[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:09.30,0:00:12.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I thought if I skipped\Nit might help my nerves,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:12.53,0:00:15.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I'm actually having\Na paradoxical reaction to that,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:15.55,0:00:17.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so that was a bad idea. (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.85,0:00:19.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you for that introduction,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:19.74,0:00:22.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was really delighted\Nto receive the invitation
Dialogue: 0,0:00:22.76,0:00:25.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to present to you some of my music\Nand some of my work
Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.78,0:00:28.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as a composer, presumably\Nbecause it appeals
Dialogue: 0,0:00:28.80,0:00:31.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to my well-known and abundant narcissism.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:31.82,0:00:33.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:33.77,0:00:36.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I'm not kidding,\NI just think we should just say that
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.47,0:00:38.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and move forward. (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:38.96,0:00:42.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, but the thing is,\Na dilemma quickly arose,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:42.52,0:00:44.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that is that I'm really bored\Nwith music,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.74,0:00:47.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I'm really bored\Nwith the role of the composer,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:48.17,0:00:51.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and so I decided to put\Nthat idea, boredom,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:51.19,0:00:53.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as the focus of my presentation\Nto you today.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:53.63,0:00:56.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I'm going to share\Nmy music with you, but I hope
Dialogue: 0,0:00:56.24,0:00:58.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I'm going to do so\Nin a way that tells a story,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:58.74,0:01:01.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,tells a story about how I used boredom\Nas a catalyst
Dialogue: 0,0:01:02.00,0:01:04.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for creativity and invention,\Nand how boredom
Dialogue: 0,0:01:04.65,0:01:07.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,actually forced me to change\Nthe fundamental question
Dialogue: 0,0:01:07.67,0:01:09.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I was asking in my discipline,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:09.56,0:01:11.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and how boredom also, in a sense,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.14,0:01:15.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,pushed me towards taking\Non roles beyond the sort of
Dialogue: 0,0:01:15.89,0:01:18.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,most traditional, narrow definition\Nof a composer.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.67,0:01:21.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What I'd like to do today\Nis to start with an excerpt
Dialogue: 0,0:01:21.21,0:01:23.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of a piece of music at the piano.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:24.03,0:01:27.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Music)
Dialogue: 0,0:01:33.50,0:01:36.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Okay, I wrote that. (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:01:36.94,0:01:39.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,No, it's not - (Applause)\NOh, why thank you.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.05,0:01:40.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,No, no, I didn't write that.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:40.47,0:01:42.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, that was a piece by Beethoven,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:42.75,0:01:45.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and so I was not functioning\Nas a composer.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:45.10,0:01:48.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Just now I was functioning\Nin the role of the interpreter,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:48.08,0:01:50.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and there I am, interpreter.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:50.09,0:01:53.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, an interpreter of what?\NOf a piece of music, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:53.35,0:01:57.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But we can ask the question,\N"But is it music?"
