[(In Search of a Concrete Music )] [Author: Pierre Schaeffer] [Jan-2013]

California Studies in 20th-Century Music

by Pierre Schaeffer

" Autour de moi, s'étalait des piles de disques, où s'inscrivaient les fragments de cette matière décomposée, rapetissée et agrandie, désossée, inversée, éclatée, pulvérisée. J'étais comme une enfant qui a vidé le son de son ours, arraché les yeux de sa poupée et démantibulée son train mécanique. Il fallait bien que je m'avoue que je venais d'inventer d'extraordinaires techniques de destruction, mais que tous les essais de synthèse me claquaient dans les doigts. Il y avait d'autre part, à chaque instant de mes démarches, d'impitoyables contradictions qui surgissaient. Les objets sonores proliféraient mais leur multiplication insensée n'apportait aucun enrichissement, du moins au sens où les musiciens l'entendent : l'idée musicale, ou l'ombre de d'idée qui demeurait à travers ses contorsions inchangées, et que de formes biscornues, que de variantes concrètes pour la même idée ! Ces variations elles-mêmes étaient contradictoires, trop musicales et pas assez, trop parce que la banalité de l'écriture initiale persistait, pas assez parce que la plupart de ces objets sonores étaient cruels, offensants pour l'oreille. "

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1952

Reviews

[Michal Lipták · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unrelated note to myself: there appears actually to be some improbable analogy between what Schaeffer seems to be striving for here and what late (still young, tho) Schubert was doing, if we are to believe Charlie Rosen, which I think we should:

"Schubert often concentrated, not on the motif, but on the space outlined by the motif, rearranging the elements within that space in different permutations, and putting the expressive weight on the expansion of the initial space."

"For Schubert, the essence of the motif is only partly its pitch content but even more its contrast of register and its sonority."

[Frederik]

I borrowed this from a friend, who is a concrète music artist (Het Concreet). Having been at their performances and symposia I wanted to pursue my interest by reading something from one of the founders of this approach to music.

Well.... My friend was right, this was just too esoteric for me. It was like reading a foreign alfabet.

Let see if I return to this in a couple of years and can make more sense of it.

[Rodrigo Martínez · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful read for anybody interested in electro acoustic music.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really great read by the guy that was arguably the force behind all modern electronic music, popular and otherwise. Pierre Schaeffer was the founder of the Musique Concrete movement. His approach to writing the book was to take his notes from his diary. This creates a very honest and fresh view on the both the development of the movement and the creative process itself.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was great to read Mr. Schaeffer's thoughts, but I was hoping it would be more useful for me (I thought there would be more ideas shared I could try out myself).

I'm always impressed by the effort so many put in in this field prior to practical digital technology.

[Ola · Rating 5 out of 5]

You might not agree with Schaeffer in everything, but this journal from the early days of electronic music gives great insights into the thoughts and ideas of one of the true revolutionaries in 20th century music.

[Cobertizo · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Cuando me topo con alguna forma de música electrónica, reacciono como mi padre violinista o mi madre cantante. Somos artesanos. Yo redescubro mi voz, mi violín en esta trastería de madera y latón. en mis bocinas de bicicleta"

[Roberto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. It's as entertaining as it is insightful.

[Terence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent.