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Musical Notation for Modular Synthesizers
Why and how do you notate music for modular synthesizers? Let's discuss the challenges, philosophical approaches, and advantages/disadvantages of notating electronic music.
Taking a vastly different approach, American composer John Cage published a 193-page score for Williams Mix(1951–1953) which simply consists of graphics showing how and where to cut and splice eight tracks of 1/4-inch magnetic tape. An early portable, patchable synthesizer, it quickly established a significant presence in the music industry, embraced by prominent bands and artists including Pink Floyd, King Crimson, and Brian Eno. A modular synth can be thought of less like the 19th-century keyboard for which common practice notation was once defined and more like an unruly object, forcing the performer to contend with uncertainty and explore with the ears rather than impose predefined patterns.
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