2000ace's review
5.0
This is an interesting collection of interviews and essays from musicians and artists who were active in the San Francisco Tape Music Center in the 1960s. They had a profound influence on the rock music that emanated from SF at that time, which is probably why some people will read this book. I think that is why my daughter gave it to me.
These musicians are much more interesting than the musical genres they later influenced. By incorporating found pieces as instruments, experimenting with the limited technology of the time, and by bringing an open-hearted, innovative approach to music, they were able to create some surprisingly successful pieces. The only woman in the group, Pauline Oliveros, gets short shrift in the publicity for the book, but in the book itself, she is well represented.
Accompanying the book is a DVD with performances by many of the artists from within its pages. Although the performances are from a conference in 2004, they are highly entertaining and represent the broad range of types of musical presentations that were going on at the time. All in all, I found this book to be a most comprehensive, illuminating effort, and very well done.
These musicians are much more interesting than the musical genres they later influenced. By incorporating found pieces as instruments, experimenting with the limited technology of the time, and by bringing an open-hearted, innovative approach to music, they were able to create some surprisingly successful pieces. The only woman in the group, Pauline Oliveros, gets short shrift in the publicity for the book, but in the book itself, she is well represented.
Accompanying the book is a DVD with performances by many of the artists from within its pages. Although the performances are from a conference in 2004, they are highly entertaining and represent the broad range of types of musical presentations that were going on at the time. All in all, I found this book to be a most comprehensive, illuminating effort, and very well done.
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