Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!snorkelwacker!mit-eddie!media-lab!rowe From: rowe@media-lab.MEDIA.MIT.EDU (Robert Rowe) Newsgroups: comp.music Subject: Re: ICMC reaction Message-ID: <3471@media-lab.MEDIA.MIT.EDU> Date: 26 Sep 90 13:46:17 GMT References: <40170@becker.UUCP> <3456@media-lab.MEDIA.MIT.EDU> Reply-To: rowe@media-lab.media.mit.edu (Robert Rowe) Distribution: comp Organization: MIT Media Lab, Cambridge MA Lines: 31 Eric Iverson Internet: eiverson@nmsu.edu writes: >In fact, (if you want a definition of idea poor) >at some of the algorithmic composition talks I went to, it seemed as >if the speaker was reluctant to "give his secrets away" which I found >to be especially frustrating. Now, while this may be necessary if the >speaker is developing a piece of software, it does not make for an >intellectually stimulating or "idea rich" environment. >I was further frustrated by the parallel (although I'm sure necessary) >nature of the conference. By scheduling 2 or 3 algorithmic >composition papers simultaneously, the number of potential listeners >was split accordingly. This served to reduce any possible interest >base while leaving many good papers unheard by a sizeable portion of >the participants. Oh. Yes, well, that I can buy. What I meant by good organization was that, essentially, the trains ran on time. Equipment was where it was supposed to be at the right time and functioned, etc. Such has not always been the ICMC habit. I objected to the "idea poor" characterization because I felt there was too much going on, not too little. As you point out, the parallel sessions in particular didn't seem to pay much attention to grouping papers by any area of interest. During my own demo, there were four other papers I wanted to hear but, obviously, couldn't. I am sure the ICMC could profit from looking at the way other conferences are organized. But, still, I thought there were a lot of people there to learn something from, and much interesting work presented. Warts and all, I did come away from the conference with a better view of what's going on, and some useful ideas. Robert Rowe MIT Media Laboratory