Y2K2 impressions (was 'my first loopmail post')

["Zoe Keating" <cello@zoekeating.com>]

Let's see, where to start?

 

I think I came to the festival with the idea that looping machines were just a means to an end, like pencils or something. In my case, I'm trying to recreate pre-composed cello compositions. So I saw myself as being somewhat forced to use this quirky equipment only because of a lack of willing cello-puppets. I had a distinction in my head between the cello as the instrument and the looping device as a subservient tool. Very snobby and classical musician of me, I know...

 

This is not news to any of you I'm sure, but during the festival I realized that the looping device is an instrument that can be played in unique and subtle ways (I also realized that I need to do some serious practicing on this new instrument!). The performances I enjoyed the most were those where the performer had complete mastery of his looping "instrument" in addition to whatever other instruments he was playing. And, in those performances a key thing happened for me:  the looping technology "disappeared" and it was all about music, which is where I like to be in general...

 

Enjoyed it all very much!

 

Zoë

      To: <Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com>
      Subject: Re: Testing, my first loopmail post
      From: "James Pokorny" <j.pokorny@worldnet.att.net>
      Date: Thu, 18 Jul 2002 16:10:40 -0400
      References: <008801c22e95$874bece0$0500a8c0@alfred.natoma964">008801c22e95$874bece0$0500a8c0@alfred.natoma964>

 

 

 

 >It was great meeting many of you at Y2K2 and I really enjoyed
 >all the performances . . . Hope to do it all again soon, until then,
 >there is cyberspace.

 

 Welcome to loopland, Zoë!  As a new list member I'm sure we'd all like to hear your impressions of the Santa Cruz loopfest.