Assignment 1

Questions

1. What is the differences between sound objects and musical objects (i.e. notes, phrases, etc.) Why does Schaeffer make this distinction? 

• The difference (and for that matter, comparison) of sound and musical objects are that musical objects are, in a sense, a way that people can understand and classify sound objects.  As Schaeffer eludes in his writing, the sound objects are, in a sense, more pure, and less complex, than the musical objects.  Schaeffer further discusses the implications of culture, which brings the discussion to part of his reasoning for making this distinction.  Going back to the sense of purity which is present in the sound objects, the musical objects are influenced by the culture for which they exist, which differentiates the two objects.  Schaeffer explained that musical objects are often quantified in an almost mathematical manor, which, to some extent, demeans the sound.

2. How do we differentiate digital, analog, and acoustic sound objects?

• In the first video, Schaeffer explains this topic by first posing a question: "Are musical objects reduced to... parameters?" (7:52).  As he explains, there are limitations/ parameters to each of these types of objects, and we must differentiate, and further understand, each by said limitations.

3. An implicit component of sound objects, is the Gestalt principles of organization (from Psychology). In what ways do you think Gestalt principles are relevant in the perception of sound objects, and in what ways are they not?

• The main and overarching principle of Gestalt is simplicity, and that objects (be it visual, sound, etc.) are "greater than the sum of [their] parts" (DePaul University).  With this general definition, I think that the Gestalt principles are heavily related to perception of sound objects.  Schaeffer discusses the notion of hearing a sound object as it is, even though there is a cultural need to split it apart, and mathematically dissect the sound to understand it.  Thus, we are left with an important question as to which is the "correct" way of interpreting and understanding sound objects.  Should we want to investigate every single characteristic of the sound, and find ways to quantify and qualify them, or should we find ways of understanding them as a whole?

4. What is Musique concrète, and how does it relate to sound objects?

• Musique concrète is, in a sense, the creation of a musical composition which manipulates, and combines a number of sound objects.

Sources:

Solfège de l'objet sonore (Schaeffer 1967) CD 1 Tracks 1-11 (Links to an external site.)

Solfège de l'objet sonore (Schaeffer 1967) CD 2 Tracks 27-37 (Links to an external site.)http://facweb.cs.depaul.edu/sgrais/gestalt_principles.htm


Sound Clips from PureData:

https://soundcloud.com/bcooper-357553759/sets/assignment-1-music-26