Sound fundamentals and sound “objects”

Students of Music 7411: Below are some links of interest from today’s seminar discussion. Think of these as points of reference for you in your own investigations. As I suggested in class, these readings can generally be considered informational and investigatory rather then “required”, providing context for our “workshop” explorations and discussion.

First, some visualizations of the workings of the human ear in response to sound:

1 (Auditory Transduction…with Beethoven), 2 the “Organ of Corti—home of the “hairs”/cilia

Pierre Schaeffer’s Traite´ des objets musicaux does not have an English translation, but there are some references to it’s concepts in Schaeffer’s other work as well as in writing around it, in particular by Brian Kane and Michael Chion (both below).

Pierre Schaeffer’s Solfege de l’objet Sonore (1966)

Pierre Schaeffer’s Acoustmatics (from Audio Culture: Readings in Modern Music, 2004) – ML197 .A85 2004

Brian Kane’s L’objet sonore maintenant

Michael Chion’s Guide des objets sonores (Guide to Sound Objects), in english

Acousmatic composer Robert Normandeau’s discussion and proposed revision to Schaefer’s TARTYP (TAbleau Récapitulatif de la TYPologie) from Traite´ des objets musicaux.

Some additional resources, “more to explore”:

An interview of Pierre Scheaffer by with composer/performer Tim Hodgkinson

Several tracks from the 3 CD accompanying set (with translation) to Solfege de l’objet Sonore (1966)

A series of discussions / interviews with Pierre Schaeffer on his then recent publication of the Traite´ des objets musicaux as well as a general overview of his work. You may wish to have your browser “translate” the text to get a better sense of the dialog.

Brian Kane’s (long) Pierre Schaeffer, the Sound Object, and the Acousmatic Reduction (2014)

There are many, many other resources on Schaeffer, including pieces (ubuweb link), some of which are likely familiar to you from previous courses.

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