Charles Amirkhanian Collection ➔ Composer-to-Composer Festival: Pragmatics (July 15, 1990)
Digital Audio
Event Type
Lectures and Panel DiscussionsOrigin
C AmirkhanianIdentifier
CTC.1990.07.15.2Program Series
Composer-to-Composer FestivalProgram Length
99 minPart
9 of 9Dates
1990-07-15 | createdDescription
Roger Reynolds moderates an afternoon discussion with Wadada Leo Smith, Ge Gan-ru, James Tenney, and Robert Morris. The group talk touches on a number of topics or ideas, like what "music" can mean to different people, passion vs. systems, (as source of musical content), and how do you proceed (in composing) once you have have "material"?Leo Smith addresses the first question about what the fixed and unfixed (in performance) is, and gives details about the process in coming up with his piece that was presented the night before. Ge Gan-ru comments on how whether he can relate to Smith's approach to music making, and talks about his own views and approach to composing. The subjects of emotion and passion in creativity, and philosophically, run throughout the conversations.
James Tenney responds to some of the comments by Smith and Ge, then is asked about his own proposal, that the passion that excites is what releases one from their self. Robert Morris presents several questions for consideration about music and art, like must art arouse emotion?, and proceeds to comment. Morris also offers three aspects to composition; the intuitive, the arbitrary, and the logical. The group then discusses the importance, if any, in staying true to a core concept or method in composing.
The last forty minutes is dedicated to questions and answers, and ongoing discussion with participation from the audience.
Recorded July 15, 1990 on the third day of the Composer-to-Composer Festival.
Ge Gan-ru replaced John Lifton in the panel due to Lifton's involvement with the day's event planning.
Subjects
Composition (Music)Discussions
Creativity
Related Event
Composer-to-Composer Festival, 1990Related place
Telluride (Colo.) (was recorded at)Related Entities
Composer-to-Composer FestivalReynolds, Roger, 1934-
Morris, Robert, 1943-
Smith, Wadada Leo, 1941-
Tenney, James
Ge, Gan-Ru, 1954-