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matthewleeknowles
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« on: 16:18:08, 24-11-2007 » |
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Hey everyone!
I'm new here...so please talk to me!
I am a 22 year old composer, living in London and just finishing a degree at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
I thought I would start by telling you about a project of mine called SIX_EVENTS
six ordinary events, like getting on a bus or sitting in a park, all become performances over 6 days in January 2008.
These events are pieces of music...or art....whichever one you like.
Anyone can do them anywhere they are in the world, who knows...this might turn into a record breaker!
if you like this (and I hope you do!) please read the following information, which is from the myspace page.
i am interested in John cage, and happenings, intermedia events, conceptual art...that kind of thing and would love to speak to likeminded people.
And as this is a forum...if anyone wants to discuss anything about anything in this post....then go for it!**** SIX_EVENTS is a project by the composer Matthew Lee Knowles.
It is in keeping with his love of Conceptual Art, Happenings, John Cage, George Brecht, Fluxus, Event Scores, Tasks and turning simple ideas into potentially complex situations where an infinite number of outside and unpredictable factors can influence the focus.
It is also an experiment, very much in keeping with the 60's way of thinking. Matthew thinks of this project as a worldwide simultaneous happening and is encouraging performers (for they are performers) to record their involvement in any way (photo, film, audio, poetry, writing, drawing) to be exhibited in London after the event. (NB: Video files should be uploaded to youtube)
The first event takes place on January 21st 2008 and there is an event every day (with exception to Saturday 26th) with the final event being on Sunday 27th January.
Performers are free to execute their performance at any point during the day and in each event have to follow through a task. These tasks range from clapping hands once, to simply not thinking about the length of time one will ride a bus for.
Events call for certain times and durations to be recorded and sent to the composer; these timings and durations will go to writing a new piece of music in late 2008.
Event four (supermarket) calls for receipts to be kept, it is hoped that performers will send their receipts to Matthew through the post or scan and email them to six_events@yahoo.co.uk
Performers should constant listen to the sounds around them, they are hearing a very unique composition. Also, anything at all of interest should be documented, if something happens (someone accuses you of acting suspicious, a pigeon sits on your head, you fall asleep, you trip up....) please write this down and email to the above address.
NB: you do not have to take part in every single event, you can choose just one if you so wishhere are the actual eventsEvent one BUS Monday January 21st 2008
On the prescribed day you should board any bus, at any time.
The length of your journey should not be premeditated.
When you are ready, alight the bus.
You should record the times you boarded & alighted the bus.
Event two ROAD Tuesday January 22nd
On the prescribed day, walk down any road.
You should clap your hands together once, at any point.
You may walk at any pace, but must record the name of the road & the duration of how long you walked for.
It is at your discretion to how long you walk for (at the end of the road, you could turn around & walk back.)
Event three BUILDING Wednesday January 23rd
On the prescribed day you should enter any building.
Discover the building for a duration of up to one hour.
Sit down at least once & close your eyes.
You should record the time you entered & left the building.
Event four SUPERMARKET Thursday January 24th
On the prescribed day you should enter any supermarket.
Walk down every isle at your own pace.
On your way round you must pick up any item for less then £1
Go back to your original starting place, in the supermarket.
Before paying for your item you must move one other item in the store to another place, an incongruous position on another shelf.
Pay for your item & keep your receipt.
You may not own the bought item, it must be given away or thrown into a bin.
Event five PUB Friday January 25th
On the prescribed day you should enter any pub & ask one person any question you wish.
You should request a glass of water, you should not drink it.
Leave the pub.
You should record the time you entered & left the pub.
Event six PARK Sunday January 27th
On the prescribed day you should enter any park
Sit or stand on a green area for any length of time
You should look up to the sky at least once.
You should record the time you entered & left the park.
http://www.myspace.com/six_events
http://www.myspace.com/composermatthewknowlespianistemail to six_events@yahoo.co.uk
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« Last Edit: 10:08:58, 26-11-2007 by matthewleeknowles »
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"I have nothing to say and I am saying it and that is poetry as I need it"
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Reiner Torheit
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« Reply #1 on: 16:25:22, 24-11-2007 » |
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Welcome, Matthew! I'm intrigued by this project, and I'll be interested to see the results of its realisation The whole genre of "happenings" is under-developed, and there are lots more avenues to be explored.. I'm glad to see you working in this rather neglected field! Good luck with the project! |
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"I was, for several months, mutely in love with a coloratura soprano, who seemed to me to have wafted straight from Paradise to the stage of the Odessa Opera-House"
- Leon Trotsky, "My Life"
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martle
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« Reply #2 on: 16:26:18, 24-11-2007 » |
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Hi Matthew, and welcome! Very interesting project. There are a bunch of composers at another site, some of whom post here as well, you might like to look at: http://musicandsociety.myforum365.com/index.php |
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Green. Always green.
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Ron Dough
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« Reply #3 on: 16:32:14, 24-11-2007 » |
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Another welcome, Matthew!
Thank you for such a strong and impressive entry: it will be interesting to see how things proceed when the time arrives.
People here will very happily talk to you: have a look around and find a subject you'd like to add something to: some serious and learned, others just fun.
Cheers,
Ron
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increpatio
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« Reply #4 on: 16:37:57, 24-11-2007 » |
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Oh! Hello Matthew. I know you (you lent me your floor back when I was over at the cutting edge thing). I'm totally in, anyway. Don't think I'll actively spam my friends about it, though.
And: Welcome!
