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brettworks

thinking through music


  • June 22, 2017

    Curating The Week: The Myth of The Chaotic Creative, Jan Swafford, Randy Gibson’s Minimalism

    • An article about the myth of the chaotic creative. “Chandra thinks young artists often need permission to be organised before they can start to do anything about it. ‘I blame it on the Van Gogh biopic. Everyone has seen this trope of the dysfunctional genius so they almost feel like an impostor if they’re… Continue reading

    Curating The Week, Uncategorized
  • June 20, 2017

    Interesting Musicians

    Have you noticed that the interesting musicians make sounds unlike everyone else? Have you noticed that the interesting musicians move you in ways not measurable? Have you noticed that the interesting musicians devise one-off musical systems? Have you noticed that the interesting musicians use old instruments in novel ways? Have you noticed that the interesting… Continue reading

    interestingness, poetry, Uncategorized
  • June 16, 2017

    Curating The Week: Micromastery, Cultural Appropriation, Prog Rock

    • An article (and forthcoming 2018 book) on micromastery. “A micromastery is a self-contained unit of doing, complete in itself, but connected to a greater field. You can perfect that single thing or move on to bigger things – or you can do both. A micromastery is repeatable and has a successful payoff. It is… Continue reading

    Curating The Week, Uncategorized
  • June 13, 2017

    Meta-Review: Metrical Enigmas In Jlin’s “Black Origami”

    Within the borders of electronic dance music as well as beyond it, Jlin’s Black Origami is one of the most rhythmically compelling recordings to come along in a while. Jlin (Jerilynn Patton) is a 20-year producer from Indiana whose music is  influenced by footwork, the kinetic dance and music style from Chicago. Footwork evolved from the fast rhythms of… Continue reading

    meta-reviews, Uncategorized
  • June 7, 2017

    Curating The Week: David Lewiston, Noise In Analog Music, Improvisation

    • An article about world music recordist David Lewiston (1929-2017). “His tireless search for undiluted indigenous music became more difficult with time and the incursion of electronic instruments. ‘Oh yes, a Tibetan nun and a synthesizer,’ he lamented to Roots World. ‘When I go to the Himalayas, which is an annual jaunt for me, I… Continue reading

    Curating The Week, Uncategorized
  • June 2, 2017

    Performance Notes: Imagining A Perfect Musical System

    I imagine a perfect musical system would begin by asking me questions. What are you feeling today? What is on your mind? Where do you want to go? How do you want to be? Then the system would generate a series of sound sets based on my mood and my imagination. These sound sets would… Continue reading

    Creativity, performance notes, Uncategorized
  • May 30, 2017

    Talking About Musical Time

    J. and I were talking about musical technique of a sort, maybe something more. We were talking about the feel of another drummer’s time, about how in tiny ways it sounded wonky. He plays louder instead of stronger I say making gestures like clouds. J. reaches for a conclusion already formed. His playing doesn’t have… Continue reading

    musical time, poetry, Uncategorized
  • May 29, 2017

    Art About Music: John Thornton’s Stained Glass Window At Great Malvern Priory (c. 1440)

    Continue reading

    art about music, stained glass, Uncategorized
  • May 25, 2017

    The Percussionist

    The next time you’re at a concert notice the melodists up front –those singing, strumming, bowing or blowing through pipes– and watch them sway with the tune as if they invented its themes as if they’re unlocking its emotions then notice the rhythmicists at the back –those drumming hammer blows or mallet strikes– and feel how they… Continue reading

    percussion, poetry, Uncategorized
  • May 23, 2017

    The Sampler

    It begins with a sound I want but have not earned the right to use because the sound isn’t from me I didn’t make it it isn’t mine it had a life before I came along to yank it forward in time separate it from its context ignoring its history I just need its potential… Continue reading

    poetry, sampling, Uncategorized
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Thomas Brett is a musician and writer who holds a PhD in ethnomusicology from New York University. He is the author of Principles of Electronic Music Production and The Creative Electronic Music Producer, a book described by Sound On Sound magazine as “a deep philosophical analysis of the various creative inspirations, ideas and processes involved in producing electronic music.” His essays have appeared in the journals Popular Music and Popular Music and Society, as well as edited collections by Routledge, Oxford, and Cambridge University presses. Thomas has played percussion on Broadway since 1997 and writes about music at brettworks.com.

Recent Posts

  • The Real, The Virtual, and Thinking Compositionally
  • No. 6
  • Art About Music: “When Is That Young Man Going Home?” (1931)
  • Curating The Week: Freedom, Exceptionalism, Finishing
  • Curating The Archive: Of Slow Voices (5.2.2022)

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