Re: Great Books That Have Changed Our Musical Lives

[kkissinger@kevinkissinger.com]

Kris,

While I have read a lot of books, none of them have really brought  
about pivotal changes in my work.

I can remember a few events that really shook me up:

1) hearing the Wendy Carlos' Moog Synthesizer performance on  
"Switched-on Bach"
2) the first time I heard a working MIDI setup (at the "Universal  
Language Music Center" in Davie, Florida)
3) discovering the work of Steve Reich
4) discovering theremin performances of Clara Rockwell

Now, I listen to much more than these performers however these are  
specific instances -- I can recall the time and place -- where to hear  
something caused a paradigm-shift.

One book that shook me up, though, was "Animal Farm" by George Orwell.  
  As I read the passage wherein the old workhorse, Boxer, is being  
hauled off to the glue factory I actually stood up and screamed --  
that really pissed me off that they treated him with such callousness.  
  I can't say many books have had that effect on me.

However, I don't think "Animal Farm" influenced my music-making.

-- Kevin

Quoting Krispen Hartung <info@krispenhartung.com>:
>
> None. I've read a lot of books on music, but in the end, what has
> change my musical life is the "doing", not the reading.  Ironically,
> although my personal life is very much guided by theory, philosophy,
> and science, my music life appears to be guided only by practice and
> experience. I can't really explain it, but nothing I've ready has
> really compelled any change in my artistic vision and direction. It is
> all inner self and experience driven.   Anyone else in this category of
> response?
>
> Kris