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| Wednesday, 11 February 2004 |
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The changing scene: Sound of music by Faith J. Ratnayake The art of making music is as ancient and diverse as humankind. Today, we have a wealth of world music literally at our fingertips, through advances in technology.
Earlier, a dramatic range of music and song was stored on wax cylinders and heavy, historic black 78 rpm records. Progress brings us music of all kinds on floppy disks, CDs, VCDs, DVDs and computer readable formats. With the right equipment, the sound of music from far-flung places comes right home to us. But what of the traditional musicians and singers? Technological advances pose a serious threat to the vanishing skill. Keyboardists operate an amazing array of equipment from their nightspot perches; sometimes several keyboards played together through a computer. These exciting and exotic sounds include notes from instruments that the musicians have no idea how to play, or even from non-existent instruments. How wonderful, you say. Anyone with spare cash can possess music of unknown lands, activated at the touch of a button. Sophisticated and expensive organs and pianolas mean you can generate these sounds without actually having to learn to play any instrument. This all comes through the magic of digital sampling. Rhythms What of the music created by dedicated people who have spent years mastering the intricate rhythms and fingering of instruments like the sitar? They have that most complex of all computers to manipulate the most complex machines - the human brain and the human hands. Much of the thrill of a live musical performance lies in seeing and hearing the performer producing the enchantment that delights us, whether it is a virtuoso solo or a full orchestra with conductor. Alas for the local music scene we lost that most accomplished musician and conductor, Rohan Joseph. In Sri Lanka, the scope for real musicians and singers is extremely limited and limiting. Sound patterns The human element involves sweat, soul and skill. The sound patterns raise the emotions and uplift the listener's soul. Can we say the same of a series of machine-readable digitally produced numbers that produce sound? Plastic and microchips conveniently mass-produce music, great or otherwise, on which a whole industry depends. Computers even reproduce the human voice, though disembodied and soulless. When sounds requiring highly complicated and subtle techniques come easily through a synthesizer, will traditional ways be discarded? Some keyboard players produce intricate harmonic guitar chords, hard enough to master on a conventional guitar. However, these sounds come through a computer programmed by somebody with no idea how to play a guitar. That is great for the average listener - almost the real thing - but where is the human touch? Human society is used to discarding the old for the new easier ways of mass-producing something wonderful and intricate. How many music specialists will be cast onto the scrap heap of culture? Good sales of pianos, organs, guitars and violins locally prove that these instruments are still alive and fighting fit. But electrification has altered their shapes and sounds. Amplifiers now have reverb and chorus. Guitar tyros can strum open chords with a synthesizer. Most churches have small electronic organs, which under capable hands can produce a whole orchestra of sound. They are space saving, and the most sophisticated require only the ability to punch buttons. Yet, how magnificent the sound of a great pipe organ and how wonderful the talent of the operator, making the sacred music come alive. Rich tones Simply plugging in and flipping a switch gives rich tones effortlessly. It looks unimpressive, unlike a maestro on the concert platform. That does not mean that all synthesised musicians lack talent and skill. Some fascinating compositions have come through this technology. However, we must not be blinded by science, though beneficial. To actually play a complicated musical instrument may now seem weird; people have been doing it for centuries and it is taken for granted. Think how amazing the effect of wood and wire and whatnot in the right hands, producing notes and chords that create music. Think of the human brain, conceiving and giving birth to that music. This human treasure must be guarded from the lethargy that springs from digital, synthetic and societal stupor. **** Back **** |
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