Has it struck you that the music which is regarded as the most sublime in western civilization, which is the music of Bach, is called baroque? Pierre Schaeffer bachbaroquecall Change image and share on social
First, it doesn't surprise me that traditional music has experienced a kind of exhaustion in the 20th century - not forgetting that many musicians started to look outside the traditional structures of tonality. Pierre Schaeffer 20thcenturyexhaustion share on social
The world changes materially. Science makes advances in technology and understanding. But the world of humanity doesn't change. Pierre Schaeffer advancechangehumanity Change image and share on social
In contrast, traditional classical music starts from an abstract musical schema. This is then notated and only expressed in concrete sound as a last stage, when it is performed. Pierre Schaeffer abstractclassicalconcrete Change image and share on social
Morally, the world is both better and worse than it was. We are worse off than in the middle ages, or the 17th and 18th centuries, in that we have the atomic menace. Pierre Schaeffer 17th18thage Change image and share on social
Take a sound from whatever source, a note on a violin, a scream, a moan, a creaking door, and there is always this symmetry between the sound basis, which is complex and has numerous characteristics which emerge through a process of comparison within our perception. Pierre Schaeffer basischaracteristiccomparison share on social
The only hope is that our civilization will collapse at a certain point, as always happens in history. Then, out of barbarity, a renaissance. Pierre Schaeffer barbaritycivilizationcollapse Change image and share on social
People who share the same language, French or Chinese or whatever, have the same vocal cords and emit sounds which are basically the same, as they come from the same throats and lungs. Pierre Schaeffer basicallychinesecord Change image and share on social
The impressionists, Debussy, Faure, in France, did take a few steps forward. Pierre Schaeffer debussyfaureforward Change image and share on social
Barbarians always think of themselves as the bringers of civilization. Pierre Schaeffer barbarianbringercivilization Change image and share on social