Is it a book? Is it a game? Lee Williams plays with words ? the long ...

When I was asked to write a blog post about interactive fiction I began by doing something very apt. I dithered. I had a Hamlet moment. It seemed there were so many different ways to approach the topic that I was unable to choose one. So I?ve decided just to pitch into it headlong and hope my enthusiasm will carry me through. I should warn readers up-front that I intend to use a lot of links, hoping to sap a bit of reflected glory from a range of more insightful commentators?

?Interactive Fiction? is a term which gets bandied about a fair bit at the moment and I?ve even seen a pretty heated argument about its exact definition (then again, this is the internet ? I have also seen a heated argument about Bagpuss) so I?d better give a quick explanation of what I?m going to mean by it. Purists sometimes say it should refer only to computer games played with a text parser such as those published by Infocom back in the 1980s, but I?m going to use it (in lieu of a better term and not being brave enough to invent my own) to describe all fiction which changes according to the interaction and choice of the reader.

There is such a thing as being TOO awesome

My first experience of interactive fiction was when a Fighting Fantasy gamebook was delivered into my grubby seven-year-old hands back in 1982. I was already an avid reader but the idea that books could be played in this way was the coolest thing ever (until, at least, the next coolest thing ever came along ? I was seven, after all). There were heaps of great gamebooks (Fighting Fantasy, Choose Your Own Adventure, Lone Wolf etc.) around until the late nineties when the rise of videogames almost finished them off. In my opinion, this was an unfairly ignominious end for a genre which still has a lot going for it. A gamebook is a completely different thing from both ordinary books and videogames, with its own distinct appeal.

Anyway, it?s nice to see that I?m not alone in my thinking and there is a sizeable and growing community of gamebook fans around. Anyone with an interest should check out Stuart Lloyd?s excellent and passionate blog?or the hilarious Turn to 400. It?s true that the genre has always been dominated by heroic fantasy and sci-fi but if you?re not into that then you should at least take a look at Kim Newman?s excellent and overlooked ?Life?s Lottery? to see the format used to its fullest extent.

My own attempts at writing interactive fiction began with The Tower of Clavius Boon, an affectionate pastiche of the fantasy gamebooks I had enjoyed since childhood. Creating it was the most fun I have ever had while writing, even though the fact of its creation drew (and draws) more bemused looks than anything else. Writing in short segments suited my meager attention span and the branching narrative allowed neat opportunities for swerving round writer?s block. I?m certainly not done with the format yet and I?m already mapping out two more books, one a similar pastiche of heroic sci-fi and the other a more serious affair set in Renaissance Italy. I?m hoping the Machiavellian intrigues of this setting will lend themselves particularly well to gamebook treatment, allowing the reader to explore the wider ramifications of every plot and ruse.

With the rise of new ways of reading such as the kindle and ipad, a lot of people are predicting a resurgence of gamebooks and an explosion in new styles of interactive storytelling. There are already some exciting signs of this in projects such as Dave Morris? Frankenstein?(Dave is a gamebook veteran who also blogs regularly on the future of interactive fiction) and developers such as inklewriter, Varytales?and Choice of Games. The lines are also becoming increasingly blurred between serious fiction and gaming with projects such as Dear Esther?and a growing trend for indie games which value art as much as entertainment. I could probably do no better than direct anyone interested in these possibilities to the blog of Emily Short, the uncrowned queen of IF.

Don?t burn them just yet

Sometimes this can all seem a little frightening for aficionados of the humble book, especially with over-zealous publicity departments trumpeting the death of the novel every time a new experiment in interactive literature arrives. But have we anything to fear? Perhaps the answer lies in the very fact that the prospect can seem worrying at all ? nobody wants to lose the simple reading experience of a good novel or short story because there is still nothing to replace it. Interactivity doesn?t necessarily enhance a reading experience ? it changes it into something else. Would you really want to be able to make decisions on behalf of the characters in your favourite novel? Or is it more enjoyable to submit to the will of the author and to find out how these characters will interact and what lessons can be drawn from their behaviour? When even footnotes can interrupt the flow of a good book, is it always desirable to foist choices on the reader, destroying the gentle pleasure of a passive experience and turning it into an active one?

I personally think there is ample room to explore the possibilities of interactive fiction without worrying that we will lose anything in the process. The choices are just beginning.

***

Lee Williams is a writer who blogs occasionally here, where links to his published short stories can be found. His spoof gamebook, The Tower of Clavius Boon, is available to read online and he is currently writing dialogue for a number of upcoming videogames, including Rambros?and The Inflicted.

