concepts and elaborations

Two part invention no 8 in f major by wendy carlos

This piece is a very traditional classical piece modified to seem almost silly. It reminds me of an old time ball room danicing piece, but it seems like it is sped up very fast pretty much just sounds silly. As with her other work, its seems like Carlos is taking very traditional songs and making them sound out of place. This seems like it should be innovative, taking something traditional and making it in a different way, but for some reason it just comes off as silly. I think the choice of the very high pitched fast instrument gives it a very informal feel but combined with the classic sound of the piece it creates a dichotomy in the brain. While you know it should be taking seriously, because it is a respect piece, what comes to mind is a very silly slapstick cartoon or a silent comedy film. If the composer intended to create these illusions, I think it is a very effective piece, however, its seems that they more likely just wanted a piece that sounded silly.

Streichquartett by Hanz Werner Henze

This is a very light and airy piece that is hard to tell there is much electronic manipulation done to it. It sounds like it was recorded with a violin or some other kind of stringed instrument. It has a very complex, intense start, and eventually fades down to very quiet, which could be the electronic component of this song. It does not sound like this was made completely with a computer, but maybe some of the real long notes were created with the help of a computer. This piece is successful because even though there is some sort of electronic manipulation done to it, it is not noticeable at first listen. The aesthetic of this work is very melancholy and sad. I think the composer uses the different intensities of the sounds to create and interesting variation between the sounds we hear very clearly, and the sounds that you have to strain your ears to hear. This intent listening really draws the listener into the song.