the sound of silence
The most stunning version of Born in the USA is in the Live in NYC DVD. Don't know if the CD also has that version. It is very much slowed down and sung in authentic jazz-blues fusion style with only a surprisingly effective indian sitar-like accompaniment. The refrain verse becomes introspective yet fearless. On that note, I hope Springsteen makes an album in authentic jazz/blues style. His voice is well suited to it.
you're right, Kush, he should realy do something of that kind. he has such a powerful voice, but it was often sort of melted down with overproduction. for now, my favorites are his more accoustic songs (the first ones at Tracks and Nebraska)...
and greta, good thing you couldn't hear the trees breathing. it wouldn't be silence then, right?
someone once said something like: we sould turn off the music, but what would we do then? talk to each other? perhaps even THINK?
and greta, good thing you couldn't hear the trees breathing. it wouldn't be silence then, right?
someone once said something like: we sould turn off the music, but what would we do then? talk to each other? perhaps even THINK?
Jurica,
Very good clarification of the "craze". Cage was always prone to invent pieces that challenge the audience. Random events was another technique he liked to employ as part of composition. When he wrote 4'33" for piano in 1952 the only sounds coming from the instrument were due to the opening and closing of the keyboard cover to signify the 3 movements. The sounds heard then were largely the sounds made in the auditorium by chance. The other "sounds" to be percieved were the utterances of one's internal chatter but this can go undetected unless the individual is really paying attention.
The role of silence in music is crucial as music is sound organised within silence. Wall of sound I think soon ceases to be music and becomes an assualt of noise if the ears get no rest.
Regards, W. O.
Very good clarification of the "craze". Cage was always prone to invent pieces that challenge the audience. Random events was another technique he liked to employ as part of composition. When he wrote 4'33" for piano in 1952 the only sounds coming from the instrument were due to the opening and closing of the keyboard cover to signify the 3 movements. The sounds heard then were largely the sounds made in the auditorium by chance. The other "sounds" to be percieved were the utterances of one's internal chatter but this can go undetected unless the individual is really paying attention.
The role of silence in music is crucial as music is sound organised within silence. Wall of sound I think soon ceases to be music and becomes an assualt of noise if the ears get no rest.
Regards, W. O.
Rather than refer you there, I'll just bring it all here, a piece (by Anjani), which I immediately thought of, when we began to speak of silences and simplicities in music. The principle holds true. For those who haven't read it yet, enjoy this lovely writing. It can be found in one of the sections of Jarkko's Files.
~ ElizabethDear Jarkko
This was written by Anjani Thomas who sang back-up for me and played the piano in the "Various Positions" tour in 1985. she also did many of the vocal backgrounds on songs for "I'm Your Man."
We did some work together on May 6th and the next day she handed me this document. It made me very happy.
I am posting it with her permission.
All the best
Leonard
May 18, 1999
The Story of "C"
I sat at the piano, learning his song, thinking to myself "this is so ... simple. Its too simple"
And I began to hear the possibilities, the opportunities to embellish his little song and make it something more. Suddenly, he stopped singing and turned to me.
"Anjani" ... spoken quietly, almost apologetically, ... "could you play a "C" cord there?" I looked at him hard. "I am playing "C"."
"Um, I mean a straight, plain C." As he said it, he drew a horizontal line in mid-air with his finger.
I paused, not understanding really, what he wanted. "A "C"? "Ah," I thought, "He's never had formal training -- he's a singer-songwriter, not a PLAYER. I'll play what he wants but doesn't know how to ask for. We resumed playing. He stopped again.
"Anjani?"
"Yes?"
"I know it's rather different, but could you keep to plain "C" there?" Years of training and road chops disallowed me from holding to a banal triad. I was so sure the major 7, the sus 4, the augmented, the 6/9 were better choices, musical choices. In fact, I spent the tour with him in subtle sabotage of his request. A stab of #5 here, an 11th there ... culled from my superior arsenal of notes, licks, fills -- everything for a lonely, mundane gap. Yet always, in my opinion, tasteful and necessary.
I did not care that he didn't like it. I took it upon myself to educate him by example - refining his rough-cuts into polished gems - technically, musically. And he never asked me to play "C" again, so I figured he was learning and liking it.
Ten years later I got so burned out on the business I left music altogether and went to live by a lake. I planned a garden and felt the Texas sun on my back as I raked, hoed, planted and harvested, quietly, in silence. One day I looked up and saw a bird on a wire, and immediately, the words to his song came into my mind. And for the first time, I was struck by the power, the simplicity and purity of "C" -- alone, whole, stacked neatly a third apart. Brilliant, clean, no more, no less. Of course it was the chord of Cohen ... And I finally learned to play "like a bird on a wire ..." just as he meant to teach me.