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Source: http://howesue.wordpress.com/2012/08/10/is-it-a-book-is-it-a-game-lee-williams-plays-with-words/

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Hackers Raid Blizzard, Make Off With Answers to Secret Questions

Hackers have hit Blizzard's Battle.net online gaming network, stealing users' email addresses, the answers to their personal security questions, and information relating to mobile and dial-in authenticators. The intruders hit the company's North American servers, which support players in North America, Latin America, Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia.

Source: http://ectnews.com.feedsportal.com/c/34520/f/632000/s/2247c807/l/0L0Stechnewsworld0N0Crsstory0C758790Bhtml/story01.htm

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21ST CENTURY RELATIONSHIPS - PJ Media

21ST CENTURY RELATIONSHIPS: Creepy New Website Lets You Build Your Dream Guy From Scratch. ?Online dating/procrastination site iDreamofU allows you to ?build your own Christian Grey? (their lingo, not ours), choosing which features ? facial shape, eye color, the works ? you find most attractive, and then matching you with a real, live individual who looks like the dream guy you?ve created.?

Source: http://pjmedia.com/instapundit/148249/

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Northern Virginia Girls' Association Firebirds Travel Team Tryouts ...

Tomorrow, August 11, 2012, 8:00 am

4011 Iva Lane, Fairfax, VA | Get?Directions??
FREE

Northern Virginia Girls' Softball Association (NVGSA) will host fastpitch softball travel tryouts on August 11, 15 & 18 at Wakefield Forest Elementary School at 4011 Iva Lane , Fairfax, VA 22032.

Firebirds Travel Softball is an excellent team for girls with advanced softball skills and dedication to the sport of softball.

On the 11th & 18th, tryouts start at 8 AM for 10U girls, 10 AM for 12U, 12 noon for 14U and at 2 PM for 16U softball players.

All age groups will tryout on the 15th starting at 6 PM and ending at 8:30 PM.

For more information, visit www.nvgsa.org or call John Cooley at 703-451-7055.

?

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38.836229

-77.247683

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/events/northern-virginia-girls-association-firebirds-travel-team-tryouts-79cf1dfe

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Source: http://burke.patch.com/events/northern-virginia-girls-association-firebirds-travel-team-tryouts-79cf1dfe

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Commercial real estate investment is reaping positive aspects for ...

?Commercial true estate investment? refers to the class of actual estate that is certainly mainly meant for investing income for earnings later on. Examples of such properties contain:
? Restaurants (including franchises)
? Retail
? Office buildings
? Self-storage (Mini-storage) / industrial
? Strip malls
? Hotels (also named ?hospitality?)
? Multi-family / apartment buildings
Why invest in commercial house?
As opposed to residential real estate, Commercial real estate investment is evaluated, bought, and sold based purely on numbers ? on a set of variables that describe what kind of return on investment you are able to anticipate with all the house. Most Commercial true estate investment is expected to create a return for you on an on-going (monthly) basis. With all the retail boom and escalating return on investment inside the commercial real estate industry, the worth of commercial genuine estate have grown by leaps and bounds, specifically, within the commercial locations, exactly where the local retail shops and shopping complexes have been replaced by huge and swanky malls.
What to count on?
Don?t forget even though! Commercial actual estate investment can be a long-term opportunity, do not expect to increase you net worth more than evening. Nobody is going to profit all of the time. True estate investors have to suffer by way of times of small to no money flow ? it truly is part of the game.
This may possibly result in panic but if you can stick with it for the long-term, money flow will increase. Investing specially in real estate is just not for the weak of thoughts or body. It might be frustrating, and stressful. But for successful investors the rewards are priceless.

Purchase inexpensive led lamp from professional led lighting Outlet right now with Easy-to-take Distribution, Get Payment & Awesome Customer Service from us.

Source: http://urbanboater.com/commercial-real-estate-investment-is-reaping-positive-aspects-for-investors/

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Fuel-efficient NASA X-plane 'quietly' takes to the air

18 hrs.

The newest generation of NASA?s blended-wing-body aircraft took to the skies for the first time Tuesday, showcasing what could be the?shape of fuel-efficient and less-noisy aviation within a few decades.

The X-48C is a remotely piloted scale model of the futuristic plane. Its triangular shape looks more like a slice of flying pizza than the traditional tube-and-wing designs that currently populate the skies.

NASA and Boeing are collaborating on the futuristic project, aiming to build a plane for military and civilian use that is vastly more fuel efficient and quieter than those in the skies now.

The latest version, much like the earlier versions in the X-48 series, is a scaled-down model with a 21-foot wing span and weighs 500 pounds. Full size, the wings would stretch 240 feet tip-to-tip.

