What the hell is this?

[chopininov]

Why would someone compose this 

[gyzzzmo]

probably some scary syndrome :p

[term]

rofl 
i know that, have a second page of similar stuff on my computer. Pissed myself laughing.
especially the comments: "gradually become agitated" or "light and airy" or "gradually slide from 12bar blues to a more vivaldi like cadenza" 

[mcgillcomposer]

John Stump ... what a fitting name haha

John Stump took a dump on this piece of junk

[amelialw]

yikes

[franz_]

It's a joke man, It isn't suposed to be played

[thalberg]

I can see the rationale behind this.  All the ridiculous instructions and tons of notes on scores for years and years of practicing can make you look at music and say, "this is absurd."  I love the trill at the end of the first line.  And the instruction later, "like a dirigible." 

[quantum]

... to laugh. 

After going through the rigors of conservatory or university education and the sometimes ridiculous emphasis towards loyalty to scores this should be a nice chuckle. 

[mcgillcomposer]

... to laugh. 

After going through the rigors of conservatory or university education and the sometimes ridiculous emphasis towards loyalty to scores this should be a nice chuckle. 

The sad thing is that a lot of contemporary avant-garde music looks like this!!! That is more of a joke than anything to me

[clhiospzitn]

My high school band director had a copy of this "piece" up on the wall in his office!  It was hilarious to look at, especially to read all the little comments and directions that are on it.  It's a great musical joke.  

[bachapprentice]

I found some interesting info on this piece.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faerie's_Aire_and_Death_Waltz

[retrouvailles]

The sad thing is that a lot of contemporary avant-garde music looks like this!!! That is more of a joke than anything to me

But a lot of avant-garde music actually sounds good. I've heard MIDIs of John Stump's music and it doesn't really sound that great. It's just meant to be a visual statement.

And I would expect a composer to understand the message of avant-garde composition, instead of calling it a joke. Most avant-garde music is not a joke, but rather a different way of expressing one's self. Sometimes 'conventional' or 'strictly tonal' composition just doesn't cut it in terms of expression.

[Derek]

The fact that you started the thread "what the hell is this?" is exactly why that music was written.

Also, I think a lot of avante-garde music is trash. Especially chance music, since the mind of a composer is absent from the music except perhaps for what thing is making the sound, whether it be junk inside a piano or 12 radios tuned to random stations or what have you. If the word "music" can become synonymous with "ambient noise, "  we have not achieved new heights of expression, rather we have merely obscured the meaning of the word "music."  The more words you pile into parallel thesaurus entries, the less the corresponding words will have meanings of their own.  Then you will have conversations like:  "I like the music that sounds like a bunch of farts."...  "oh really? I like the music that sounds like nothing." ... "hmm... I prefer the music that looks like flowers."..... " well *I*  like music that uses pitches, rhythm and speech like melodic fragments and cool rhythms."         

Rather silly don't you think? Let's quit doing that and just admit that we all know what is music, and what is not.

[retrouvailles]

Well, it looks to me that the only composer you are thinking of is John Cage, specifically "Water Walk" and some of his aleatoric music. Your assertion is much like someone saying that all black people are lazy people that steal television sets. Just because you saw one person doing it, you assume that all the others do it. In other words, it's quite a stupid statement. There is a lot of avant-garde music that isn't like that and is actually pleasing to listen to. It just may have unconventional ways of producing sound.

And lets all stop taking the John Stump piece seriously. Unlike most of music, it's purely a joke. Nothing more.

[rc]

knee jerk reaction

...I never saw Derek say "ALL avante-garde is trash"

[pianochick93]

"Balance chair on 2 legs"

"remove cattle from stage"

"opt. shoe horn"

ROFL

My first thought was "holy ****" but then I realised it was a joke.

[mcgillcomposer]

But a lot of avant-garde music actually sounds good. I've heard MIDIs of John Stump's music and it doesn't really sound that great. It's just meant to be a visual statement.

