Erik Satie cropped (Wikipedia)
Interesting post on ilx about the classical chill album:
In a nod that marketing can in fact work, I own the CD in question. Via Amazon, here's the track list, in all its glory:
Martin Filler has an article in the New York Review of Books on the architecture of the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York:
The result might have been boring to the point of nothingness were it not for the exhilarating lightness and unexpected warmness.
I'd suggest Steve Reich's Music for 18 Musicians as the minimalist music equivalent.
Filler goes on to say:
What constitutes "contemporary" art is an interesting question in itself. The big international auction houses now define contemporary art as works made during the past thirty-five years, with earlier pieces designated as "modern."
Whew, Reich's piece barely makes the cut. But for example, Riley's In C is clearly pre-1972 although I never thought of it as "modern" until now.
I've also spent the weekend assimilating the idea of a president from a generation younger than mine. Obama was only born two years after me but I think we are on different sides of a generational divide. Standard generational theory attempts to illustrate. For example, the boomer/prophet archetype emphasizes vision, values, and religion; the gen x/nomad archetype liberty, survival, and honor. I may be, politically at least, pessimistic and skeptical while Gen X is inherently pragmatic out of necessity. So while I match up well with Obama's positions as seen in this political blog quiz, I still don't feel the pull of the candidate, despite his fine speaking skills and his politically savvy approach. It's possible I may have underestimated the man.
I just hope my vote in the February California primary will still have meaning by then, regardless of whatever I end up deciding.
All this political pondering does make me want to pay more attention to composers younger than the silent generation i.e. beyond the usual elders Glass, Reich, and Riley.
Via I Love Music, the BBC has a Music for 18 Musicians remix contest:
As part of his birthday celebrations, one of his tracks will be re-released with 3 remixes: Four Tet and Alex Smoke are doing the first two. The third remixer will be one of you. Download the track, Music For 18 Musicians, and email us your remix. Steve Reich will pick his favourite of the entries, and it will be released at the end of September on Nonesuch Records.
I'll ignore the disappointment that was Reich Remixed. On the other hand, from the Four Tet-associated CD I just received via lala.com, I particularly like remixes of Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Manfred Mann, Terry Riley, and Fairport Convention.