The first flight was a nine-minute jaunt at Edwards Air Force Base in California, topping out at an altitude of 5,500 feet. The X-48C has a projected top speed of 140 miles per hour and maximum altitude of 10,000 feet. (Video, click here.)

The X-48C is a modified version of the X-48B which flew 92 times between 2007 and 2010. The biggest changes are relocation of the wingtip winglets inboard next to the engines, effectively turning them into twin tails, and a two-foot?extension of the aft deck.

In addition, the plane now?has two 89-pound thrust turbojet engines instead of three 50-pound thrust engines.?

The modifications will allow the partners to evaluate low-speed stability and control as well as noise-shielding concepts.

?We are thrilled to get back in the air to start collecting data in this low-noise configuration,? Heather Maliska, NASA Dryden?s project manager, said in a news release.?

John Roach is a contributing writer for NBC News Digital. To learn more about him, check out his website. For more of our Future of Technology series, watch the featured video below.

Source: http://www.futureoftech.msnbc.msn.com/technology/futureoftech/fuel-efficient-nasa-x-plane-quietly-takes-air-931013

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Looking to lose weight?

[ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 9-Aug-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Carol Moreau
cmoreau@rippelifestyle.com
508-756-1228
Fleishman-Hillard, Inc.

New study shows sugar and high fructose corn syrup perform equally on a reduced calorie diet

SHREWSBURY, MA A new study published in Nutrition Journal shows that people can lose weight while consuming typical amounts of sugar or high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) if their overall caloric intake is reduced.

"Our research debunks the vilification of high fructose corn syrup in the diet," said James M. Rippe, M.D., one of the study authors. "The results show that equally reduced-calorie diets caused similar weight loss regardless of the type or amount of added sugars. This lends further support to findings by our research group and others that table sugar and HFCS are metabolically equivalent."

The results are significant for those trying to lose weight and anyone concerned about the type of added sugars in foods and beverages they consume. Importantly, this study looks at sweeteners consumed in real-world diets and at levels that are typical among American consumers.

"We wanted to design a study that would generate information that is useful and applicable to the way people actually eat, not speculative results on simulated laboratory diets that focus on one component at extreme dietary levels," explained Dr. Rippe.

The study design included 247 overweight or obese subjects ages 25 to 60 who took part in the randomized, double blind trial. After 12 weeks on a hypocaloric (reduced calorie) diet, there was no evidence that either table sugar or HFCS prevented weight loss when the amount of overall calories was reduced.

"Misinformation about added sugars, particularly high fructose corn syrup, has caused many people to lose sight of the fact that there is no silver bullet when it comes to weight loss," said Dr. Rippe. "A reduction in calorie consumption, along with exercise and a balanced diet, is what's most important when it comes to weight loss."

###

Dr. Rippe is a cardiologist and graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Medical School. His research laboratory has conducted numerous studies and published widely in the areas of nutrition and weight management. He is an advisor to the food and beverage industry including the Corn Refiners Association, which funded this research with an unrestricted educational grant. He is the Founder and Director of the Rippe Lifestyle Institute, and Professor of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Central Florida.



[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 9-Aug-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Carol Moreau
cmoreau@rippelifestyle.com
508-756-1228
Fleishman-Hillard, Inc.

New study shows sugar and high fructose corn syrup perform equally on a reduced calorie diet

SHREWSBURY, MA A new study published in Nutrition Journal shows that people can lose weight while consuming typical amounts of sugar or high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) if their overall caloric intake is reduced.

"Our research debunks the vilification of high fructose corn syrup in the diet," said James M. Rippe, M.D., one of the study authors. "The results show that equally reduced-calorie diets caused similar weight loss regardless of the type or amount of added sugars. This lends further support to findings by our research group and others that table sugar and HFCS are metabolically equivalent."

The results are significant for those trying to lose weight and anyone concerned about the type of added sugars in foods and beverages they consume. Importantly, this study looks at sweeteners consumed in real-world diets and at levels that are typical among American consumers.

"We wanted to design a study that would generate information that is useful and applicable to the way people actually eat, not speculative results on simulated laboratory diets that focus on one component at extreme dietary levels," explained Dr. Rippe.

The study design included 247 overweight or obese subjects ages 25 to 60 who took part in the randomized, double blind trial. After 12 weeks on a hypocaloric (reduced calorie) diet, there was no evidence that either table sugar or HFCS prevented weight loss when the amount of overall calories was reduced.

"Misinformation about added sugars, particularly high fructose corn syrup, has caused many people to lose sight of the fact that there is no silver bullet when it comes to weight loss," said Dr. Rippe. "A reduction in calorie consumption, along with exercise and a balanced diet, is what's most important when it comes to weight loss."

