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Keywords:
Mystified (139), Instructions (3), biba_nova (31), ambient (461), summer (62), evening (3)
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Description:
This is the second in a series of pieces that are created as a result of following a set of instructions, in this case given by Bryn (bibanova). They follow, below:
1) Construct a 32 to 64 bar loop based on the following instructions – tempo can be between 95 and 115bpm OR between 115bpm and 145bpm but you have to make this choice now before reading any further.
2) You can use up to 4 vocal elements two of which can be sustained notes and two of which can be can be short vocal pulses. You may use less than four if you wish, but you cannot do more than 2 of each element (eg, 1 vocal pulse and 2 sustained vocals or 2 vocal pulses and no sustained vocals – there are quite a few combinations)
3) You can use 5 additional tracks for your instruments, one of which must be a drum track or drum loop/sound, a bass track – all of the remaining elements can be any of the following – an organ sound, a piano sound, a string sound, a bell sound, a crystal sound, a fire sound, a canyon sound, a summer day sound, a summer night sound, a scary sound, a joyful sound. The limitation you have in choosing 3 elements from this list is that they must be synthetic – and not something from the orchestral jam pack. You must find the sounds that suggest an organ or a piano or a summer night or the canyon….
4) You must use the pitch wheel on the keyboard at least once on two of your instrument tracks
5) You can use either major or minor key.
6) The over riding rule and philosophy that under pins all of this – “Repetition and Patterns are good. Abstract improvisation is bad. Rules are meant to be broken, but can only be broken two times during this exercise…and you have to justify why you felt it necessary to break them”
Interpret the instructions as you like but you must follow them according to your own interpretation.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The purpose in these Instructions exercises is to find varying approaches in constructing and deconstructing music--aside from my usual vocal and improvisational approaches.
These are the tracks I ended up using to complete the composition:
Everything was recorded in GB3 on a 2 Ghz Macbook--including vocals using the pinhole microphone-- with a final mixdown in LE7:
synthesizer: Sandoway Ricochet (with pitchbend) and slow panning
synthesizer: Muscat Pluck (with panning effects)
bass loop: Synthesizer Bass 08.1
drum loop: Effected Beat 03.1
3 Vox Tracks:
Two harmonized, with the "Wandering Around" preset effect applied
One pulse vox with the effect "Filter Can" applied.
OneSound Effects track of the crackling fire--(which inspired the track's name)
Enjoy! :)
Thanks, Bryn, for the challenge and the concept of these Instruction pieces! :)
(And thanks to Matt Granz for the song art photo!)
Hardware:
Macbook 2 Ghz
MAudio Keystation 61es
pinhole mic
Software:
GB3
LE7
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Sound like good instructions! &mdash 03/03/07 - 06:13:30 PM
Cool stuff and maybe I will take a whack at following instructions...and I like the crackling fire! [ Reply to This ]
Despite the 'rules'... &mdash 03/03/07 - 06:22:30 PM
...this still sounds like a Mysti track! You've risen to the challenge and the end result is easily as compelling as your other pieces. The vocals and rhythm tracks fit together as snuggly as the pieces of a brand new jigsaw puzzle.
Excellent work but oh so brief... I was itching for this to carry on (and on...)
KK
PS - I could come up with some rules for you... *evil grin* [ Reply to This ]
:D &mdash 03/03/07 - 07:09:20 PM
I love experiments/exercises that provide constraints.
I hear more icicle wind-up insects than I do summer.
The sound is enticing and invites repeated listening. [ Reply to This ]
Lovely ambience &mdash 03/03/07 - 07:24:09 PM
Oh blimey, I'd have read the first five or six words of those instructions and then improvised it! You're braver than me to take that on, but it works very nicely. [ Reply to This ]
Thanks Rebsie &mdash 03/04/07 - 12:39:56 PM
This is kids stuff!!!!
Maybe Cat will explain one day how I made her learn to sing something backwards in order for me to be able to play her backward singing forwards....