And I would expect a composer to understand the message of avant-garde composition, instead of calling it a joke. Most avant-garde music is not a joke, but rather a different way of expressing one's self. Sometimes 'conventional' or 'strictly tonal' composition just doesn't cut it in terms of expression.

It actually has nothing to do with conventionality and tonality. The fact is that it is easier today to cover up a lack of craft with pseudo-intellectualism than it used to be. Also, I never said that ALL contemporary composition is bad - I merely suggested that a lot of it is an absolute joke to anyone with a serious musical training. I am technically a 'contemporary' composer, why would I bash myself? Anyway, I am not alone in this view - many very good composers and musicians share my stance...not surprisingly, the ones I am thinking of all have a very solid training in music with little or no dose of philosophical fru fru or pseudo-mathematics.

If you don't believe me, I could give you an incredibly long list of modern compositions that I think are wonderful and respect greatly. But, modern to me, does not just include the last 10-20 years like it does for some people. If you look at it in terms of sheer probability, what are the chances of finding hundreds of 'masterpieces' in the span of 10-20 years? By definition, it is impossible - otherwise a masterpiece wouldn't be so masterful after all.

[retrouvailles]

Well, that is your view on the subject. And I never said that you said ALL contemporary composition is bad. It just seems that you look down upon a lot of it. I've seen your website and your compositions, and it very much seems like that. And also, I know many composers that have a different view of yours. They don't see 'trash', but innovation and talent. Yes, there is some trash out there, so don't get me wrong. And also, if much of it were a joke to anyone with serious musical training, then many very good composers (with much musical training) would not continue to compose in such a fashion, and it would not be as successful and influential as it is. But, on the other hand, it just may be your personal preferences getting in the way.

[mcgillcomposer]

Well, that is your view on the subject. And I never said that you said ALL contemporary composition is bad. It just seems that you look down upon a lot of it. I've seen your website and your compositions, and it very much seems like that. And also, I know many composers that have a different view of yours. They don't see 'trash', but innovation and talent. Yes, there is some trash out there, so don't get me wrong. And also, if much of it were a joke to anyone with serious musical training, then many very good composers (with much musical training) would not continue to compose in such a fashion, and it would not be as successful and influential as it is. But, on the other hand, it just may be your personal preferences getting in the way.

I don't have a website...and likewise, this is your view. So I guess we can just agree to disagree.

[soliloquy]

Well, that is your view on the subject. And I never said that you said ALL contemporary composition is bad. It just seems that you look down upon a lot of it. I've seen your website and your compositions, and it very much seems like that. And also, I know many composers that have a different view of yours. They don't see 'trash', but innovation and talent. Yes, there is some trash out there, so don't get me wrong. And also, if much of it were a joke to anyone with serious musical training, then many very good composers (with much musical training) would not continue to compose in such a fashion, and it would not be as successful and influential as it is. But, on the other hand, it just may be your personal preferences getting in the way.

what are you talking about?  mcgill is a badass, true.

[retrouvailles]

Well, I must be thinking of someone else that has a website. Whatever.

[valor]

That can't be played, right? even if it is adagio. its impossible to play those chords at that speed, unless you have some assistance? And wouldn't that sound terrible too?

[retrouvailles]

That can't be played, right? even if it is adagio. its impossible to play those chords at that speed, unless you have some assistance? And wouldn't that sound terrible too?

Like I said, it is NOT meant to be played. It is merely a visual joke.

[pianochick93]

I wonder what it would sound like if you put it into a music program on a computer. That would possibly be able to. It wouldn't like the time signatures though, 6/1 and 66/66 being just 2 of them.

[retrouvailles]

If I can find that MIDI of the piece, I'll upload it.

[valor]

I found a midi, but im not sure if it really is it
http://memo.xight.org/musics/web/2005-01-03-08.mp3

[alpacinator1]

I think I'll make a midi, just for fun. It's obviously not playable, but I want to see what it would sound like if it was.