The Dim Lit Subterranea of the Ancient Mind: the influence of place in ‘inspired’ composition, and the search for 'Ur' sound.
(last edited: 2020)
author(s): Jonathan Day
This exposition is in progress and its share status is: visible to all.
This interdisciplinary research progresses aspects of musical composition, musicology and organology though the application of specific recent developments within philosophy and physics.
There are two contingent ‘expeditions’–articulated constellations constructed of a suite of compositions (released as a musical album), exegetical writing and performances.
Atlantic Drifter investigates and evidences interactions developing from the implications of Object Orientated Ontology, (Harman, Bogost et al) for composition. OOO identifies the independent cosmopoesis of non human objects–the manner in which objects-with-agency declare the nature of their ‘world’ through artefacts. It calls the interaction of object worlds ‘encounters’. This research interrogates and transcribes a series of these encounters, experienced in locations internationally. It explores and reveals the agency of place, Genius Loci–air, water, stone, architecture interacting with the composer/philosopher. The research resulted in new music released through Proper Records. A chapter in Music, Myths and Realities (2017) offers a detailed exegesis of the theoretical advances facilitated by the creative work. The works and ideas were shared by invitation as concerts and keynote lectures at prestigious venues internationally.
The second expedition, A Spirit Library, develops from this and examines the ‘encounter’ with the physical presence and agency of sound itself. Schopenhauer’s exposition of music as Will was revisited though the lens of String Theory and aspects of Steven Hawking’s ideas about universal futures. The work explored the sound/human/instrument ‘encounter’, resulting in novel engagements with the cosmopoesis of sound. It allowed an extension into organology, where the generative influence of ‘Ur’ sound was applied to the construction of instruments, offering a novel understanding, shared in a streamed Keynote lecture, available online.
The work was performed by invitation at high status venues and on radio internationally. The music was positively reviewed, including selection as Album of the Year 2019 by Folk Radio UK.