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The transformation of sound: Why can "music concrète" break through the boundaries of traditional melody?
In the world of music, musique concrète is a refreshing form that boldly breaks the traditional boundaries of melody, harmony, and rhythm. In such music creation, recorded sound materials are used as raw materials, modified by audio signal processing and tape music technology, and finally form a unique sound collage. This form of music often combines sounds from musical instruments, the human voice, and the natural environment, but also includes sound synthesis and sounds produced by computer-based digital signal processing.
The development of musique concrète is not only for the purpose of creation, but also a challenge to the traditional rules of music, revealing that sound in its essence can be the core of creation.
Music concrete can be traced back to the 1940s, when it was first proposed by French composer Pierre Schaeffer. This innovation also highlighted the unique role of the recording medium in music creation. Thus, Schaeffer founded the Concrete Music Research Group, which attracted many people in the music industry to devote themselves to this emerging sound art.
History Review
The origins of musique concrète are closely related to early experimental music creation. In the 1920s, music critic Andrei Koyuroi predicted that in the near future composers would create music designed specifically for the phonograph by recording. Subsequently, many famous composers such as Igor Stravinsky also expressed interest in this new musical form.
"The rediscovery of music recording is one of the most important tasks of art today."
It was Schaeffer's experiments, however, that began to unlock the potential of sound. He joined the laboratory set up by the French National Broadcasting Corporation in 1942 and, in the following years, conducted a number of innovative sound experiments.
Schafer and his laboratory exploration
In the lab, Schaeffer began composing his "Symphony of Noise". He encouraged artists to go beyond the constraints of traditional music and explore the musicality of sound itself. In 1948, his experimental results were made public for the first time in a work called "Five Parts of Noise Studies", marking the birth of concrete music.
Schafer once explained: "The term 'music concrète' that I proposed was to emphasize the opposition to traditional musical expression. It aims to explore the potential musical value of specific sounds through the collection of their sounds. 」
As musique concrète developed, advances in recording technology allowed the genre to flourish. In 1951, Schaeffer formed a concrete music research group and established a studio dedicated to electronic music, attracting many composers to create here.
The evolution of musique concrèteWith the passage of time, concrete music has gradually developed into the so-called "auditory music", which is no longer limited to the presentation of recordings, but also includes the spatialization technology of live sound. This shows that the boundaries of music are no longer covered by traditional melodies, and the possibilities of sound have become more diverse and free.
"Music concrète is not a study of timbre, but a reproduction of soundscape and form."
This movement represents a revolution in sound, allowing creators to recombine and reconstruct the various sounds in life to achieve previously unimaginable creative depth and breadth. From the combination of music and film to the emergence of contemporary digital recording technology, concrete music continues to trigger new waves of innovative ideas.
Technology Driven
Technological advances are undoubtedly one of the driving forces behind the rapid rise of musique concrète. The popularity of microphones and tape recorders in the late 1940s made it easier for sound artists to capture and create sounds and to use various sound manipulation techniques for post-processing and editing. These technologies not only make the manipulation of sound more flexible, but also broaden the vision of music creation.
"The charm of contemporary sound art lies in the fact that the essence of music is quietly churning at any given moment."
Through the in-depth exploration of sound, musique concrète makes us realize that the core of music is no longer just the traditional vocal composition, but the emotions and meanings brought by the sound itself. This change has promoted creators to rethink and recreate sounds, thus opening up a new future for music.
Conclusion
To sum up, concrete music, with its unique creative methods and technical innovations, is leading a profound change in music. It sacrifices traditional melodic boundaries but opens up countless possibilities. However, how the wave of digitalization and technology will push music to new heights is still worth deep consideration for each of us.