Gawd....it gets so confusing. [ Reply to This ]
&mdash 03/04/07 - 02:40:22 PM
Hehe ... well it SOUNDS like you both know what you're doing, that's the main thing! [ Reply to This ]
Impressive &mdash 03/04/07 - 06:54:12 AM
I think I'd read the first line or two then go and have a lie down ;) Considering the parameters you chose to follow, this has worked out really well, but yes, a little short. I have to say that Bryn's instructions were ummmm ........ just a little weird (in the nicest possible way). By accepting them you have shown what a gracious (and talented) performer you are.
Thanks Mysti (and Bryn).
Neil [ Reply to This ]
Instructions and Rules &mdash 03/04/07 - 12:37:28 PM
I have been intruiged and amused by some of the comments (both here and on i-comp) about the instructions I gave to Mysti to make this piece of music, so I thought I would add my own 2 cents...
I would describe our collaborative relationship as very dynamic and interactive, unusual and intense, abstract and oblique and underpinned by intellectual curiosity and an open mind to new ideas and non traditional approaches.
Brian Eno has always been a very big influence on me and over the months, I have gradually introduced Mysti to some some of his music and the methodology behind the production of his music. We have used the oblique strategies quite a few times between us and we have done a few exercises similar to this which have been totally outside the box in terms of creatively producing something that we wouldnt have come up with if left to our own devices. (For example - see 'Light Fields' and 'What Really Not To Do' - to name just two)
So...last Friday, Mysti tells me that she is going to record 'something' later that night. She asks me for input/instructions. What you see above is what she got.
My intention in giving those instructions was to make her think in a different way. I wanted to force her to think in terms of patterns and structures, colours and impressions and to use her equipment slightly differently to how she would normally.
Now, when I say 'force' I don't really mean 'force'...but in terms of the exercise, I had every intention of forcing a limitation on to her normal method of working. I don't believe that many could rise to a challenge like this but I know that Mysti can take this stuff in her stride and still produce great sounding music.
Ultimately, I gave her the freedom of interpreting these instructions as she wished which still gives an amazing amount of leaway but still channels the process in a particular direction.
She did a great job and has produced a great piece of music as a result of these instructions.
Cat...it is great working with you in these collaborations - long may they continue
bmc [ Reply to This ]
Touching the walls of teh box, from the outside.... &mdash 03/05/07 - 01:04:21 PM
I think the instructions you gave Cat were really compelling.
I think it's important to gently nudge people out of their safe places.
I belong to a music lodge up here in Portland and that is exactly what we do for each other. You should ask Cat about it, she participated as a guest lodger last year.
Long way around the barn but I sure do enjoy your collaborations and influence on each other.
Great work Myst!
[ Reply to This ]
Well... I was just about to SAY... &mdash 03/04/07 - 06:56:24 PM
There's certainly an Oblique Strategies bit to this.. Very interesting....
Eno things are fascinating to me... His way of approaching music has always seemed pretty 'head-y' to me, rather than emotional, but the thing is that even if it starts off as an intellectual exercise, it does kick one's creativity out of ruts and stuff... Once in unfamiliar territory, and finding one's way in new ways, then things like emotion can come back into it...
A very intriguing listen.
Ed [ Reply to This ]
Intersting concept &mdash 03/06/07 - 01:31:05 PM
This is a rather interesting concept. Will be great to hear what others will do with the same instructions ... No I am not volunteering, I'd rather have an approach not unlike Rebsies, she said:
"I'd have read the first five or six words of those instructions and then improvised.."
My approach would probably have been:
1) read all the instructions
2) getting totally confused
3) give up trying to understand and improvise it all (probably falling out of all the rules). [ Reply to This ]
Interesting vocals &mdash 03/14/07 - 10:19:25 PM
- like the harmonies,and that wierd vox sound,and the insect crackly twig sounds.Would like to hear the drums louder,atmospheric though [ Reply to This ]
And then the flood came... &mdash 04/07/07 - 12:22:16 PM
nice job &mdash 05/01/07 - 12:14:34 PM
i love the obscure directions too; it's like a treasure hunt (only you constructed your own treasure at the end). i just printed out the instructions, and I will have a go at this when I get a chance. [ Reply to This ]
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