I guess I would need a definition of "extra musical." Classical music offers many examples of "unusual" instruments…from cab horns in American in Paris, to typewriter, whip, steamboat whistle, ratchet in Satie's Parade; "whip" (slapstick) in Ravel's Piano Concerto; Cowell's use of cooking bowls to Cage's use of brake drums; Mahler's hammer blows in the 6th Symphony and of course we have Stockhausen's use of helicopters, Antheil's use of airplane propellers and sirens…etc.
Then there are so many garbage "easy listening" disc with the sounds of rain, birds, the waves of the sea, etc. in the background. I have a shelf full of them. Let us not forget Rod McKuen and his albums like "The Sea."
Karl
On Monday, June 16, 2014 3:27 PM, "Hooyenga, Susan Marie" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
You and Randy are right, the topic has changed.
And Richard, you've reminded me of Brian Eno's use of a typewriter in "China My China," in his album, Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy). It starts around 1:45: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4sKHw_IX_g
Susan
-----Original Message-----
From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Richard Markowitz
Sent: Monday, June 16, 2014 3:52 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [ARSCLIST] Extramusical Sounds in Music (was Phonobombs)
The great light music composer Leroy Anderson wrote many orchestral miniatures which incorporate extra-musical sounds, most notably *The Typewriter*, *The Syncopated Clock* and *Sleigh Ride* (which imitates the clip-clop of the horses hooves, sleigh bells, and the neighing of the horse in the final measures). Others include *The Waltzing Cat*, *The Sandpaper
Ballet* (using three different grades of sandpaper, coarse, medium and fine, to imitate the soft shoe dance), and *Horse and Buggy*.
A more obscure team of light music composers, the brothers Kermit and Walter Leslie, (born Kermit and Walter Levinsky) wrote pieces in a similar vein, including* Jalopy* (in which the sound of an antique car is heard) and *Gilbert the Goose* (which showcases the subject's honking). These were issued on a collection titled *"Middlebrow" Music for the Hi-fi Fan* (10" Epic LG 1019, 1956), re-issued in expanded form as *A Holiday in
Hi-fi* (LN
3452, 1958).
The sound of cascading water is heard in Melachrino's *Waltz in
Water-colours* (on *Music to Work or Study By*: RCA LPM 1029, 1954)
If I remember correctly, the sound of a whip is heard in Ernst Toch's *Circus Overture*.
Aside from musical works, the sound of birds can be heard for a few seconds, before the opening line of dialogue on Decca's recording of Christopher Fry's play *The Lady's Not for Burning* (DX 110, 1951.) This moment always caught the attention of my feline Siamese companion, many years ago. It was one of her favorite recordings.
Richard Markowitz
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