© 1999 Anjani Thomas. Posted here with her permission.
Thanks to Leonard Cohen for forwarding this touching story,
and to Judith Braun for her help in creating this page.
John Cage
John Cage died in 1992 .
Yes Cage was old. He was born in1912 and the bulk of his influential work was composed from the 1930's to the 1950's. He was influenced significantly by Edgard Varese (1883-1965) who incidently was a major influence also on Frank Zappa. Cage composed from the viewpoint that life and art are not separate entities. He remarked that "art should imitate nature in her manner of operation". Hence his interest in aleatoric (chance) music. Pollock a contemporary painter remarked that "art is nature". Cage was deeply into Zen Buddhism and he had a fascination with all varieties of wild mushrooms. 
Cheers, W.O.
Cheers, W.O.
vaccuum cleaners and barking dogs
Although I would not myself clasify the sound of a vacuum cleaner down the hall whilst I'm in the bath as music (read: more of a menace!) I like what Sandra is saying 
Has anyone seen the movie or heard the soundtrack to "Swing"? It's a fillem by Tony Gatlif about the manouche (french gypsies) and they have a great scene about hearing music in everyday things. Aaaahhh! And no I didn't really research this post, just remembered.
PS.
You never pour tea onto milk....always tea first...hmmm I feel another opinion poll coming on?
Zabka
Has anyone seen the movie or heard the soundtrack to "Swing"? It's a fillem by Tony Gatlif about the manouche (french gypsies) and they have a great scene about hearing music in everyday things. Aaaahhh! And no I didn't really research this post, just remembered.
PS.
You never pour tea onto milk....always tea first...hmmm I feel another opinion poll coming on? Zabka
Here, I was going to comment on Zabka's great avatar ~ Queen/Crowned Frog ~ and then, I come upon Witty Owl's awesome one of an owl in flight at night 
. Simply beautiful 
!
Re: the vacuum cleaner down the hall, I could sure hear it as music, as it would mean someone else was doing the housecleaning ! I'd even be inclined to sing along ~ from the bath.
Regarding "SWing" and Tony Gatlif, I sure haven't and I'd sure love to ! Very interesting. I'll see if I can find them through video/music stores. Thanks for the suggestion .
~ Lizzy
. Simply beautiful !Re: the vacuum cleaner down the hall, I could sure hear it as music, as it would mean someone else was doing the housecleaning
! I'd even be inclined to sing along ~ from the bath.Regarding "SWing" and Tony Gatlif, I sure haven't and I'd sure love to
! Very interesting. I'll see if I can find them through video/music stores. Thanks for the suggestion .~ Lizzy
That owl is gorgeous for sure!
Tony Gatlif has done a few movies on the subject of gypsy life and culture. Most are available on video: Latcho Drom, Vengo, The Crazy Stranger. Very sensual and beautiful. They are part documentary part cultural history and music in style, and sometimes you feel like you've been a part of it all. Actually if you don't feel like grabbing some kind of musical instrument (yes, even that vacuum cleaner down the hall) and break out dancing after watching, well maybe you need to watch again. There are some heartbreaking aspects.
Well recommended! Go see kids!
Z
Tony Gatlif has done a few movies on the subject of gypsy life and culture. Most are available on video: Latcho Drom, Vengo, The Crazy Stranger. Very sensual and beautiful. They are part documentary part cultural history and music in style, and sometimes you feel like you've been a part of it all. Actually if you don't feel like grabbing some kind of musical instrument (yes, even that vacuum cleaner down the hall) and break out dancing after watching, well maybe you need to watch again. There are some heartbreaking aspects.
Well recommended! Go see kids!
Z
Ahhhhh ~ VENGO !!! So, that cd I have is a soundtrack!?! Track 5 grabs me by the solar plexus and does not let go until it is ready and done! Oh, to dance to dance to dance to that ecstatic music!!! Well, on the cd itself, it says "Vengo" and on the front insert it says, "Venga Navidad" ~ glorious beyond measure, no matter what it says, where!!!
VENGO !!! So, that cd I have is a soundtrack!?! Track 5 grabs me by the solar plexus and does not let go until it is ready and done! Oh, to dance to dance to dance to that ecstatic music!!! Well, on the cd itself, it says "Vengo" and on the front insert it says, "Venga Navidad" ~ glorious beyond measure, no matter what it says, where!!!