Musique concrète
From Conservapedia
Musique concrète was a pioneering form of electronic music, based on what would now be called "sampling," produced by composer/engineer Pierre Schaeffer (1910-1995) and his collaborator Pierre Henry. The first musique concrète composition, "Étude aux Chemins de Fer, (Étude for Railroad Engines), was completed in 1948.
Musique concrète was primarily based on the manipulation of recorded sounds—sometimes musical instruments, but often nonmusical sources were used—through editing, repetition, and speed and pitch variation.
Early pieces used 78-rpm phonograph technology, and sounds repeating at 78-rpm rhythmic intervals are a characteristic feature. Most of Schaeffer's later work used magnetic recording tape and a specially-built tape recorder he designed called the phonegene, and a variety of techiques for cutting and splicing tape by hand. The process was laborious, and Pierre Schaeffer entire lifetime oeuvre fits on three compact discs.
Although not called "musique concrète", similar electromechanical manipulation techniques were developed and used by popular music, particularly the work of Les Paul and Mary Ford.
External links
- Pierre Schaeffer
- Pierre Schaeffer: L'Oeuvre Musicale, review at International Computer Music Association]
