MHL 603
PREPARATION 6
Electronic
Music & Electronica
due Mon, Nov 2 at 6pm via email
(mason.bates@notes.sfcm.edu)
Please
listen to the following:
Varse, Deserts
Eno, Music
for Airports
Aphex
Twin, Cliffs [2
different tracks one electronic, one acoustic]
Scores
& recordings are in the reserve binder in the library.
Then read the following online:
A Brief History of Ambient Music: http://www.ambientmusicguide.com/pages/history.php
Frank Zappa on Edgar Varse:
Pick one of the following topics and write one or two paragraphs:
1. Varse has been called the godfather
of sound. Why? First talk about the orchestral
passage. What about his
orchestration seems different from earlier music? Cite specific instruments or passages in the piece, and use
vivid language to describe them.
Now talk about the electronic passage. What is the effect of this interlude? Does it relate to the orchestral part
at all, or do you hear it as something completely different? Explain. Finally, what does Frank Zappa say about this piece in the
reading, and what is his overall opinion of Varse?
2. Compare the two
versions of Aphex Twins Cliffs.
The original
electronica track was later orchestrated for the ensemble Alarm Will
Sound. How do these two versions
affect you differently? Use
specific examples and describe particular instruments / sounds in as vivid a manner
as possible. Do you see any benefit in orchestrating an electronica track? Finally, how does this track relate to
Enos Music for Airports? What do they all have in common? Cite specific passages from A Brief
History of Ambient Music.
Please follow the following format for your documents:
Write Preparation 2 and your name at the top
Specify which question you are answering
Save your document as a PDF and include Prep2 and your name in the
filename (for ex: Prep2-MasonBates.pdf)