###

Dr. Rippe is a cardiologist and graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Medical School. His research laboratory has conducted numerous studies and published widely in the areas of nutrition and weight management. He is an advisor to the food and beverage industry including the Corn Refiners Association, which funded this research with an unrestricted educational grant. He is the Founder and Director of the Rippe Lifestyle Institute, and Professor of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Central Florida.



[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-08/fi-ltl080912.php

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A Virtual Phone System ? What Every Work-at-Home Mom Needs ...

Raising children is no simple feat, but work-at-home moms are able to successfully balance their professional careers with their ability to care for their children. With a virtual phone system, these tasks become much easier, and work-at-home moms just might find that they have more time to spend with their families.

Dedicated Telephone Line
Many people still have landline telephones in their homes these days. They are a direct link to the outside world, and can be used to summon for help instantly in the event of an emergency. Work-at-home moms likely already understand the need to communicate with potential and existing clients and customers, but as the business begins to grow, the landline may not satisfy all of the company?s needs. With a virtual phone system, all of the same basic landline features are available, as well as some that are a bit more business-oriented. This frees up or even negates the need for the landline, boosts professionalism, and simply makes things easier for already busy moms.

Features
Some of the features associated with a virtual phone system that are favored by work-at-home moms are those that allow communications to be handled easily and with mobility. Call forwarding allows these small business owners to take their business telephone numbers with them wherever they go, whether to the grocery store, a sporting event or even while taking the kids to or from school. Advanced voicemail features allow busy moms to check their messages from any telephone or computer with an internet connection. The ability to send and receive faxes online makes waiting for documents a thing of the past, as they are instantly available on the computer screen.

Ease of Use
Making and receiving telephone calls, checking voicemail messages, sending faxes and trying to keep up with business life on-the-go can be a huge task, and work-at-home moms need every spare moment they can get. A virtual phone system is a great tool because it packs all of the small business communication systems anyone could possibly need into one easy-to-use computer program. There are no complicated steps required to set everything up, and each feature?s maintenance page is completely self-explanatory.

Cost Effective
When considering the costs associated with adding a second dedicated telephone line and all of the features necessary for running a business, these can easily add up to more than what many people are prepared to spend. Of course, when considering the costs associated with a virtual phone system and all of the different features that come with it, these same people often over-figure. In fact, it is quite possible for a work-at-home mom to switch to an internet-based phone system for as little as $20.00 a month, provided that she already has high-speed internet access. There are no costly installation fees, no additional hardware to purchase and no complicated computer programs to install.

Work-at-home moms certainly have their hands full, but they do not have to rely on antiquated or expensive technology to help their businesses succeed. A virtual phone system is an affordable and highly advanced communications system that will give work-at-home moms what they crave the most?more time with their families.

Source: http://virtualphonesystem.blogspot.com/2012/08/a-virtual-phone-system-what-every-work.html

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Are these German protesters world's oldest squatters?

Plans to close a seniors' center in a building that was used by East Germany's Stasi spies during the Cold War have prompted its elderly patrons to take action: They've occupied the building. NBC News' Carlo Angerer reports from Berlin.

By Carlo Angerer, NBC News

BERLIN ??Ranging in age from 55 to 96, a group of fed-up German retirees may be the world's oldest squatters.

They have occupied their local seniors' center in Berlin-Pankow, a formerly Communist district of the German capital, since local officials announced it would be shut by early July.

With its intermittent hot water and creaking hardwood floors, the villa -- which was used by East German Stasi spies during the Cold War -- is not the most comfortable place to stay overnight.?

The protesters had planned to stay for only a few nights hoping for a quick offer by the city. The group?s 72-year-old leader Doris Syrbe admits that they were unprepared at the beginning.


"We didn?t know what to expect," Syrby told NBC News. "All of us were citizens of East Germany, where it wasn?t routine to get up on the barricades. And even now, politicians tell us that we are operating out of limits."

Before the action started, the center was a place to get together and do exercise, play chess and even celebrate momentous?occasions such as one couple?s 50-year wedding anniversary.

The demonstrators are afraid that the building will be sold off and torn down to make room for more of the high-rent houses that already dominate the neighborhood, and their community split up with members sent to different locations.

Carlo Angerer / NBC News

Doris Syrbe, 72, leads a group of retirees struggling to keep open a community center in Berlin.

And worried that the city would lock them out, the retirees decided to occupy the house. More than a month later, they remain.

A retired teacher's courageous crusade: Tackling neo-Nazi hate

Now big posters draped on the street-front fence declare "Hands off!" and "This house is occupied," reminiscent of the Occupy Wall Street movement.

