20090211 by Darren Miller

A computer is helping me to write one song per day (while having my morning coffee). These songs are the perfect length (see below) and all completely unique. This one is from the morning of February 11th 2009. I am recording them in video format, but also with high quality digital audio. I will compile them onto a compact disc at some point, and write out the sheet music as well. Computer files will be posted as well, but in the meantime, if you are wondering what is going on, read this:

The random number generator, metro, and counter objects from Max/MSP are used to control pitch, velocity, and duration parameters. The results are output as MIDI data, and fed into a Yamaha Disklavier (MX100 A) for exactly 2:42, the perfect length for a song:

"Joshua Allen of The Morning News says all pop songs must be 2:42. Even one second, in either direction will ruin it.

What else is at 2:42? Dont Do Me Like That by Tom Petty. Divine Hammer by the Breeders. Helplessly Hoping by Crosby, Stills & Nash. Get Up by R.E.M. California Dreamin by the Mamas & the Papas. This Charming Man by the Smiths.

You need more proof? Jerk. Lets look at Sgt. Pepper. Lovely Rita is two minutes, 42 seconds. It delivers that psychedelic vibe and a coda but then gets the hell out of your life.

Compare that to With a Little Help From My Friends. Its a mere two seconds longer but feels like it drags on for hours. Maybe its Ringo, maybe its the tedious melody—or maybe its the two goddamn seconds.

Then over here we have Good Morning Good Morning, rightfully discarded by the masses as a throwaway. Why? Two minutes, 41 seconds. Hey, Beatles, maybe next time think about tacking on an extra second to give a song the grandeur and majesty it deserves."

-taken from:
http://www.boingboing.net/2008/04/17/perfect-length-for-a.html

Category:

Music

Tags:

• piano
• player
• darren
• miller
• dfm
• composer
• saskatoon
• saskatchewan
• banff
• centre
• yamaha
• disklavier
• MX100 A
• max
• msp
• aleatoric
• aleatory
• aleatoricism
• 2:42
• 2 minutes 42 seconds
• composition
• music