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.33,0:01:59.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I say this rhetorically,\Nbecause of course
Dialogue: 0,0:01:59.58,0:02:02.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by just about any standard\Nwe would have to concede
Dialogue: 0,0:02:02.35,0:02:04.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that this is, of course, a piece of music,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:04.42,0:02:06.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I put this here now because,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:06.43,0:02:08.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just to set it in your brains\Nfor the moment,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.89,0:02:11.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because we're going to return\Nto this question.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:11.13,0:02:12.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's going to be a kind of a refrain
Dialogue: 0,0:02:12.96,0:02:14.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as we go through the presentation.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:14.76,0:02:17.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So here we have this piece\Nof music by Beethoven,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.06,0:02:19.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and my problem with it is, it's boring.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:19.70,0:02:24.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean - I'm just like, a hush,\Nhuh - It's like - (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:02:26.15,0:02:28.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's Beethoven, how can you say that?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:28.21,0:02:30.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,No, well, I don't know,\Nit's very familiar to me.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:30.62,0:02:34.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had to practice it as a kid,\Nand I'm really sick of it. (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:02:34.15,0:02:36.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So what I might like to try to do\Nis to change it,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:36.50,0:02:38.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to transform it in some ways,\Nto personalize it,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:38.94,0:02:41.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so I might take the opening,\Nlike this idea -
Dialogue: 0,0:02:41.28,0:02:43.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Music)
Dialogue: 0,0:02:43.06,0:02:47.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then I might substitute - (Music)
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.96,0:02:49.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then I might improvise on that melody
Dialogue: 0,0:02:49.93,0:02:52.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that goes forward from there - (Music)
Dialogue: 0,0:02:54.20,0:02:57.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Music)
Dialogue: 0,0:03:19.25,0:03:22.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So that might be the kind of thing -\NWhy thank you.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:22.37,0:03:25.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:03:25.96,0:03:28.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That would be the kind\Nof thing that I would do,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:28.20,0:03:30.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it's not necessarily\Nbetter than the Beethoven.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:30.70,0:03:34.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, I think it's not better than it.\NThe thing is - (Laughter) -
Dialogue: 0,0:03:34.16,0:03:37.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's more interesting to me,\Nit's less boring for me.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:39.55,0:03:43.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm really leaning into me, because I,\Nbecause I have to think
Dialogue: 0,0:03:43.46,0:03:46.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about what decisions\NI'm going to make on the fly
Dialogue: 0,0:03:46.62,0:03:49.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as that Beethoven text is running\Nin time through my head
Dialogue: 0,0:03:49.75,0:03:52.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I'm trying to figure out\Nwhat kinds of transformations
Dialogue: 0,0:03:52.54,0:03:53.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm going to make to it.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:53.93,0:03:56.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So this is an engaging enterprise for me,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:57.77,0:04:03.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I've really leaned into\Nthat first person pronoun thing there,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.79,0:04:06.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and now my face appears twice,\Nso I think we can agree
Dialogue: 0,0:04:06.38,0:04:09.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that this is a fundamentally\Nsolipsistic enterprise. (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:04:10.80,0:04:13.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it's an engaging one,\Nand it's interesting to me for a while,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:13.91,0:04:16.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but then I get bored with it, and by it,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.04,0:04:18.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I actually mean, the piano,\Nbecause it becomes,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:18.28,0:04:21.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's this familiar instrument,\Nit's timbral range is actually
Dialogue: 0,0:04:21.88,0:04:24.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,pretty compressed, at least\Nwhen you play on the keyboard,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:24.75,0:04:27.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and if you're not doing things\Nlike listening to it
Dialogue: 0,0:04:27.22,0:04:30.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,after you've lit it on fire\Nor something like that, you know.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.15,0:04:32.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It gets a little bit boring,\Nand so pretty soon
Dialogue: 0,0:04:32.41,0:04:35.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I go through other instruments,\Nthey become familiar,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:35.03,0:04:37.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and eventually I find myself\Ndesigning and constructing
Dialogue: 0,0:04:37.75,0:04:40.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,my own instrument,\Nand I brought one with me today,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:40.72,0:04:43.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I thought I would play\Na little bit on it for you
Dialogue: 0,0:04:43.66,0:04:45.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so you can hear what it sounds like.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:45.87,0:04:48.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Music)
Dialogue: 0,0:04:57.67,0:05:00.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You've got to have doorstops,\Nthat's important. (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:05:03.04,0:05:06.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've got combs.\NThey're the only combs that I own. (Music)
Dialogue: 0,0:05:06.15,0:05:09.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They're all mounted on my instruments.\N(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:05:09.31,0:05:12.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Music)
