Description
Pierre Schaeffer's "In Search of a Concrete Music" ("A la recherche d'une musique concrete") has long been considered a classic text in electroacoustic music and sound recording. Now Schaeffer's pioneering work - at once a journal of his experiments in sound composition and a treatise on the raison d'etre of "concrete music" - is available for the first time in English translation. Schaeffer's theories have had a profound influence on composers working with technology. However, they extend beyond the confines of the studio and are applicable to many areas of contemporary musical thought, such as defining an 'instrument' and classifying sounds. Schaeffer has also become increasingly relevant to DJs and hip-hop producers as well as sound-based media artists. This unique book is essential for anyone interested in contemporary musicology or media history.
About the Author
Composer Pierre Schaeffer (1910-1995) was the inventor of musique concrete music created by combining and manipulating recorded sounds (rather than being played on conventional musical instruments). Translators: John Dack is Senior Research Fellow and Director of the Sonic Arts Department at Middlesex University. Christine North is retired as Lecturer in French at Middlesex University.
Reviews
"Collects Schaeffer's journals and other writings about his musique concrete, which he created by manipulating recorded sounds." Harper's "One of the postwar period's most significant (and readable) grapplings with new artistic paradigms." -- Rob Young Frieze "Completely changed how I hear the world and, after more than 30 years, I am still living with the consequences." -- John Dack The Wire "One striking impression that emerges from reading this book is that [Schaeffer's] work merits a perspective with greater nuance." Times Higher Education "Captures these uneven rhythms of intuition and perplexity, and his imagination and wit." Los Angeles Review Of Books "Recommended." -- J. Behrens, Wolf Museum of Music and Art Choice
Book Information
ISBN 9780520265745
Author Pierre Schaeffer
Format Paperback
Page Count 244
Imprint University of California Press
Publisher University of California Press
Weight(grams) 272g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 18mm
About the Author
Composer Pierre Schaeffer (1910-1995) was the inventor of musique concrete music created by combining and manipulating recorded sounds (rather than being played on conventional musical instruments). Translators: John Dack is Senior Research Fellow and Director of the Sonic Arts Department at Middlesex University. Christine North is retired as Lecturer in French at Middlesex University.
Reviews
"Collects Schaeffer's journals and other writings about his musique concrete, which he created by manipulating recorded sounds." Harper's "One of the postwar period's most significant (and readable) grapplings with new artistic paradigms." -- Rob Young Frieze "Completely changed how I hear the world and, after more than 30 years, I am still living with the consequences." -- John Dack The Wire "One striking impression that emerges from reading this book is that [Schaeffer's] work merits a perspective with greater nuance." Times Higher Education "Captures these uneven rhythms of intuition and perplexity, and his imagination and wit." Los Angeles Review Of Books "Recommended." -- J. Behrens, Wolf Museum of Music and Art Choice
Book Information
ISBN 9780520265745
Author Pierre Schaeffer
Format Paperback
Page Count 244
Imprint University of California Press
Publisher University of California Press
Weight(grams) 272g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 18mm
