‘Erect a structure of your belief
Suspend into your thoughts
Brick by brick
Thought by thought
Examine your surroundings
Feel the architecture
Run your hands along the walls that hold you in
Linger in that space
What did it take to get here?
How much will it take to bring it down?
What can I release?
Resist the details
Light the match
Absorb the orange glow
the inferno from within
Demolish the unwanted
Turn destruction into a manageable method
Burn your own bridges
Look back into the void that once looked into you
Acknowledge the rest
Let the demolition pave your way
Use both hands to hold onto what you know
Ash
to fertile soil
fertile soil
To a bountiful harvest
Believe that anything built
Can be demolished
And turned anew’
-Jakes contribution, a manifesto of our project
After explaining our group piece to my friend, he suggested I listen to William Basinski’s ‘Disintegration loops’.
The work is made using a piece of short melodic audio on magnetic tape, the tape is then played over and over through a tape head, this process gradually deteriorates the audio resulting in a texturally rich deconstruction of the simple audio.
I feel this piece is very relevant in the context of our project, it expresses ideas of deconstruction, repetition and reinvention of self. The creation of this piece coincided with the destruction of the world trade centre, the damage being visible from Basinski’s rooftop.
The piece has made me reconsider the structure of my work. I feel the subject matter is better expressed when the transition between states is emphasised. I’m presented with a problem in the creation of my work, I do not have access to a tape machine in the time I have to create my contribution. I’ve tried to create a self destructive audio sequence using logic but I can’t seem to find a way to make it work, I’m going to have to create the effect of the sequence. This will be done though manually reducing the bit resolution of each repetition, automating increased separation and amount of a vocal doubler, and automation of an equalisers hi cut.
Choice of samples is very important to this piece. As stated in the last blog post I have found a broadcast from 1962 that talks about the redevelopment of the area. It starts with the phrase ‘This, believe it or not, is the elephant and castle’. I think this is a good way of expressing the subject matter, it captures the themes of change, development and repeated self destruction.
Sample 1:
Ive separated the melodic section of the piece into two halves making use of two samples, each with political importance. I wanted the music to represent the cultural ramifications of this redevelopment. There was a thriving South American/latino community in elephant and castle, therefore I have used two South American composers/musicians to provide the emotional qualities of the piece.
The first is ‘Appassionato’, a piece written by Ricardo Castro a Mexican concert pianist and composer.
Sample 2:
The second is piece by Arturo Márquez, a Mexican composer. It’s performed by the National symphony Orchestra of Mexico.
Sample 3: