Babbitt: "Occasional Variations"

[MushroomedAnymore]

This is one of the most illuminating compositions on YouTube, and should be promulgated to the masses!

[radajan]

Is music supposed to be judged in some way by the response it evokes from the listener? Because this made me titter like a little girl.

[Prublixa]

@radajan i think it suites little girls this music..

[Mamby9Pamby]

In spite of all the effort, this music will be forgotten and as other ridiculous aberrations of the twentieth century -- I know because I studied this music and wrote in this genre for a long time...

[mahler151]

@Mamby9Pamby

Yep, that sure is proof.

[pauleyh]

amazing sounds better than a synclavier or fairlight this is full analog one of the first in the synth generation rock on!!!! i love it :)

[TomZentra]

This composition may be fine for the next episode of The Twilight Zone, but other than that it's 10 minutes of boring, rapidly changing textures.

[schezodog]

Ivory tower nonsense. I'll go with Copland and his leftist pals every time, followed by Haydn string quartets. Musical composition is not scientific research. Composition must be based in a viable and authentic culture. Communication is the name of the game.

[mahler151]

@schezodog

"My opinion is right because it's my opinion."

[xxsmokeymcpotxx]

@schezodog There was a switch, in the thirties or so, which has its roots in Schoenberg introducing serialization to the world, when music composition was no longer relevant for the general public. That the exploration of sonic possibilities, chance, atonality, and just pure exploration were the directives of the composer. This was very heated, with Babbitt and such writing furiously about the neoclassicists and Leonard Bernstein for their adherence to a dated style.

[diegosalgo]

it's good to make a soundtrack of planktons documentary on national geographic channel! urgh!

[mohammadvarzaldoust]

Great, Thanks

[jazzswing88]

anybody think this is cool what this,

watch?v=MSoAzONw-a4&feature=re­­lated

..its called ''song from the second moon'' from 1957

[BlackburnBigdragon]

I love it ! I wish I could track down more old experimental electronic music from this era.

[playingmusiconmars]

@BlackburnBigdragon

Try to get hold of a copy of the compilation "Ohm- the early Gurus of electronic music" released on Ellipsis Arts.

It's a three disc anthology+DVD and extensive booklet with some of the most important pieces in the history of electronic art music, I can highly recommend it!

[nickelindimer]

From what I've heard in this posting... It seems that Babbit's work is to electronica is what the style of metal I heard being payed at a white-supremists rally --what I can only describe as some from of thrash-esque sound--is to the blues: Something that's utterly devoid of what makes the more-favored pieces found released into the main-body of the genre it's tied to delightful. In this case: Melody.

[idiotequedemos]

@nickelindimer this analogy is completely inane as what Babbit has composed here is not a song and should not be listened to with the expectation of such entrained resolves. As for it's effect on the listener not being delightful, I find his exploration completely wonderful and certainly more mentally stimulating than the majority of commercially released electronic music.

[nickelindimer]

@idiotequedemos What-ever, Maj. Winchester. I leave you to enjoy the dead children choir now... while I partake of the cynical yet celestrial auras of Vox-Numana & that which is Wright, in-which you seem to find so much wrong. (i.e.: Later, hater!)

[idiotequedemos]

@nickelindimer a little forethought before typing wouldn't go amiss... all i could decipher was *blahblahblah...ignorance...bl­ahblahblah* :)

[nickelindimer]

@idiotequedemos Oh, and you're being open-minded? If you are, and supposedly so intelligent as a result of such (re: well-read), how come you couldn't pick-up on what I was saying... Like you claim you can over Babbit's work?

BTW: This is a "SHUT-UP", in-case you can't pick-up on even that!

[idiotequedemos]

@nickelindimer i thought we were speaking english that's all. cheer up duck!

[rlnilson]

Sounds like his grandson got a hold of his score. I guess I lack the capacity to consider this entertaining. It's certainly ahead of it's time. Welcome the music of the 2150's

[zweiosterei]

RIP. Agree about the media, disgracefull.

[hophmi]

This is kind of what a sped-up reel-to-reel tape sounds like.

[playingmusiconmars]

One of the most distinguished and creative artists of our time passes away and no one gives a shit about it. Same story with Gorecki last year.

I just found out about his death by accident- no one in the german media, not even the so called "art programmes", mentioned him passing away. I actually highly doubt it was any different in the united states.

RIP Milton, I hope you now dwell in a place without ignorance. Your place in music history will never be forgotten about.

[LesbianStraightGay]

@playingmusiconmars The same thing in the Russian media. That's really sad. BUT the Internet is slowly but steadily improving the situation.

[pensiontransfer]

thanks for the music uploads - I love your taste

[BassAssasin44]

montermaster01 is a faggot. this music is amazing thumbs up if you agree

[ThePennyboy]

What is he "playing"

[kristopaivinen]

The title of the greatest living composer has been passed on. To whom, I shall not say, but it passed from a composer, who perhaps never felt loved quite like he deserved to be loved for his creations. He did his work, now it's our turn to work for the future of his music. Suggest we honor Mr. Babbitt by spoiling our ears to his Piano concerto No. 1 available here, which, like all of his music, I never got the opportunity to thank him for.

[DustBGD89]

RIP!

[specialdead]

What a master! rest in peace!

[jrmhbky]

RIP

[hildagrim]

R. I. P. Babbitt! You will be missed :(

[ENL0E]

RIP. Some of us enjoyed your wild, fucked-up music.

[LackingLack0]

This piece isnt random at all. And if you know anything about this composer or contemporary classical music you would already know that. This is a beautiful work, i love these academic efforts in early electronic music theyre splendid. If you do not wish to hear something of this sort simply do not view these youtube videos.

[Monstermaster007]

Why would anyone even dare to call this music...for god's sake anybody can put together any piece of shit like this, it doesn't require any "special training" or any advanced degree. Sounds like puke and R2D2 mixed together with a title...a disgrace to music.

[horsedoctorman]

@Monstermaster007 It may sound random to the ear but if you could read music you could see the patterns. With pieces like this it's more intelligent to simply realise that you don't understand what's going on and move on rather than dismiss it as a "disgrace". I don't understand what's going on either but there is certainly a design at work

[nickelindimer]

@horsedoctorman I'm sure if I could read music, and were in search of something that looked pretty on-paper, I'd appreciate the design also. But then, not all things convey into another form with the result being of equal effect. There are many older languages that are pretty to look at, but they sure don't sound that way... At-least not to all ears. And what they may be saying might not be so enjoyable, either. To quote another "classic-contemporary" artist: Some things are better left unsaid.

[bickymcq]

@Monstermaster007 You really shouldn't be proud of your inability to perceive structure in music.

[bickymcq]

@Monstermaster007 You really shouldn't be proud of your inability to perceive structure in music.

[StevieHendrix92]

@Monstermaster007 A very ignorant comment indeed. Love it or hate it, but I'm willing to bet he's worked harder towards music than you.

[Monstermaster007]

@StevieHendrix92 Yeah give me the sound effect board - thing and mash my fingers all over it, add a title, and done.

[OutlandsCommunity]

Of the serial composers that got into electronic music as it was during the 1950s, Babbitt was the most creative of the US crew. Thanks for posting this!

[Castrombe]

I wish I could play this well

[nathnullobject]

I looked for wally for the full ten minutes and couldn't find him anywhere?

[karlgrossman]

I like it. I like talking over it. Did you hear what I said? I like to talk. And when I talk, I'm not listening, but then I stop. . . . because I heard a small sizzle that I thought was a dew drop on a fig leaf, no, that was just some under done bit of potato that I had for lunch, no, there it was AGAIN, now, just wait a minute... Oh, ha ha ha, I see, you've just trained a plastic mannequin to reproduce it. Clever race car driver, clever... A brass monocle tends to fog up... Fuse lit, laugh.

[karlgrossman]

I like it. I like talking over it. Did you hear what I said? I like to talk. And when I talk, I'm not listening, but then I stop. . . . . . because I heard a small sizzle that I thought was a dew drop on a fig leaf, no, that was just some under done bit of potato that I had for lunch, no, there it was AGAIN, now, just wait a minute... Oh, ha ha ha, I see, you've just trained a plastic mannequin to reproduce it. Clever race car driver, clever... A brass monocle tends to fog up... Fuse lit, laugh.

[lazzer408]

This guy must be Richard James's (Aphex Twin) grandfather.

[PolkRidgeAesthete]

A delightful and, for me, nostalgic piece, evoking the unique atmosphere of new music of the day when I was growing up and learning about composers such as Milton Babbitt.---David Thomas Roberts

[Tic1971]

This doesn't touch or arouse any of my senses...

Anyone can do random...

: (

[laurion69]

@Tic1971

Unfortunely you are right.

And unfortunely this stuff is called "music".

[madamerotten]

Reminiscent of György Ligeti, for sure, for sure.

[drhoobad]

You might as well drop your cat onto a keyboard. This crap impedes thought itself!

[SweetSweetWaldo]

Occasional Variations is this exact length. Isn't it? I think it was on the Tzadik release....

[MrChirpsky]

I agree, after Charles Ives and John Cage, Elliott Carter and Milton Babbitt are definitely at the top in the US (and these last, amazingly, are still with us and going strong).

[regcom]

This piece has so much timbral interest. I'm really liking Babbitt's RCA stuff.

[marzzz1]

Pretty catchy, has a nice beat....!

[laurion69]

An abstruse as well as useless architecture made of rubbish.

[Robusto103]

I hate when people say that "oh, in the past there was so much more creativity 'cause they didn't have all the technology we have now..." and so on: wtf, you should be grateful for all the possibilities of new technologies!!! if they have been able to do a masterpiece like this with an old synthesizer, imagine what you could do now!!!

[MusicaRicercata]

I love this! It's like a toy shoppe.

[Envergure]

If a million monkeys pounded on a million keyboards for a million years, this song would be the first thing they wrote :)

[ooohmatron]

no. They would write your post.

[sexdrugsrocknr0ll]

if a million monkey pounded on a million keyboards for 9 minutes and 52 seconds this would be what they wrote

[ILIKECYNIC]

An incredible piece of music that still floors me 7 years after I first heard it from one of the most criminally misunderstood and underrated composers of all time. Cheers for posting

[FuckFeminists]

lmao at you guys. Honestly, can you not hear?! hes just plonking on random keys! Listen to it! Didnt you do that when you were a kid? Its a string of complete gibberish! Theres no modality, no structure, no scales, no rhythm, no meaning Whatsoever! You guys, without meaning to cause undue offense, are quite sad.

[ORUPRANKSTAZ]

@FuckFeminists

Every sound you hear had to programmed by hand, using punch cards and such.. Seriously. Every. Fucking. Sound. Every. Fucking. Blip or Beep. All by hand.

The Mark II was a full 10+ years ahead of its time, and even further in that it was able to read optical data and interpret that as modulation values.

I'd love to see your wannabe musical ass do this shit by hand. No fucking keyboard. No MIDI. No goddamn Pro Tools. No fucking software.

Try to be a little grateful, dickwad.

[Robusto103]

yeeeaah!!!!!

[scott93257]

@ORUPRANKSTAZ

LMAO ...couldn't have said it better myself...The man was brilliant as well as was the RCA Mark II

[NotATube]

@ORUPRANKSTAZ. "FuckFeminists" didn't say anything about the quality of the synth itself, only that this particular musical piece sounded like "just plonking on random keys".

FWIW, IMHO the synthesiser sounds impressive for its time.

However, just because this piece of music was laboursome to create or required skill to program doesn't automatically make it good.

He/she had a different opinion to you, one which I happen to share- get over it.

[ORUPRANKSTAZ]

@NotATube

Granted, but look at the shit that people labor over now. Like how Kanye West went through something like 4 engineers just because no one could get the sound of the kick drum "right." He's a fucking moron, and he proved it with the whole Swift incident.. That's what happens when people have their head up their ass.. You don't know anyone like that , do you? Oh wait.. You.

[NotATube]

@ORUPRANKSTAZ Kanye West is a fucking tit, no dispute there- he used up any remaining benefit of any doubt that he had with the Swift incident. (I'll admit that I thought he had some talent at one point, but long ago stopped taking him seriously).

As for your last part, it's unclear whether it was meant to be a jibe at me or whether you messed up your editing. So, whatever...

[WrestlingHeretic]

@NotATube

You're entitled to your opinion, but your opinion is uninformed. Just because it sounds random doesn't mean it is. It *might* mean that you are incapable of hearing the connections.

[NotATube]

@WrestlingHeretic. Actually, I (a) wasn't the one who called it "random", (b) was pointing out that the OP's criticism of the music was not necessarily a criticism of the synth and (c) pointing out that (in general) something being hard to make doesn't automatically make it good.

I'd have argued that even if I didn't agree.

That said, I *do* agree to some extent that it's tuneless and uninteresting. Dismiss my view as unschooled if you wish, I wouldn't dismiss yours as Emperor's New Clothes.

[NotATube]

Additional; okay, my mistake- I notice that I *had* already stated that I agreed with the OPs opinion.

[WrestlingHeretic]

@NotATube How do you define "good"? By what criteria do you evaluate this music as not "good"? Can you articulate an actual criticism of this music?

There is a tension in your argument. "Emperors New Clothes" (which you are suggesting, however cleverly you try to deny that) suggests there is nothing here. Yet, you also concede it was hard to make. If it was hard to make, then something is there.

I suspect "good" means whatever appeals to you personally. I.e., solipsism.

[NotATube]

@WrestlingHeretic; I could articulate my criticism of this music- that it's a semi-random, tuneless mess of someone experimenting with an early synth- but I suspect you'd use it to dismiss my opinion as "uninformed".

Much as you'd argue otherwise, this is no less subjective than my view, and could be used to dismiss *any* counter-argument as the opponent is "uninformed". Similarly, were I to argue on that level, I could dismiss yours as "Emperor's Own Clothes" intellectualisation.

[TheThePostulate]

@NotATube Actually it's not semi-random. It's variations based on tone rows...hard to imagine something less random than that. Tuneless, yeah, but tunefulness isn't the only thing that makes music good. If you want to know where each transition is that begins a new variation, listen for the transition points (like at 4:45) that divide them. The structure of the piece becomes a lot clearer and you will be able to hear the variations. Timbre is very important here.

[NotATube]

@WrestlingHeretic (continued). And I'm sorry, but that something was hard to make does *not* automatically make it "good" (or whatever subjective terms one cares to use).

If a group of people in a distant country had only access to sheet metal, basic parts and crude tools etc., it would be amazing if they were able to create a motor car- *any* motor car- but it likely wouldn't be a very good car by modern standards.

A major achievement? Certainly. But it still wouldn't be a very good car(!)

[WrestlingHeretic]

@NotATube That's a bad analogy. Cars are primarily utilitarian; they're not art. You made two assertions and now you're complaining because you can't back them up. You asserted that this music sounds random, but it's not. There is no "semi-random"; that's like "semi-pregnant." It's either random or it isn't, and this isn't. You also can't articulate a clear criteria for what makes music "good." My point to you is that it is silly even to try.

[NotATube]

@WrestlingHeretic; One can always pick irrelevant holes in an analogy. That one worked as far as it was meant to go- the fact that something takes a lot of effort to make does *not* automatically mean it is of high quality (as ORUPRANKSTAZ

originally seemed to imply) though it may be an achievement.

I'm a poor keyboard player. It would take me *significantly* more effort to create a passable recording of an arbitrary piano piece (probably by splicing) than ahalf-decent pianist would. Quality?