'Just don't get sick'
At least seven of the retirees representing the center's 300 regular users have stayed every night since the end of June, sleeping on old mattresses, camping beds and sun loungers.?

But after a couple of weeks they have become highly organized with plans for when a person can spend a night at home once a week or at what time newspaper reporters and camera teams can visit.The elderly squatters have enjoyed widespread support from neighbors, political activists, local media and their families. "They are proud of us and tell us to hang in there, just don't get sick," one of the occupiers said.

With no acceptable offer by the city in sight, Syrbe said the occupiers are now in for the long haul. "We want to stay together," she said. "The city has not even been able to find room for all of our groups."

From Cold Warriors to targeting trafficking: US military shifts focus in Europe

City officials say they can no longer afford the annual operating costs of about $73,000 and an imminent renovation which would cost more than $3 million. The retirees counter that those estimates are artificially inflated and say the community center is vital to its 300 visitors, many of whom get a pension that barely covers the cost of living in Berlin.

To make ends meet and to finance at least a short vacation with his wife, 71-year-old occupier Peter Klotsche says he has to work for two days a week on tourist buses. He says that after working and paying taxes for decades, the retirees should get at least something in return.

'Forest Boy' mystery solved: Man admits lies over identity

"We don?t want to be ignored and sit at home in front of the television all the time," Klotsche said adding that the building is the only place for many to stay active and have a vital social life at an old age. "Life doesn?t stop with retirement."

Carlo Angerer / NBC News

Peter Klotsche, 71, says that after working and paying taxes for decades, retirees like him should get something in return.

But a solution seems out of sight after the city cut the telephone lines and even sent a worker in the early morning hours to change the locks to the basement, which barred access to its gym. The seniors complain that there is little communication from the city.

Bye, bye, GI: Deep impact for many Germans as US troop downsize

Local politician Lioba Z?rn-Kasztantowicz, who announced the center's closure, told NBC News that the city hardly has a choice due to budget pressures.

"The money just isn?t there anymore," she said. "There is less and less wiggle room, when it comes to voluntary social services."

More stories from Germany on NBCNews.com

Z?rn-Kaztantowicz said that there are no current plans to clear the squatters from the site. "But I can?t say if that decision will hold," she added.

The squatters say they will remain in the building until the city promises to keep the center open or a substitute building that could house their community is found.

More world stories from NBC News:

Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/07/13146282-life-doesnt-stop-with-retirement-are-these-german-protesters-the-worlds-oldest-squatters?lite

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The Complete Definition Of The Music

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Music Portal

Music is a form of art that involves organized and audible sounds and silence. It is normally expressed in terms of pitch (which includes melody and harmony), rhythm (which includes tempo and meter), and the quality of sound (which includes timbre, articulation, dynamics, and texture). Music may also involve complex generative forms in time through the construction of patterns and combinations of natural stimuli, principally sound. Music may be used for artistic or aesthetic, communicative, entertainment, or ceremonial purposes. The definition of what constitutes music varies according to culture and social context.

If painting can be viewed as a visual art form, music can be viewed as an auditory art form.

Allegory of Music, by Filippino Lippi

Allegory of Music, by Lorenzo Lippi

Contents

1 Definition

2 History

3 Aspects

4 Production 4.1 Performance

4.2 Solo and ensemble

4.3 Oral tradition and notation

4.4 Improvisation, interpretation, composition

4.5 Composition

//

[edit] Definition as seen by [http://www.FaceYourArt.com]

Main article: Definition of music

See also: Music genre

The broadest definition of music is organized sound. There are observable patterns to what is broadly labeled music, and while there are understandable cultural variations, the properties of music are the properties of sound as perceived and processed by humans and animals (birds and insects also make music).

Music is formulated or organized sound. Although it cannot contain emotions, it is sometimes designed to manipulate and transform the emotion of the listener/listeners. Music created for movies is a good example of its use to manipulate emotions.

Greek philosophers and medieval theorists defined music as tones ordered horizontally as melodies, and vertically as harmonies. Music theory, within this realm, is studied with the pre-supposition that music is orderly and often pleasant to hear. However, in the 20th century, composers challenged the notion that music had to be pleasant by creating music that explored harsher, darker timbres. The existence of some modern-day genres such as grindcore and noise music, which enjoy an extensive underground following, indicate that even the crudest noises can be considered music if the listener is so inclined.

20th century composer John Cage disagreed with the notion that music must consist of pleasant, discernible melodies, and he challenged the notion that it can communicate anything. Instead, he argued that any sounds we can hear can be music, saying, for example, ?There is no noise, only sound,?[3]. According to musicologist Jean-Jacques Nattiez (1990 p.47-8,55): ?The border between music and noise is always culturally defined?which implies that, even within a single society, this border does not always pass through the same place; in short, there is rarely a consensus?. By all accounts there is no single and intercultural universal concept defining what music might be.?

