Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!bu.edu!bucasb!lwyse From: lwyse@central.bu.edu (Lonce LaMar Wyse) Newsgroups: comp.music Subject: Re: Definition of "computer music" Message-ID: Date: 28 Feb 91 17:27:42 GMT Sender: news@bu.edu.bu.edu Distribution: comp.music Organization: Boston University Center for Adaptive Systems Lines: 34 > > Computer music is a label for audio signals that were in some way > affected by computer technology. I think a more restrictive definition is useful because it is more in line with the (implicit) definition of other types of music. Basson music, for instance, is music that couldn't be done without a bassoon. If the music could just as well have been done on the cello, then to that extent it is not essentially basson music. Thus: Computer music is that music which can not be done without a computer. This definition does two things. 1) It assumes you already know what the definition of music is and does not force you to accomodate. 2) it throws out a load of music that uses the computer for transcription of notes, as a random number generator, as signal source or filter that could have been done in analogue, etc. Thus it allows a distinction to be made between music that involved the use of a computer and "computer music" proper. - lonce XXX XXX Lonce Wyse | X X Center for Adaptive Systems \ | / X X Boston University \ / 111 Cummington St. Boston,MA 02215 ---- ---- X X X X "The best things in life / \ XXX XXX are emergent." / | \ |