Re: the quest

[Doug Wyatt <doug@sonosphere.com>]

Matt wrote:
> Well Laurie, after writing the above I've scraped the piece I was working
> on.  I felt I was trying too hard...the music wasn't happening.  The 
>problem
> seems to be trying to force some sort of form over something that is 
>totally
> improvished.  It just wasn't working for me.
>
> I'm beginning to feel like a looping poser.
>
> >>Honestly, I don't know what I'm looking
> >>for...but I'm fairly certain that I will know when I find it.  
>Hopefully.
> >
> >You know, I feel like I just spent the last four years feeling that way.
> So it
> >really struck me when you said this.  The fact that you're *looking* is
> what
> >really counts.
>
> I hope you are right!


I just want to jump in with a word of encouragement.  Keep at it and
something good will happen.

I've done a lot of composing based on improvs and it's an elusive thing.
Sometimes the original improv has to be used verbatim, or not used at all
-- it's just that quirky.  At times I have spent days transcribing and
learning to play something I improvised, in order to try to record a better
performance of the idea -- not always successfully.  Sometimes I get
something finished and decide that I've created a fine realization of a
mediocre idea.  That's okay; I spent the time playing music instead of
watching TV at least.

Some improvised loops are cool, but I have no idea of what I'd do with
them. I might fly one into the sampler, to play with it at other
speeds/pitches, and to file it away in my own mind and on disk.  Sometimes
later I'll be composing/arranging, wanting the inspiration of a new sound,
go browsing through the sampled loop library, and find something that 
works.

But more than all that, I think Laurie is right ... the most important
thing is to keep trying.  Please let us know how it goes!

Doug


---
Doug Wyatt                             doug@sonosphere.com
Sonosphere (music and music software)  http://www.sonosphere.com/
my new CD, "Accidental Beauties":      http://www.sonosphere.com/wyatt/