Johann Wolfgang Goethe believed that patterns and forms were the basis of music; he stated that ?architecture is frozen music.?

[edit] History as seen by [http://www.FaceYourArt.com]

Main article: History of music

See also: Music and politics

Figurines playing stringed instruments, excavated at Susa, 3rd millennium BC. Iran National Museum.

The history of music predates the written word and is tied to the development of each unique human culture. Although the earliest records of musical expression are to be found in the Sama Veda of India and in 4,000 year old cuneiform from Ur, most of our written records and studies deal with the history of music in Western civilization. This includes musical periods such as medieval, renaissance, baroque, classical, romantic, and 20th century era music. The history of music in other cultures has also been documented to some degree, and the knowledge of ?world music? (or the field of ?ethnomusicology?) has become more and more sought after in academic circles. This includes the documented classical traditions of Asian countries outside the influence of western Europe, as well as the folk or indigenous music of various other cultures. (The term world music has been applied to a wide range of music made outside of Europe and European influence, although its initial application, in the context of the World Music Program at Wesleyan University, was as a term including all possible music genres, including European traditions. In academic circles, the original term for the study of world music, ?comparative musicology?, was replaced in the middle of the twentieth century by ?ethnomusicology?, which is still considered an unsatisfactory coinage by some.)

Popular styles of music varied widely from culture to culture, and from period to period. Different cultures emphasised different instruments, or techniques, or uses for music. Music has been used not only for entertainment, for ceremonies, and for practical & artistic communication, but also extensively for propaganda.

As world cultures have come into greater contact, their indigenous musical styles have often merged into new styles. For example, the United States bluegrass style contains elements from Anglo-Irish, Scottish, Irish, German and some African-American instrumental and vocal traditions, which were able to fuse in the US? multi-ethnic ?melting pot? society.

There is a host of music classifications, many of which are caught up in the argument over the definition of music. Among the largest of these is the division between classical music (or ?art? music), and popular music (or commercial music ? including rock and roll, country music, and pop music). Some genres don?t fit neatly into one of these ?big two? classifications, (such as folk music, world music, or jazz music).

Genres of music are determined as much by tradition and presentation as by the actual music. While most classical music is acoustic and meant to be performed by individuals or groups, many works described as ?classical? include samples or tape, or are mechanical. Some works, like Gershwin?s Rhapsody in Blue, are claimed by both jazz and classical music. Many current music festivals celebrate a particular musical genre.

There is often disagreement over what constitutes ?real? music: late-period Beethoven string quartets, Stravinsky ballet scores, serialism, bebop-era Jazz, rap, punk rock, and electronica have all been considered non-music by some critics when they were first introduced.

[edit] Aspects as seen by [http://www.FaceYourArt.com]

Main article: Aspects of music

The traditional or classical European aspects of music often listed are those elements given primacy in European-influenced classical music: melody, harmony, rhythm, tone color or timbre, and form. A more comprehensive list is given by stating the aspects of sound: pitch, timbre, loudness, and duration.[1] These aspects combine to create secondary aspects including structure, texture and style. Other commonly included aspects include the spatial location or the movement in space of sounds, gesture, and dance. Silence has long been considered an aspect of music, ranging from the dramatic pauses in Romantic-era symphonies to the avant-garde use of silence as an artistic statement in 20th century works such as John Cage?s 4?33.?John Cage considers duration the primary aspect of music because it is the only aspect common to both ?sound? and ?silence.?

As mentioned above, not only do the aspects included as music vary, their importance varies. For instance, melody and harmony are often considered to be given more importance in classical music at the expense of rhythm and timbre. It is often debated whether there are aspects of music that are universal. The debate often hinges on definitions. For instance, the fairly common assertion that ?tonality? is universal to all music requires an expansive definition of tonality.

A pulse is sometimes taken as a universal, yet there exist solo vocal and instrumental genres with free, improvisational rhythms with no regular pulse;[2] one example is the alap section of a Hindustani music performance. According to Dane Harwood, ?We must ask whether a cross-cultural musical universal is to be found in the music itself (either its structure or function) or the way in which music is made. By ?music-making,? I intend not only actual performance but also how music is heard, understood, even learned.? [3]

[edit] Production

Main article: Music industry

Music is composed and performed for many purposes, ranging from aesthetic pleasure, religious or ceremonial purposes, or as an entertainment product for the marketplace. Amateur musicians compose and perform music for their own pleasure, and they do not attempt to derive their income from music. Professional musicians are employed by a range of institutions and organizations, including armed forces, churches and synagogues, symphony orchestras, broadcasting or film production companies, and music schools. As well, professional musicians work as freelancers, seeking contracts and engagements in a variety of settings.