Dialogue: 0,0:05:18.37,0:05:20.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I can actually do all sorts of things.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:20.39,0:05:22.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I can play with a violin bow.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:22.08,0:05:23.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't have to use the chopsticks.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:23.86,0:05:26.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So we have this sound. (Music)
Dialogue: 0,0:05:31.30,0:05:33.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And with a bank of live electronics,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:33.35,0:05:36.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I can change the sounds radically. (Music)
Dialogue: 0,0:05:37.02,0:05:40.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Music)
Dialogue: 0,0:05:46.54,0:05:49.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Like that, and like this. (Music)
Dialogue: 0,0:05:52.54,0:05:54.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so forth.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:54.68,0:05:57.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So this gives you a little bit\Nof an idea of the sound world
Dialogue: 0,0:05:57.60,0:06:00.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of this instrument, which I think\Nis quite interesting
Dialogue: 0,0:06:00.18,0:06:02.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it puts me in the role\Nof the inventor,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:02.64,0:06:04.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the nice thing about -
Dialogue: 0,0:06:04.16,0:06:06.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This instrument is called\Nthe Mouseketeer... (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:06:06.85,0:06:08.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the cool thing about it is
Dialogue: 0,0:06:08.88,0:06:11.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm the world's greatest\NMouseketeer player. (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:06:11.90,0:06:13.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Okay? (Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:06:14.07,0:06:17.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So in that regard,\Nthis is one of the things,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:17.10,0:06:19.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this is one of the privileges of being,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:19.11,0:06:22.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and here's another role,\Nthe inventor, and by the way,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:22.67,0:06:24.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when I told you\Nthat I'm the world's greatest,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:24.88,0:06:28.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if you're keeping score,\Nwe've had narcissism and solipsism
Dialogue: 0,0:06:28.60,0:06:30.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and now a healthy dose of egocentricism.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:30.62,0:06:34.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I know some of you are just, you know -\Nbingo! (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:06:34.50,0:06:37.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Anyway, so this is also\Na really enjoyable role.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:39.81,0:06:43.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I should concede also that I'm\Nthe world's worst Mouseketeer player,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:43.04,0:06:45.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it was this distinction\Nthat I was most worried about
Dialogue: 0,0:06:45.74,0:06:48.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when I was on that prior side\Nof the tenure divide.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:48.19,0:06:50.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm glad I'm past that.\NWe're not going to go into that.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:50.92,0:06:53.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm crying on the inside.\NThere are still scars.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:53.41,0:06:56.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Anyway, but I guess my point\Nis that all of these enterprises
Dialogue: 0,0:06:56.94,0:07:00.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are engaging to me in their multiplicity,\Nbut as I've presented them
Dialogue: 0,0:07:00.59,0:07:04.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to you today, they're actually\Nsolitary enterprises,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:05.11,0:07:08.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and so pretty soon I want to commune\Nwith other people,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:08.14,0:07:11.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and so I'm delighted that in fact\NI get to compose works for them.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:11.38,0:07:14.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I get to write, sometimes for soloists\Nand I get to work with one person,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:14.90,0:07:17.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sometimes full orchestras,\Nand I work with a lot of people,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:17.73,0:07:20.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and this is probably the capacity,\Nthe role creatively
Dialogue: 0,0:07:20.73,0:07:23.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for which I'm probably\Nbest known professionally.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:23.89,0:07:26.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, some of my scores\Nas a composer look like this,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:26.87,0:07:28.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and others look like this,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:28.94,0:07:31.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and some look like this,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:31.02,0:07:34.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I make all of these by hand,\Nand it's really tedious.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:34.07,0:07:36.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It takes a long, long time\Nto make these scores,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:36.40,0:07:38.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and right now I'm working on a piece
Dialogue: 0,0:07:38.58,0:07:40.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's 180 pages in length,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:40.60,0:07:43.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it's just a big chunk of my life,\Nand I'm just pulling out hair.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:45.09,0:07:48.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I have a lot of it, and that's\Na good thing I suppose. (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:07:48.21,0:07:50.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So this gets really boring\Nand really tiresome for me,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:50.87,0:07:53.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so after a while the process\Nof notating is not only boring,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:53.94,0:07:56.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I actually want the notation\Nto be more interesting,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:56.97,0:07:59.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and so that's pushed me to do\Nother projects like this one.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:59.80,0:08:01.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is an excerpt from a score called
Dialogue: 0,0:08:01.92,0:08:03.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"The Metaphysics of Notation."
