Back in the 60's (again) there were folks convince...

2009-01-09T08:44:00.000Z

Back in the 60's (again) there were folks convinced that if you played the Rolling Stones and sat watching a candle flame, the flame would move in sync with the music.

(I don't think it really had to be the Rolling Stones, but that was the story at least.)

Actually, when you go to a classical concert, the assumption is that you're going to turn off your visual channel and "focus" all your attention on the sound streaming in thru your ears.

And to this end, most classical concerts are visually boring to the extreme. Especially if you're sitting up in the balcony.

Maybe that's why certain svelte female violinists are all the rage these days .. has little to do with the music.

But concerts have always been a visual wasteland. And attempts to do otherwise by introducing light shows or special staging don't really work that well (unless maybe the visuals and music are conceived together).

It seems some people are better at visual stimulation while others favor audio. I must say that when I'm supposed to be focusing on the sound, I try as hard as I can to not be distracted by what I see in front of me. In fact, many times I'll close my eyes, or bring the score to read along. Both result in a very heightened experience. This is especially effective with long pieces that would otherwise cause squirming in the seats, like Stockhausen's Mantra, which is incredible to listen to with the score .. it's actually very funny!

On the other hand, Stan Brakhage's silent abstract films are to the eyes what, say, Stockhausen or Feldman are to the ears. But put the two together and you get a mess.

The two are very hard to put together. Dance and film/video provide a good technical platform to try, but I'm so often disappointed by the result.

Which is what makes Merce Cunningham's pieces to John Cage's music so incredible. Two separate streams existing together, like the candle flame, as if in sync.

It's truly amazing when it happens.

I don't have perfect pitch, but does that video cl...

2009-01-09T04:32:00.000Z

I don't have perfect pitch, but does that video clip sound fast (sharp) to anyone else? Maybe a frame-rate conversion issue?

Comments on On An Overgrown Path: Why not take classical music to the visual?

Back in the 60's (again) there were folks convince...

I don't have perfect pitch, but does that video cl...