sound when you open them? What are the different drinking games? Why do people like it? What does it taste like? How is someone different when they are sober vs. drunk?
3) If I do alcohol, I will record on thursday, friday, and saturday nights (when there are most likely to be parties and people drinking). I could also go to the bars almost any week night and record sounds there. I could interview my friends too. If I do water, I could go to the pool when the swim team has practice, or just use the bathroom for showers, sinks, toilets, and the kitchen for boiling water.
4) I've been swimming since I was very very little. I've done swim team since I was 7, and I was a lifeguard for a long time. I practically live in the water. It is where I feel the most relaxed, and where I go to de-stress. However, alcohol I feel is a big part of college life. It has some kind of impact on everyone, even if they don't drink.
5) Since I'm not 21, I don't have legal access to alcohol, or even some bars, so that could be a roadblock.
3 Things I learned In Class Today
1) I learned some steps I should take when developing an idea. They consist of but are not limited to the following...
a) brainstorm
b) choose topic (is it accessible, is it broad, does it interest you?)
c) generate questions (who, what, where, when, how, why?)
d) collect data
e) edit
f) crit
g) share
2) I learned that sometimes, to develope and idea you should free write. Just let the right side of your brain take over and try not to think too much about it. By letting your thougths flow, your brainstorming will most likely lead you to the right place.
3) I was absent for the last class, so this week I learned about the abstract sound assignment. The goal is to intergrate sounds simultaneously while focusing on either rhythm or pitch. I am excited to not only hear the sound clips that other people have collected, but to experiment and really let go. I think that experimentation with sound might not produce something that sounds wonderful, but I will learn a lot by the process, and I think that is just as important.
a) brainstorm
b) choose topic (is it accessible, is it broad, does it interest you?)
c) generate questions (who, what, where, when, how, why?)
d) collect data
e) edit
f) crit
g) share
2) I learned that sometimes, to develope and idea you should free write. Just let the right side of your brain take over and try not to think too much about it. By letting your thougths flow, your brainstorming will most likely lead you to the right place.
3) I was absent for the last class, so this week I learned about the abstract sound assignment. The goal is to intergrate sounds simultaneously while focusing on either rhythm or pitch. I am excited to not only hear the sound clips that other people have collected, but to experiment and really let go. I think that experimentation with sound might not produce something that sounds wonderful, but I will learn a lot by the process, and I think that is just as important.
Friday, February 2, 2007
Art Of Noises & John Cage HW Articles
ART OF NOISES HOMEWORK ARTICLE
Please read the following article. Copy the questions below and then answer them on your own blog.
1. How do you think Russolo would feel in a world without simultaneous sound? Explain your answer based upon what you have learned about Russolo’s philosophies of sound from this article. Russolo appriciates natural sounds like wind, water and air. Without those natural sounds, man would be lost.
2. Does Russolo value “noise”? Do you value it? Why or why not? Russolo does value noise. He says it triumphs over man. I do value noise, but I think it is often taken for granted. It's like breathing, unless you are reminded of it, it comes naturally, you don't think about it.
3. What is the role of noise in the media you enjoy? (games; films; radio; news; music) I believe it is for the purpose of entertainment. We don't need noise to survive, but to add value and pleasure to our everyday lives.
4. What do Cage and Russolo have in common? They both believe in natural sounds.
JOHN CAGE HOMEWORK ARTICLE
Please read the following article on John Cage. Answer the following questions on your blog:
1. Can you imagine a current day performance that would attune people to their surroundings with a similar effect? I think people today would be more open to sound experimentation. I can't imagine people replacing their music librarys with white noise or the sound of wind.
2. Do you think John Cage ripped off his audience, or provided them with something profound? Or do you have a different opinion entirely? He provided them with something profound.
3. Explain your answer to question 2. I admire Cage's passion for sound experimentation. I think that the public should always be open to experiencing new things. There are always going to be people who dislike his style, but they should respect his creativity.
Please read the following article. Copy the questions below and then answer them on your own blog.
1. How do you think Russolo would feel in a world without simultaneous sound? Explain your answer based upon what you have learned about Russolo’s philosophies of sound from this article. Russolo appriciates natural sounds like wind, water and air. Without those natural sounds, man would be lost.
2. Does Russolo value “noise”? Do you value it? Why or why not? Russolo does value noise. He says it triumphs over man. I do value noise, but I think it is often taken for granted. It's like breathing, unless you are reminded of it, it comes naturally, you don't think about it.
3. What is the role of noise in the media you enjoy? (games; films; radio; news; music) I believe it is for the purpose of entertainment. We don't need noise to survive, but to add value and pleasure to our everyday lives.
4. What do Cage and Russolo have in common? They both believe in natural sounds.
JOHN CAGE HOMEWORK ARTICLE
Please read the following article on John Cage. Answer the following questions on your blog:
1. Can you imagine a current day performance that would attune people to their surroundings with a similar effect? I think people today would be more open to sound experimentation. I can't imagine people replacing their music librarys with white noise or the sound of wind.
2. Do you think John Cage ripped off his audience, or provided them with something profound? Or do you have a different opinion entirely? He provided them with something profound.
3. Explain your answer to question 2. I admire Cage's passion for sound experimentation. I think that the public should always be open to experiencing new things. There are always going to be people who dislike his style, but they should respect his creativity.
The Aesthetics of Noise-Response
Today in class I read "The Aesthetics of Noise" by Torben Sangild.
http://www.ubu.com/papers/noise.html
"...noises are the sounds that are discarded as being impure, unmusical."
Sangild's article got me thinking about sounds in a new way. Noise is so different than music. Noises can be ugly, they can be annoying, they can be confusing. I think it is beautiful to take this rejected noises and combine them and manipulate them into something beautiful.
http://www.ubu.com/papers/noise.html
"...noises are the sounds that are discarded as being impure, unmusical."
Sangild's article got me thinking about sounds in a new way. Noise is so different than music. Noises can be ugly, they can be annoying, they can be confusing. I think it is beautiful to take this rejected noises and combine them and manipulate them into something beautiful.
3 Things I learned In Class 1/20/07
1) I learned more about Sound Studio 3, a Mac OS X application for recording and editing audio digitally on my computer.
2) I learned how to edit sound in Sound Stuido 3. In the program I opened a sound clip that was saved on my external hardrive. Once it was there, I could cut, paste, and copy sound to layer them.
3) I learned how to use filters to manipulate my sound clips, like changing the pitch, the reverb, and the amplitude.
2) I learned how to edit sound in Sound Stuido 3. In the program I opened a sound clip that was saved on my external hardrive. Once it was there, I could cut, paste, and copy sound to layer them.
3) I learned how to use filters to manipulate my sound clips, like changing the pitch, the reverb, and the amplitude.
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