Dialogue: 0,0:08:03.52,0:08:06.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The full score is 72 feet wide.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:06.66,0:08:09.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a bunch of crazy\Npictographic notation.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:09.35,0:08:11.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Let's zoom in on one section\Nof it right here.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:11.97,0:08:13.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can see it's rather detailed.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:13.76,0:08:16.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I do all of this with drafting templates,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:16.06,0:08:19.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with straight edges,\Nwith French curves, and by freehand,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:20.28,0:08:23.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the 72 feet was actually split
Dialogue: 0,0:08:23.22,0:08:26.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,into 12 six-foot-wide panels\Nthat were installed
Dialogue: 0,0:08:26.50,0:08:31.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,around the Cantor Arts Center Museum\Nlobby balcony,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:32.43,0:08:35.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it appeared\Nfor one year in the museum,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:35.46,0:08:38.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and during that year,\Nit was experienced as visual art
Dialogue: 0,0:08:38.31,0:08:41.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,most of the week, except,\Nas you can see in these pictures,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:41.08,0:08:43.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on Fridays, from noon til one,\Nand only during that time,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:43.84,0:08:46.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,various performers came\Nand interpreted these strange
Dialogue: 0,0:08:46.46,0:08:49.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and undefined pictographic glyphs.\N(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:08:49.91,0:08:53.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now this was a really\Nexciting experience for me.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:53.41,0:08:56.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was gratifying musically,\Nbut I think the more important thing
Dialogue: 0,0:08:56.50,0:08:59.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is it was exciting because\NI got to take on another role,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:59.33,0:09:01.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,especially given that it appeared\Nin a museum,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:01.67,0:09:04.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that is as visual artist. (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:09:05.87,0:09:08.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We're going to fill up the whole thing,\Ndon't worry. (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:09:09.49,0:09:11.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I am multitudes. (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:09:12.77,0:09:15.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So one of the things is that,\NI mean, some people would say,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:15.63,0:09:18.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like, "Oh, you're being a dilettante,"\Nand maybe that's true.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:18.55,0:09:20.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I can understand how, I mean,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:20.04,0:09:22.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because I don't have a pedigree\Nin visual art
Dialogue: 0,0:09:22.20,0:09:24.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I don't have any training,\Nbut it's just something
Dialogue: 0,0:09:24.77,0:09:27.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I wanted to do as an extension\Nof my composition,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:27.40,0:09:29.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as an extension\Nof a kind of creative impulse.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:29.60,0:09:32.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I can understand the question, though.\N"But is it music?"
Dialogue: 0,0:09:32.62,0:09:34.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean, there's not\Nany traditional notation.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:34.90,0:09:37.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I can also understand\Nthat sort of implicit criticism
Dialogue: 0,0:09:37.58,0:09:40.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in this piece, "S-tog," which I made\Nwhen I was living in Copenhagen.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:40.94,0:09:42.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I took the Copenhagen subway map
Dialogue: 0,0:09:42.57,0:09:45.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I renamed all the stations\Nto abstract musical provocations,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:45.59,0:09:48.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the players, who are synchronized\Nwith stopwatches,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:48.38,0:09:51.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,follow the timetables, which are listed\Nin minutes past the hour.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:51.57,0:09:53.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So this is a case of actually\Nadapting something,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:53.98,0:09:55.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or maybe stealing something,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:55.67,0:09:58.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then turning it\Ninto a musical notation.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:59.28,0:10:02.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You folks have been neglected,\NI'll stand here for a couple of minutes.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:02.98,0:10:04.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:10:04.60,0:10:06.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Another adaptation would be this piece.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:06.77,0:10:08.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The wristwatch, I should say.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:08.98,0:10:12.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I took the idea of the wristwatch,\Nand I turned it into a musical score.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:12.53,0:10:16.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I made my own faces, and had\Na company fabricate them,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:16.55,0:10:18.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the players follow these scores.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:18.48,0:10:20.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They follow the second hands,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:20.14,0:10:23.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and as they pass over the various symbols,\Nthe players respond musically.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:23.70,0:10:25.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here's another example from another piece,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:25.94,0:10:27.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then its realization.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:29.66,0:10:32.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So in these two capacities,\NI've been scavenger,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:32.56,0:10:35.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the sense of taking, like,\Nthe subway map, right,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:35.05,0:10:37.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or thief maybe,\Nand I've also been designer,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:37.46,0:10:39.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the case of making the wristwatches.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:39.78,0:10:42.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And once again, this is,\Nfor me, interesting.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:43.36,0:10:46.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Another role that I like to take on\Nis that of the performance artist.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:46.67,0:10:49.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some of my pieces have these\Nkind of weird theatric elements,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:49.58,0:10:50.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I often perform them.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:50.98,0:10:53.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I want to show you a clip\Nfrom a piece called "Echolalia."
