I just found a manifesto that Ade and I wrote before giving a
performance at the ICA 4 years ago (almost exactly). We were very keen
on the word 'generative' at that point, but we were talking about
writing software to make our music.
I like its unapologetic and clear style. The text in brackets is
descriptive of the main manifesto point.
THE GENERATIVE MANIFESTO
1. Attention to detail - that only hand made generative music can allow
(you can go deeper into structures using code)
2. Realtime output and compositional control - we hate to wait
(it is inconceivable to expect nonrealtime systems to exhibit signs of
life)
3. construct and explore new sonic environments with echoes from our
own.
(art reflects human narrative, code reflects human activity)
4. open process, open minds - we have nothing to hide
(node is unambiguous, it can never hide behind obscurity. we seek to
abolish obscurity in the arts)
5. only use software applications written by ourselves - software
dictates output, we dictate software
(authorship cannot be granted to those who have not authored!)
You have to imagine Ade *shouting* this at a room full of people while I
executed perl scripts we had written. The screen was of course
projected. I have the score as well but not an easily accessible
scanner. Apparently a tape of the performance exists, somewhere.
alex
Received on Wed Sep 22 2004 - 14:44:54 BST