Although amateur musicians differ from professional musicians in that amateur musicians have a non-musical source of income, there are often many links between amateur and professional musicians. Beginning amateur musicians take lessons with professional musicians. In community settings, advanced amateur musicians perform with professional musicians in a variety of ensembles and orchestras. In some rare cases, amateur musicians attain a professional level of competence, and they are able to perform in professional performance settings.

A distinction is often made between music performed for the benefit of a live audience and music that is performed for the purpose of being recorded and distributed through the music retail system or the broadcasting system. However, there are also many cases where a live performance in front of an audience is recorded and distributed (or broadcast).

[edit] Performance

Main article: Performance

Chinese Naxi musicians

Someone who performs, composes, or conducts music is a musician. Musicians perform music for a variety of reasons. Some artists express their feelings in music. Performing music is an enjoyable activity for amateur and professional musicians, and it is often done for the benefit of an audience, who is deriving some aesthetic, social, religious, or ceremonial value from the performance. Part of the motivation for professional performers is that they derive their income from making music. Not only is it an income derived motivation, music has become a part of life as well as society. Allowing one to be motivated through self intrinsic motivations as well, as a saying goes ?for the love of music.? As well, music is performed in the context of practicing, as a way of developing musical skills.

[edit] Solo and ensemble

Many cultures include strong traditions of solo or soloistic performance, such as in Indian classical music, and in the Western Art music tradition. Other cultures, such as in Bali, include strong traditions of group performance. All cultures include a mixture of both, and performance may range from improvised solo playing for one?s enjoyment to highly planned and organized performance rituals such as the modern classical concert or religious processions.

Chamber music, which is music for a small ensemble with no more than one of each type of instrument, is often seen as more intimate than symphonic works. A performer is called a musician or singer, and they may be part of a musical ensemble such as a rock band or symphony orchestra.

[edit] Oral tradition and notation

Main article: Musical notation

Musical notation

Music is often preserved in memory and performance only, handed down orally, or aurally (?by ear?). When the composer of music is no longer known, this music is often classified as ?traditional?. Different musical traditions have different attitudes towards how and where to make changes to the original source material, from quite strict, to those which demand improvisation or modification to the music. In the Gambia, West Africa, the history of the country is passed aurally through song.

When music is written down, it is generally notated so that there are instructions regarding what should be heard by listeners, and what the musician should do to perform the music. This is referred to as musical notation, and the study of how to read notation involves music theory, harmony, the study of performance practice, and in some cases an understanding of historical performance methods.

Written notation varies with style and period of music. In Western Art music, the most common types of written notation are scores, which include all the music parts of an ensemble piece, and parts, which are the music notation for the individual performers or singers. In popular music, jazz, and blues, the standard musical notation is the lead sheet, which notates the melody, chords, lyrics (if it is a vocal piece), and structure of the music. Nonetheless, scores and parts are also used in popular music and jazz, particularly in large ensembles such as jazz ?big bands.?

In popular music, guitarists and electric bass players often read music notated in tablature, which indicates the location of the notes to be played on the instrument using a diagram of the guitar or bass fingerboard. Tabulature was also used in the Baroque era to notate music for the lute, a stringed, fretted instrument.

Generally music which is to be performed is produced as sheet music. To perform music from notation requires an understanding of both the musical style and the performance practice that is associated with a piece of music or genre. The detail included explicitly in the music notation varies between genres and historical periods. In general, art music notation from the 17th through to the 19th century required performers to have a great deal of contextual knowledge about performing styles.

For example, in the 17th and 18th century, music notated for solo performers typically indicated a simple, unornamented melody. However, it was expected that performers would know how to add stylistically-appropriate ornaments such as trills and turns.

In the 19th century, art music for solo performers may give a general instruction such as to perform the music expressively, without describing in detail how the performer should do this. It was expected that the performer would know how to use tempo changes, accentuation, and pauses (among other devices) to obtain this ?expressive? performance style.

In the 20th century, art music notation often became more explicit, and used a range of markings and annotations to indicate to performers how they should play or sing the piece. In popular music and jazz, music notation almost always indicates only the basic framework of the melody, harmony, or performance approach; musicians and singers are expected to know the performance conventions and styles associated with specific genres and pieces.

For example, the ?lead sheet? for a jazz tune may only indicate the melody and the chord changes. The performers in the jazz ensemble are expected to know how to ?flesh out? this basic structure by adding ornaments, improvised music, and chordal accompaniment.

