Wolff Orchestra

The multiple pieces we played that were designed and composed by Christian Wolff were definitely the most extensive pieces yet in regards to actual performance, where each one of us had our part to play. This one, to me, seemed to be so very complex for some of the pieces, to the point where I think they would be quite hard to organize if you had an extended amount of groups or orchestras. This was partially the point, as we discussed, and as one could see by the tenth and final performance's rules involving flight, which was kind of amusing. To me, this continued along with a similar idea that the Cage radio session had, where much more leniance is given to the performers and the overall piece involving ideas that move a bit more beyond than just normal performance and composing into the territory of a somewhat philosophical slant. These two especially, but also pretty much every weeks class, pushed the boundaries of what experimental music and music itself in general can be. It also showed a less minimal, but still avant garde approach to electro-acoustic styled music. The idea of chaos coming into play again is what intrigued me, where sometimes the performance may have moments that don't work at all, others work very well and surprise us, and the general idea of how the human mind is at work within itself and among others in this integration and interplay of playing in and out of harmony. Of course, it also proved that music can even be funny and make us laugh, when I hit that little sped up drum beat and the week before with the Cage radio performance and the Native American flute music.