the art of noise (2 of 3)

There once was a man who stumbled across the notion that “noise was the sound of music for the new century”. That man was Luigi Russolo and the year was 1885.

Associating the new urban sprawl and industrialisation with a new sound, the futurists of the day saw with clarity and vision that the aural landscape of the future would sound vastly different than the Victoriana they were used to. Noise and industry were shaping the soundtrack of the future.

Noise that could be broken into categories like: Skilled and Unskilled, Pitched and Unpitched, Considered and Spontaneous, Appropriate and Inappropriate

Once these parameters were established, dexterity and discipline was required to execute the noise with precision and passion.

Man has always understood the need for noise. Understanding a little history helps.
The evolution of music runs in tandem with the development of man and his surroundings. Primitive man created with a reed and a piece of stretched string. Middle ages man understood melody but used no chords in their Gregorian chants. 19th century man saw polyphony fully developed, orchestras tackling complex rhythmic works from composers who understood the layering of multi-rhythmic and melodic structures.

21st century man has been spoiled for choice. From the early days of rock and roll, to motown to the present conglomerate of beats, technology means that music is more accessible than ever before. This man understands how to listen but also how to create, perhaps more than in any other time in the history of music.

The key is what we do with what we have.

Russolo issued the challenge back in the day to “young musicians of talent” to develop new sounds, tones and noise.
To combine the sounds of life with imagination and creativity. To be innovators not imitators. To be first, best or different.

Nothing has changed. The challenge is as fresh today as it was then. Noise is still the soundtrack for modern life. The rest is up to us.