Microsound
By: Curtis Roads.
Publisher: MIT Press
Published: 2001
Place of publication: Cambridge, Mass
Language: eng
Number of pages: 409
Subjects: Music -- Acoustics and physics; Electronic music -- History and criticism; Computer music -- History and criticism
Description: "Below the level of the musical note lies the realm of microsound, of sound particles lasting less than one-tenth of a second. Recent technological advances allow us to probe and manipulate these pinpoints of sound, dissolving the traditional building blocks of music - notes and their intervals - into a more fluid and supple medium. The sensations of point, pulse (series of points), line (tone), and surface (texture) emerge as particle density increases. Sounds coalesce, evaporate, and mutate into other sounds." "Composers have used theories of microsound in computer music since the 1950s. Distinguished practitioners include Karlheinz Stockhausen and Iannis Xenakis. Today, with the increased interest in computer and electronic music, many young composers and software synthesis developers are exploring its advantages. Covering all aspects of composition with sound particles, Microsound offers composition theory, historical accounts, technical overviews, acoustical experiments, descriptions of musical works, and aesthetic reflections. The book is accompanied by an audio CD of examples."--Jacket.
Notes: Accompanying disc documents the history of synthesis with microsonic particles and presents excerpts of music compositions realized with these techniques. Tracks are listed p. 389-397 in text.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [353]-381) and index.

For accompanying material ask at loan desk for ML3805.R69 2001 compact disc.