Contemporary Electronic Music

What is MIDI?

MIDI: Musical Instrument Digital Interface

The MIDI language allows different electronic instruments and computer interfaces to "talk" to each other. Before the invention of MIDI, musicians had a difficult time syncing up their instrument set-ups because the instruments were not compatible with each other. MIDI was developed in 1982 and was shared freely as open source. Today most music studios and professional software programs operate off of MIDI. At first MIDI sounds were limited to 127 specific sounds that you would most likely recognize from some of the earliest video games of the 1980s.

Ghostbusters Atari Music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJDjALoIeKU

Composers like Laurie Anderson took MIDI and found new ways to express music and art through technology like the Drum Suit, samplers, CD-Rom, vocoder, and video.

Puppet Motel CD Rom

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPYOSLqN5Ns

O Superman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hd7XnOnSkkA

Pamela Z BodySynth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLDUQs7mkVQ

Contemporary Electronic Music

Technology, the Internet, computers, microchips, virtual reality, sensors, etc. have all revolutionized music technology and electronic music. Composers from all around the world use technology to compose and perform their works. There are a variety of new musical styles in the contemporary electronic genre.

Electronic instruments and music technology in general has helped composers and musicians create many musical sounds in a variety of situations:

Film composers can create entire orchestras and choirs using computer software
MIDI instruments like the Malletkat and electronic drum sets allow a percussionist to become a string orchestra
Dancers can "compose" music through their dance movements in a live concert through sensors using MIDI data
Composers can have a computer transcribe their music and send copies to an orchestra with a single click of the button
Indie musicians can share their newest album without having to worry about an agent through the internet
Music students can listen to music from all over the world without leaving their home
Musicians can collaborate internationally with musicians across the ocean
Music teachers can create fun music activities with music education software
Difficult to find instruments like bagpipes or full organs can be played on a keyboard in live performance
Video, video games, and audiovisual technology is combined with electronic music in a variety of hybrid arts.

Where does classical music end and technology begin?

You can read more about the importance of Music Technology in this article: http://iawm.wordpress.com/2010/01/23/in-defense-of-music-technology-adapt-or-die/

Eric Whitacre Virtual Choir Piece: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7o7BrlbaDs

Interactive MIDI Sequencer using MaxMSP

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O70FrnH2JU&feature=related

Turing Machine Opera: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jPlIvoS1t8&feature=BFa&list=PL270BA342E9103AD8&index=10

The Manekin "I'm Table Live": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdcEJFHId1I&feature=related

Synthesized work: h ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zh0jZisqUeg

iPhone Orchestra: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADEHmkL3HBg

laptop orchestra: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUeBXRWg0pA

Musical Tesla Coils: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEj6nSpD778&feature=related

Here is a sample of a vocal synthesizer singing using Vocaloid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rsBLRFONEs&feature=related

The animated character singing is called Miku Hatsune, and she is actually a virtual music superstar!

The You Tube Symphony Orchestra is only one example showing how the internet has changed the classical world. Comprised of 100 members who auditioned online through YouTube, the You Tube Symphony Orchestra premiered at Carnegie Hall with a work by composer Tan Dun (composer of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and the Beijing Olympics).

"Internet Symphony" by Tan Dun: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZhXMA62eNA&feature=relmfu

A Composer's Brief Guide to Percussion Mallets

When composing for percussion, it is important to know the difference between a variety of mallets. Although in most cases the percussionist will choose the proper mallets for the passage, sometimes as a composer, you want a particular sound. It is always good to research a mallet before indicating it in your score. Consult a percussion catalogue for a more in-depth look at the hundreds of mallets available. 1. YARN MALLETS They come in every dynamic range from supersoft baseball-sized to forte. They are the multi-purpose mallet, used for toms, suspended cymbal rolls, marimba, xylophone, woodblock, and pretty much anytime a percussionist doesn't have time to pick up another mallet. 2. CORD MALLETS These are harder than the yarn mallets. More effective on xylophone and vibes, these mallets can also be used for a variety of percussion instruments. 3. BRASS MALLETS These are for use on the glockenspiel/bells and the occasional brake drum. They produce a more "tinny" kind of ...

Music Secrets: The Music School Survival Guide

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Special Needs Revolt! Is an action-horror-comedy film. The film's hero, Billy Bates, who will be played by up-and-coming actor Samuel Dyer, is a young man with Down syndrome. Billy wakes up from a two-year coma and discovers that the United States has been turned into a brutal dictatorship thanks to President Kruger, to be played by award-winning veteran actor Bill Weeden ( Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D. ). Kruger has put all people with disabilities into institutions. Billy becomes the leader of a diverse group of resistance fighters committed to ending Kruger's reign of terror. "Special Needs Revolt!" is also a satire on our current political situation, done in the style of Troma Entertainment. Lloyd Kaufman of Troma will appear in the film. CHECK OUT THE INDIEGOGO CAMPAIGN: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/special-needs-revolt#/ Adrian’s latest work Special Needs Revolt! may seem edgy and even shocking to some....

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