I can't believe that given the plethera of avant-garde artiste acolytes of the aural (or AAAA) who post here there isn't a thread on Tool Music already.
Just how much in the *future* are you?
Not too far, I'd say.
There is a whole world of *incredible* tool music happening -- but because it is rarely recorded, and people rarely *pay* to hear tool music, it really doesn't get the credit that it deserves.
Most "tool music" jams are impromptu affairs, held when -- using the lastest in WiFi and GPS technology -- numerous tool music aficianados/geniuses gather together to produce this "cutting edge" form of art.
For the most part, "tool music" is created "alfresco" because just the act of being inside four walls can be deadening.
Why isn't it recorded? Because anything that was recorded would -- by definition -- be considered "passe," dead, moribund. Why listen to "dead" music?
Even the act of photography is considered by many AAAA to potentially "steal the spirit" of tool music. How can one truly improvise, if you are worried about the state of your comb-over or the rakish angle of your beret as you play?
While some of the music that is promoted on here might superficially be considered -- free or atonal, or whatever -- it hasn't shuffled off the limiting coil of Western music.
While much of the avant garde takes baby steps toward the infinite possiblities of our favored art form, Tool Music truly leaps fearlessly into the abyss ... and reveals the multitudinous and kalidescopic possibilities of aural art. (I prefer the term "aural art," given that music is bound in an historical straightjacket.)
It is hard for me to describe the sound of tool music -- but imagine it as being emitted eons ago -- long before the arrival of our "intelligent designer."
Tool music is the sound of the Ur Tone -- the original tone -- the sub-atomic tone. Tones that not even the nuclear clock in Greenwich can subdivide.
While the music of the past has only been echoes out of Platos cave, "tool aural art" is what you might describe as the Platonic ideal of art.
Tool Music is a sound that moves eons beyond microtonality and was first heard with early experiments with the digitalization of the microtonal instruments of Harry Partch.
Indeed, it was only when scientists at MIT and Cal Tech and at Roswell, NM, tried to digitally translate the sounds of Partch's Boo II and "Cloud Chamber" instruments.
During this research, a shocking discovery was made -- some of those sounds could be replicated -- if not in the same timbre -- by some off-the-shelf Craftsmen power tools and even hand tools.
This discovery opened the door to the creation of AAAA by the hoi polloi. Anyone who had access to Sears Roebuck had access to art. You could throw out your Stradivarious and your Selmer Mark VI.
Call it "the aural art with a thousand faces."
While some of the elite at this institutions of higher learning tried to keep this information secret, others -- such as a songwriter for the Grateful Dead -- wanted an "open system" of tool aural art.
Thus, tool music, 1.0 was born. The *asonishing* medical benefits of tool music were the first seriously studied, as the sound of "tool aural art" was found to lower blood pressure, and in some cases -- actually reverse or forestall the onset of arthritis, Altzheimers disease and other degenerative diseases. While these *groundbreaking* studies have not been formalized -- the early results have been positive.
Others -- myself included -- were interested in "tool aural art" entirely for aestetic reasons. l'art pour l'art.
I am sure most of you can understand.
Unfortunately, there is a steep "learning curve" for those of you interested in "tool aural art." While its practicioners are not by their nature "secretive," they tend to be very careful which artists to allow into their covens (yes, i know, an unfortunate designation). The are reluctant to let ANYONE in for fear of being infiltrated by FBI agents or other representatives of the U.S. Patriot Act.
If you are intersted in taking part, I would suggest getting an audio enhancer, such as the one shown here:
If you go out to the edge of a large wooded area, you might actually be able to hear "tool aural art" without directly participating. However, I would urge you not to stay in this "pirate" mode too long. You owe it to the AAAA to reveal yourself, and perhaps help with providing snack foods.
Last edited by rollhead; December-15th-2005 at 04:36 PM.
That album cover is really precient given the direction Tool Music is headed.
I have heard that oen of the more "advanced" Tool Music covens, based in Washington state, is working with Microsoft to develop a kind of "aural Xbox" that will bypass the ears as a entry point for "aural art."
They are creating what might best be called -- USB plugs for the brain and body.
It will open the door to a lot more Tool Music artists, who don't have the time or the interest in hauling around, power strips, generators, band saws, power sanders, etc.
As for me, I am old fashioned. I am going to stick to my Craftsman circular saw. I consider it the the Selmer Mark VI tenor sax of Tool Music.
I can't believe that given the plethera of avant-garde artiste acolytes of the aural (or AAAA) who post here there isn't a thread on Tool Music already.
I think there's some tool based discussion on eai threads.
It was Conlan Nancarrow who first gave me the idea of programming my power saw.
Of course, this was 30 years, ago, so I had to use punch cards, using an old "accounting computer."
Now, things are much simplier -- I am sure I can hook my blackberry up to my portable saw.
Of course, with any ground-breaking movement, one can take the portable computer aspect of the art too far -- in my judgment, it is about the ART -- not the technology.
For example, here is an example of a Tool Music coven that let "technology" overcome the true mission of the movement:
Last edited by rollhead; December-16th-2005 at 02:24 PM.
Composer turns Hudson River bridge into a musical instrument
BEACON, N.Y. Handel composed Water Music. Now, a Hudson Valley composer is recording "bridge music."
Joseph Bertolozzi of Beacon wants to turn the Mid-Hudson Bridge into a giant percussion instrument and incorporate it into the 2009 celebration of the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's sail up the river.
A sound engineer from Kingston and team of four from the state Bridge Authority yesterday helped Bertolozzi with the project. They hung microphones from 16 of the 144 pairs of suspender cables that hold up the roadway. The mikes pick up only vibrations, not traffic noise.
Today, they'll return to the span with recording equipment and percussion instruments and climb 135 feet down ladders to a bridge pier. Using a drumstick made from a small log, Bertolozzi plans to strike the bridge's frame and record the resulting sound. He'll later piece the recordings together to compose a song.
For the anniversary celebration, he hopes to assemble a team of 16 percussionists to "play" the bridge.
Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed
As I recall, Rollhead DiCaprio, obnoxious teen-aged skateboarder, was the originator of Tool Music. Mr. DiCaprio and several other posters on this thread were also involved in the original "Rodentron" debacle.
nor can this disc ever be heard the same way twice.
Ways to accomplish this with less cosmic discs include:
1. Scratching the disc in question before each play. 2. Putting different objects in your ears before listening. 3. Eating a wide variety of differing foods prior to auditing. 4. Putting (and moving) fans around the listening room. 5. Throwing blankets or other objects over the speakers or puncturing them. 6. Putting other discs on another player at the same time. 7. Listening in your car and driving around disparate areas. 8. Listening while having sex with different partners. 9. Turning your CD player down so low the disc is barely audible (if at all). 10. Playing it on a grammophone (LP turntable).
Last edited by walto; August-29th-2006 at 04:38 PM.
The reason why tool music will outlast macarena/eai is that tool music is all about "semiotic disobediance." That's the basis for it, really. Macarena/eai is strictly in the iconic mainstream.
Nice find. I have been interested in indie chillout/experimental/psychedlia music for awhile, but I wasnt sure how to go about searching through the thousands of artist out there.
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Originally Posted by Gary Sisco
Barbecue splashes & swooshies.
