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Greetings,

A while back I asked for examples of avant garde techniques in rock music and got quite a few interesting responses. I am continuing my research into this area and am trying to find examples that meet a rather specific criteria.

In his book Thinking About Music Indiana University professor Lewis Rowell offers up several areas in which "new" music tinkers. I have been very successful in finding examples for most of Rowell's areas but there is one area that nothing comes immediatey to mind. That would be examples of rock songs (or events) that exploit the use of altered spatial relationships, altered contexts or environments for music. Also the blending of music with dance, literature, theatre, and even architecture.

Specifically the first part (altered contexts, environments, etc.) is what I need more suggestions on although I would love to hear whatever examples the TubeNet Freak Jury might come up with for any of this.

Thanks!

Your best luck would be to listen to Velvet Underground, Brian Eno, Peter Gabriel, Ry Cooder, Zappa or the way out alt stuff. Try listening to Counterstream Radio or Anti-Social Music. I'll sift through some of my "out" stuff. This is a tough one, but good for the memory systems.

Chuck

Chuck Jackson wrote:Your best luck would be to listen to Velvet Underground, Brian Eno, Peter Gabriel, Ry Cooder, Zappa or the way out alt stuff.

Thanks Chuck,

All of those enter into my research and some can be related specifically to the second part of Rowell's criteria - combination with other art forms - but I am still looking for specific examples of the use of altered spatial relationships, altered contexts or environments.

Great example of avant-rockers, although I personally can't stand the VU. Come to think of it, that might be a great example - the only way the Velvet Underground can be enjoyed is in an altered environment - your mind. But personally, I don't think there is enough beer (yeah, I know - wrong drug ) to make me like 'em.

Could you explain what is meant by "use of altered spatial relationships"?
You'll have to excuse my somewhat literal mind. The first thing that comes to my mind is a Leslie speaker which works by constantly changing the spatial relationship between your ear and the speakers.

"Altered contexts or environments" isn't exactly clear to me either, but one thing at a time.

SplatterTone wrote:Could you explain what is meant by "use of altered spatial relationships"?
"Altered contexts or environments" isn't exactly clear to me either, but one thing at a time.

Yeah, I know, it's not perfectly clear to me either, but I think it means like when you go to the symphony and the symphony is on stage with a brass choir in the balcony. I saw something like this just a couple of years ago and damned if I can remember the piece or composer. Getting old sucks...my memory is getting shorter than my p*cker!

The altered contexts or environments is equally unclear. Perhaps this is why I have struggled to come up with examples.

Thanks!

but I think it means like when you go to the symphony and the symphony is on stage with a brass choir in the balcony.

Verdi Requiem has a short chunk where, if done according to Hoyle, has trumpets stashed offstage somewhere -- I think the lead up to Tuba Mirum Spargens Sonum (but don't quote me on that, and pay no attention to my spelling of it).

Monteverdi uses a lot of antiphonal biz with singers or brass players in different parts of the church. This performance of Vespro Dell Beata Vergine has quite a bit of it:
http://tinyurl.com/39c92h

And this three volume set of Gabrieli brass on Naxos has a bunch of it:
http://tinyurl.com/2wrnxw

He's not really rock, but you could check out Harry Partch. I know he was big on the synthesis of music, spoken word and theater. He was also a big inspiration to a lot of earlier avant-rockers, and people like Tom Waits, (who is another artist to check out.)

If this still has to be Rock music, then I guess those classical and baroque posts I made won't do much good.

For Altered environment, if I understand the term, I'm thinking the beginning of Quadrophenia. Begins all outdoor-sy by the sea, and shifts to a recording studio.

Also, see if Higher and Higher by the Moody Blues fills the bill.
Blasting, billowing, bursting forth
With the power of ten billion butterfly sneezes
Man, with his flaming pyre
Has conquered the wayward breezes

The Beatles Yellow Submarine does some environment shifting.

Pat Dailey of Putin Bay, Ohio and Key West fame does a lot of tunes about drunks. "Out Drinkin'" comes to mind. He has a great c.d. entitled "Raw Bars". All his c.d's are really funny.