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Morticia
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« Reply #5 on: 16:57:22, 24-11-2007 » |
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Welcome Matthew! What a wonderful and enthusiastic entrance. I hope you`ll be able to link up with like minded spirits here. You will certainly be guaranteed of stimulating discussion. Your project sounds intriguing. I wish you all the best.
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Bryn
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« Reply #6 on: 15:20:35, 27-11-2007 » |
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would you care to explain to me what "the back of a flier" represents? A set of instructions to performers. The text, as pointed out, is essentially the same as that to be found, in red, in the initial message of this thread, (there are minor differences relating to a lack of typos). Those instructions give rather greater guidance to the performers than does, say, the score of LaMonte Young's Piano Piece for David Tudor #3 (November 14, 1960). The instructions given by Matthew give the performers the direction they need in order to participate in the realisation of the project, just as the score of the 48 gives the performer the direction he or she needs to realise that work (even if it does fall down on communicating clearly the temperament to be used). |
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Morticia
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« Reply #7 on: 15:21:40, 27-11-2007 » |
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The Moderation team have decided to split this thread and move it to a more appropriate location where the current discussion can continue.
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Reiner Torheit
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« Reply #8 on: 15:24:14, 27-11-2007 » |
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Quite right too, Mort! Some of what was posted was about as "welcoming" as a double-barelled shotgun  |
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"I was, for several months, mutely in love with a coloratura soprano, who seemed to me to have wafted straight from Paradise to the stage of the Odessa Opera-House"
- Leon Trotsky, "My Life"
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matthewleeknowles
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« Reply #9 on: 15:24:15, 27-11-2007 » |
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Indeed, A: were we all to hold the same views then boards such as this would be deeply boring places and virtually redundant.
But I trust we're all agreed that not only the boring but also the boorish have no place here: that the equivalent of clapping our hands over our ears and chanting loudly and repetitively that our view is the only only acceptable one and that another's is rubbish is behaviour for the playground rather than a place intended for civilised discussion. Once one side stoops to such tactics the chances are that the other will follow suit: that's human nature.
We all do it in the heat of the moment, but hopefully we can look back on it afterwards, and learn by it.
I know I keep saying this Ron, but your posts are invaluable to this MB! I think once a person has lived the majority of their life with fingers in their ears, it is difficult for them to take them out, or even want to take them out. After all who likes massive change? I like change, slow change though.....organic developing change. Persons with their fingers in ears need help from non-finger-eared people. Let me explain in simple terms. ***Person A has their fingers in their ears: therefore they have the wealth of their own knowledge and depending on when the fingers were inserted…possibly the knowledge of others before them.*** ***Person B has not got their fingers in their ears: therefore they have the wealth of their own knowledge, the knowledge of previous others and of others around them at the present time, they are showing that they are willing to listen and learn and can make their own educated decisions.*** Its easy for person B to say "oh, to hell with you then, I’m not bothering anymore" but where does this really get us? Deeper and deeper into the church of esotericism...which is getting smaller and smaller and the collection plate is becoming more and more full of disparate, abstract and confusing objects. The person in charge might not even wear a hat, their is no rule to say whether or not a hat should be worn, but a small hat manufacturer might be inadvertently offended. If person A sees person B in a calm and open state of mind, they might reconsider and see that there is nothing to worry about; no need to agonize over the threat of change. (((((I am living proof that Cage is still influencing young people, like it or not, John Cage revolutionised the Western way of thinking about music.))))) Imagine a line. Which way is it going? A line has no direction, nor does it care. It doesn’t need it and it doesn’t miss it. How easy would it be to give a line direction. The answer is that is would be very easy, but would you want to? Of course you would. Of course you wouldn’t. what is gained from direction is a new understanding. What is gained from direction is the loss of another understanding. No. An understanding is never lost, we always carry it with us. Back to the line… it was drawn in pencil and I erased it. I know it’s there though. Best Matthew |
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"I have nothing to say and I am saying it and that is poetry as I need it"
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Baz
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« Reply #10 on: 15:26:46, 27-11-2007 » |
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The Moderation team have decided to split this thread and move it to a more appropriate location where the current discussion can continue.
Good idea Mort - but WHY put it on the "R3 General Discussion" page? (What has poor old R3 done to deserve this?) Baz |
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Ron Dough
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« Reply #11 on: 15:27:05, 27-11-2007 » |
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In view of the extended and lively debate that this thread has occasioned, the Moderation Team has decided to move the rest of the posts to the "General R3 Discussion" area.
The thread has not been locked or closed: it was, however, considered that since this is the traditional area for welcome, the ongoing discussion wold be better sited elsewhere.
Pick it up here:
http://r3ok.myforum365.com/index.php?topic=2214.195R.D.
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Bryn
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« Reply #12 on: 15:33:59, 27-11-2007 » |
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The Moderation team have decided to split this thread and move it to a more appropriate location where the current discussion can continue.
The trouble is, you seem to have got rid of Matthew's original message, which included the score/instructions for the performers, etc. |
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Ron Dough
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« Reply #13 on: 15:34:11, 27-11-2007 » |
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Baz,
Since most of the other boards specifically mention music in their titles, and this is, after all, one of the points of contention, we felt this the most natural place: not perfect, but better than the Coffee Bar, let alone the Argument Room....
Cheers,
Ron
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Bryn
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« Reply #14 on: 15:43:25, 27-11-2007 » |
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Since most of the other boards specifically mention music in their titles, and this is, after all, one of the points of contention, we felt this the most natural place: not perfect, but better than the Coffee Bar, let alone the Argument Room....
Surely the 21st Century Music Appreciation board would be more appropriate, unless, of course, you have decided the project is NOT a musical one. |
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