[NotATube]

(continued) As for the "good" criteria... I agree with you. You're seizing upon one word which might or might not have been the best choice for what I wanted to say. But there is implied value judgement in both our positions anyway- take that away and all you can say is that the music (like any event in the universe) is "not random"!

As for "random", that was the other guy's words which I broadly agreed with, though if you want pedantry, I'd say that it sounds more like experimental noodling.

[Tic1971]

Dear NotATube, I assume that 'the other guy' is moi! So therefor I feel humbled even if I am only broadly being agreed with. May I agree with 'experimental noodling' too ?

It's fitting hehe

: )

[chrismuscaroler]

@NotATube i would agree with you, but if you really listen you can appreciate the complexity of what he does, even though it may sound like 'experimental noodling'. he spent a long time working on this, that much is clear. you can't even appreciate what he's done with the electronic aspect of the musicality alone. and getting past that, the sheer music of it is really well done. if you open your ears a little, you can hear the repeated themes, variations, and harmonies.

[Robusto103]

man, all this complainin' about experimental music is such a drag..............

[yamex5]

Do you *really* believe that Bach's only claim to fame is that he played on rich people's insecurities?

[Robusto103]

yeah, so you think all the music we hear is just "random bollocks"??????

[yoghurtverse]

i love germaine greer

[jljman]

@FuckFeminists

You really have no clue

[StupidProverb]

Just getting into Babbitt, thanks for the upload. I can't really say I understand this serialist stuff, but either way I can't stop listening to it!

[japanesesweet]

Babbitt`s music is often very genial and cute. Extraordinarily inventive.

Along with Glass,I think he's USA`s leading living composer.

[NewMusicXX]

Thanks for your observation. I would say Babbitt and Carter are the most important US composers.

[Robusto103]

what about ives? and cage? and crumb? there are so many.....

[madamerotten]

@NewMusicXX Yes, for this genre, but don't discard people like Berlin, Porter, Gershwin, Stokowski, Loesser, both Bernsteins, Scott...

[mikern2001]

@NewMusicXX

mentioning composer and Glass in the same paragraph slams all composers. he is an imposter, not a compower.

[BOARBIG]

@NewMusicXX together with Charles Ives

[TheNewestMessage]

WHY IS THIS TEN MINUTES LONG

[NewMusicXX]

I wish it were longer but 10 minutes is the limit.

[retrolyte]

@TheNewestMessage are you stupid?

[controlremot3]

ummmmm.........so when did they start using his image for the wheetos box?

probably the most annoying music i have ever heard

[NoiseCollector]

The introduction is problematic, but at before a minute and for the next 40 seconds is tolerable. I can comment no further.

[robyniscool99]

It sounds like some 2 year old is mashing the keyboard

[ohlordbabyjesus]

This piece should have been called "I'm a Pretentious D-Bag" by Babbitt.

Regardless of the fact that he's a git, I've always enjoyed his music.

[TheNewestMessage]

LOL. ILU.

Yeah, it's fun stuff.

[sonicpsychiatry]

Wow. A fairly interesting Babbitt electronic piece. I'm shocked that he actually wrote something of modest interest in this medium.

He's not completely devoid of talent after all!

[okiedokies]

Sounds like random interference waves being transmitted from a interplanetary probe.

Big deal.

[disturbedeleven]

It sounds best when your music is turned all the way down, so that you can infact not hear the music at all.

[HectarCrawford]

THIS MAN IS A FRAUD

[goldnuggetby]

lol

[toskoramone]

wow. and i used to think modern electronic music was terrible. i mean, i still think that, but this is even worse

[arsamoris]

This is really fun. This sound is becoming increasingly relevant for all of us, now that we have gone through the Star Wars era and now Wall-E. Perfect for both adults and chilldren

[japanesesweet]

Thanks for uploading this-one of the most delightful and quirky electronic pieces i know.

Uploads such as this are important because Babbitt is one of those composers who is more often talked about than actually listened to.