A Descent into the Maelstrom
Harry Clarke, 1919
in progress, my next book: Into the Maelstrom: Improvised Music and the Pursuit Of Freedom . . .
to research the history and practice of musical improvisation, notably the post-1960s ‘school’ known as free improvisation; to establish the cultural and political contexts out of which free improvisation emerged in the 1960s; to locate the self-organisation of improvising musicians in the 1960s-70s within a broad spectrum of political and social activism; to analyse the backgrounds and beliefs of those innovative musicians who were among the earliest to develop a practice of group improvisation without composer, notated score, conductor or prearrangement; to map the continuing evolution of the music, its changing practice.
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About davidtoop
David Toop is a composer/musician, author and curator based in London who has worked in many fields of sound art and music, including improvisation, sound installations, field recordings, pop music production, music for television, theatre and dance. He has published five books, including Ocean of Sound, Haunted Weather, and Sinister Resonance: The Mediumship of the Listener, released eight solo albums, including Screen Ceremonies, Black Chamber and Sound Body, and as a critic has written for many publications, including The Wire, The Face, Leonardo Music Journal and Bookforum. Exhibitions he has curated include Sonic Boom at the Hayward Gallery, London, Playing John Cage at Arnolfini, Bristol, and Blow Up at Flat-Time House, London. Visiting Professor at Leeds College of Music, he is a Senior Research Fellow at London College of Communication. Currently writing Into the Maelstrom: Improvised Music and the Pursuit of Freedom. His opera – Star-shaped Biscuit – was performed as an Aldeburgh Faster Than Sound project in September 2012.
I am looking forward to reading the book when it is finished and to see the progress on the blog. I’m curious about the Poe reference though.
Poe leads to Lennie Tristano, Anthoney – all will be revealed
Can’t wait.
Good luck with the completion of your project Mr Toop. A much needed work.
Thank you Pazel – support much appreciated.
According to John Szwed’s biography, Sun Ra once remarked to his musician’s at an Arkestra rehearsal something along the lines of “Y’all don’t know, but Poe know.” I am looking forward to your book.
Interesting. I’d forgotten that so thank you for the reminder.
Any Alterations scribblings planned?
Well Alterations will have to be part of it because it’s a group that tried to confront the received ideas of freedom that had evolved by the mid-70s.
Plus there’s the issue of fitting myself and the groups/musicians with whom I’ve been involved into the discourse without it becoming a solipsistic monologue – that’s something I’ve been working on through group contributions, collective perceptions of an improvisation. The discussions in the LCC improv sessions really helped to develop that way of thinking.
Hope Gong will be featured- so influential yet so overlooked.
Good luck, David, looking forward to reading it. Are you familiar with Arthur Koestler’s concepts of Holarchy and Holons? I always thought these could be useful for the discussion of improvisation. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holarchy
Thanks Ohad. Holarchy and Holons, no, but now I’m intrigued. There’s a slight danger with improvisation that almost any field of theory can be applied to somehow justify it or even explain it so let’s say I’m cautious, but thank you for the link.
Ahh, from The Ghost In the Machine. I read that in my 20s but clearly don’t remember it very well
Love your posts! How do I link your wordpress to my posterous?
Thanks Elaine
I’m not sure how to link your blog to mine – some research is needed!
This sounds great…what is the planned release date may I ask?
looking forward to this one very much, David.