Dialogue: 0,0:10:53.76,0:10:56.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is actually being performed\Nby Brian McWhorter,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:56.32,0:10:58.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who is an extraordinary performer.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:58.05,0:11:01.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Let's watch a little bit of this,\Nand please notice the instrumentation.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:01.43,0:11:04.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Music)
Dialogue: 0,0:11:29.98,0:11:32.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Okay, I hear you were laughing nervously
Dialogue: 0,0:11:32.04,0:11:35.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because you too could hear that the drill\Nwas a little bit sharp,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:35.18,0:11:37.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the intonation was a little questionable.\N(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:11:37.69,0:11:39.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Let's watch just another clip.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:39.66,0:11:41.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Music)
Dialogue: 0,0:11:46.44,0:11:47.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Okay, that's enough.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:47.63,0:11:50.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can see the mayhem continues,\Nand there's, you know,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:50.72,0:11:53.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there were no clarinets and trumpets\Nand flutes and violins.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:53.57,0:11:55.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here's a piece that has\Nan even more unusual,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:55.84,0:11:57.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,more peculiar instrumentation.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:57.29,0:12:00.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is "Tlön," for three conductors\Nand no players. (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:12:13.26,0:12:15.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This was based on the experience\Nof actually watching
Dialogue: 0,0:12:15.98,0:12:18.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,two people having a virulent\Nargument in sign language,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:18.75,0:12:20.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which produced no decibels to speak of,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:20.72,0:12:23.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but affectively, psychologically,\Nwas a very loud experience.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:23.65,0:12:26.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, yeah, I get it, with,\Nlike, the weird appliances
Dialogue: 0,0:12:26.67,0:12:30.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then the total absence\Nof conventional instruments
Dialogue: 0,0:12:30.74,0:12:33.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and this glut of conductors,\Npeople might, you know,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:33.89,0:12:36.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,wonder, yeah, "Is this music?"
Dialogue: 0,0:12:36.69,0:12:40.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But let's move on to a piece where\Nclearly I'm behaving myself,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:40.55,0:12:43.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that is my "Concerto for Orchestra."
Dialogue: 0,0:12:43.06,0:12:46.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You're going to notice a lot\Nof conventional instruments in this clip.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:46.66,0:12:49.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Music)
Dialogue: 0,0:12:59.85,0:13:02.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Are you bored? I'm a little bored.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:02.18,0:13:04.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This, in fact, is not\Nthe title of this piece.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:04.44,0:13:07.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was a bit mischievous.\NIn fact, to make it more interesting,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:07.49,0:13:10.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I put a space right in here,\Nand this is the actual title of the piece.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:10.92,0:13:12.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Let's continue with that same excerpt.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:12.96,0:13:15.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Music)
Dialogue: 0,0:13:23.04,0:13:26.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's better with a florist, right?\N(Laughter) (Music)
Dialogue: 0,0:13:30.76,0:13:33.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or at least it's less boring.\NLet's watch a couple more clips.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:34.28,0:13:37.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Music)
Dialogue: 0,0:13:47.68,0:13:50.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So with all these theatric elements,\Nthis pushes me in another role,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:50.98,0:13:53.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that would be,\Npossibly, the dramaturge.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:53.88,0:13:57.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was playing nice. I had to write\Nthe orchestra bits, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:13:58.04,0:14:00.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Okay? But then there was\Nthis other stuff, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:14:00.50,0:14:02.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There was the florist,\Nand I can understand that,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:02.84,0:14:05.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,once again, we're putting\Npressure on the ontology of music
Dialogue: 0,0:14:05.86,0:14:07.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as we know it conventionally,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:07.74,0:14:11.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but let's look at one last piece\Ntoday I'm going to share with you.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:12.71,0:14:15.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is going to be\Na piece called "Aphasia,"
Dialogue: 0,0:14:15.37,0:14:18.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it's for hand gestures\Nsynchronized to sound,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:19.15,0:14:23.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and this invites yet another role,\Nand final one I'll share with you,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:23.13,0:14:25.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is that of the choreographer.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:25.24,0:14:27.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the score for the piece\Nlooks like this,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:27.60,0:14:30.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it instructs me,\Nthe performer, to make
Dialogue: 0,0:14:32.01,0:14:34.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,various hand gestures\Nat very specific times
Dialogue: 0,0:14:34.74,0:14:36.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,synchronized with an audio tape,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:36.26,0:14:39.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that audio tape\Nis made up exclusively of vocal samples.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:39.87,0:14:42.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I recorded an awesome singer,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:42.29,0:14:44.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I took the sound\Nof his voice in my computer,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:44.64,0:14:46.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I warped it in countless ways
Dialogue: 0,0:14:46.72,0:14:49.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to come up with the soundtrack\Nthat you're about to hear.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:49.69,0:14:53.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I'll perform just an excerpt\Nof "Aphasia" for you here. Okay?