[edit] Improvisation, interpretation, composition

Main articles: Musical composition, Musical improvisation, and Free improvisation

Most cultures use at least part of the concept of preconceiving musical material, or composition, as held in western classical music. Even when music is notated precisely, there are still many decisions that a performer has to make. The process of a performer deciding how to perform music that has been previously composed and notated is termed interpretation.

Different performers? interpretations of the same music can vary widely. Composers and song writers who present their own music are interpreting, just as much as those who perform the music of others or folk music. The standard body of choices and techniques present at a given time and a given place is referred to as performance practice, where as interpretation is generally used to mean either individual choices of a performer, or an aspect of music which is not clear, and therefore has a ?standard? interpretation.

In some musical genres, such as jazz and blues, even more freedom is given to the performer to engage in improvisation on a basic melodic, harmonic, or rhythmic framework. The greatest latitude is given to the performer in a style of performing called free improvisation, which is material that is spontaneously ?thought of? (imagined) while being performed, not preconceived. According to the analysis of Georgiana Costescu, improvised music usually follows stylistic or genre conventions and even ?fully composed? includes some freely chosen material (see precompositional). Composition does not always mean the use of notation, or the known sole authorship of one individual.

Music can also be determined by describing a ?process? which may create musical sounds, examples of this range from wind chimes, through computer programs which select sounds. Music which contains elements selected by chance is called Aleatoric music, and is often associated with John Cage and Witold Lutos?awski.

[edit] Composition

Musical composition is a term that describes the composition of a piece of music. Methods of composition vary widely from one composer to another, however in analyzing music all forms ? spontaneous, trained, or untrained ? are built from elements comprising a musical piece. Music can be composed for repeated performance or it can be improvised; composed on the spot. The music can be performed entirely from memory, from a written system of musical notation, or some combination of both. Study of composition has traditionally been dominated by examination of methods and practice of Western classical music, but the definition of composition is broad enough to include spontaneously improvised works like those of free jazz performers and African drummers.

What is important in understanding the composition of a piece is singling out its elements. An understanding of music?s formal elements can be helpful in deciphering exactly how a piece is constructed. A universal element of music is how sounds occur in time, which is referred to as the rhythm of a piece of music.

When a piece appears to have a changing time-feel, it is considered to be in rubato time, an Italian expression that indicates that the tempo of the piece changes to suit the expressive intent of the performer. Even random placement of random sounds, which occurs in musical montage, occurs within some kind of time, and thus employs time as a musical element.

[edit] Reception and audition as seen by FaceYourArt.com

Main article: Hearing (sense)

Concert in the Mozarteum, Salzburg

The field of music cognition involves the study of many aspects of music including how it is processed by listeners.

Music is experienced by individuals in a range of social settings ranging from being alone to attending a large concert. Musical performances take different forms in different cultures and socioeconomic milieus. In Europe and North America, there is often a divide between what types of music are viewed as a ?high culture? and ?low culture.? ?High culture? types of music typically include Western art music such as Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and modern-era symphonies, concertos, and solo works, and are typically heard in formal concerts in concert halls and churches, with the audience sitting quietly in seats.

On the other hand, other types of music such as jazz, blues, soul, and country are often performed in bars, nightclubs, and theatres, where the audience may be able to drink, dance, and express themselves by cheering. Until the later 20th century, the division between ?high? and ?low? musical forms was widely accepted as a valid distinction that separated out better quality, more advanced ?art music? from the popular styles of music heard in bars and dance halls.

However, in the 1980s and 1990s, musicologists studying this perceived divide between ?high? and ?low? musical genres argued that this distinction is not based on the musical value or quality of the different types of music. Rather, they argued that this distinction was based largely on the socioeconomic standing or social class of the performers or audience of the different types of music.

For example, whereas the audience for Classical symphony concerts typically have above-average incomes, the audience for a hip-hop concert in an inner-city area may have below-average incomes. Even though the performers, audience, or venue where non-?art? music is performed may have a lower socioeconomic status, the music that is performed, such as blues, hip-hop, punk, funk, or ska may be very complex and sophisticated.

Deaf people can experience music by feeling the vibrations in their body, a process which can be enhanced if the individual holds a resonant, hollow object. A well-known deaf musician is the composer Ludwig van Beethoven, who composed many famous works even after he had completely lost his hearing. Recent examples of deaf musicians include Evelyn Glennie, a highly acclaimed percussionist who has been deaf since the age of twelve, and Chris Buck, a virtuoso violinist who has lost his hearing.

Further information: psychoacoustics

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