Dialogue: 0,0:14:56.45,0:14:59.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Music)
Dialogue: 0,0:15:32.81,0:15:35.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So that gives you a little taste\Nof that piece. (Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:15:41.91,0:15:45.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you. When this ovation dies down,\NI shall continue.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:47.99,0:15:50.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Yeah, okay, that's kind of weird stuff.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:50.30,0:15:52.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Is it music?\NHere's how I want to conclude.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:53.34,0:15:55.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've decided, ultimately,\Nthat this is the wrong question,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:55.72,0:15:57.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that this is not the important question.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:57.68,0:16:00.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The important question\Nis, "Is it interesting?"
Dialogue: 0,0:16:00.22,0:16:03.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I follow this question,\Nnot worrying about "Is it music?" -
Dialogue: 0,0:16:03.27,0:16:06.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not worrying about the definition\Nof the thing that I'm making.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:06.29,0:16:08.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I allow my creativity to push me
Dialogue: 0,0:16:08.05,0:16:10.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in directions that are simply\Ninteresting to me,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:10.36,0:16:13.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I don't worry\Nabout the likeness of the result
Dialogue: 0,0:16:13.26,0:16:15.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to some notion, some paradigm,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:15.32,0:16:18.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of what music composition\Nis supposed to be,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:18.31,0:16:20.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that has actually\Nurged me, in a sense,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:20.75,0:16:22.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to take on a whole bunch\Nof different roles,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:22.94,0:16:24.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and so what I want you to think about is,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:24.96,0:16:27.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to what extent might you change\Nthe fundamental question
Dialogue: 0,0:16:27.84,0:16:30.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in your discipline, and, okay,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:30.56,0:16:32.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm going to put one extra\Nlittle footnote in here,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:32.99,0:16:34.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because, like, I realized I mentioned
Dialogue: 0,0:16:34.77,0:16:37.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,some psychological defects\Nearlier, and we also,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:37.49,0:16:40.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,along the way, had a fair amount\Nof obsessive behavior,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:41.23,0:16:44.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and there was some delusional\Nbehavior and things like that,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:44.19,0:16:46.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and here I think we could say\Nthat this is an argument
Dialogue: 0,0:16:46.81,0:16:49.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for self-loathing\Nand a kind of schizophrenia,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:49.06,0:16:50.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at least in the popular use of the term,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:50.100,0:16:54.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I really mean dissociative\Nidentity disorder, okay. (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:16:54.13,0:16:56.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Anyway, despite those perils,\NI would urge you
Dialogue: 0,0:16:56.38,0:16:59.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to think about the possibility\Nthat you might take on roles
Dialogue: 0,0:16:59.15,0:17:01.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in your own work,\Nwhether they are neighboring
Dialogue: 0,0:17:01.33,0:17:03.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or far-flung\Nfrom your professional definition.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:03.74,0:17:07.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And with that, I thank you very much.\N(Applause)