Musics (magazine)
Encyclopedia
Musics was an independent magazine (ISSN: 0307-2924) launched with Issue No. 1 April/May 1975 of MUSICS an impromental experivisation arts magazine. It was dedicated to the coverage of free improvised music
. Its need was originally suggested in a conversation between Evan Parker
and Madelaine and Martin Davidson
.
In 1975 Derek Bailey, Steve Beresford
, Max Boucher. Paul Burwell
, Jack Cooke, Peter Cusack, Hugh Davies
, Madelaine and Martin Davidson, Richard Leigh, Evan Parker
, John Russell
, David Toop
, Philipp Wachsmann and Colin Wood formed the journal.
The journal was distributed through postal subscriptions and through a network of alternative bookshops and similar outlets worldwide. For example this author purchased his copies in Black Swan records in Vancouver BC, Canada. The Musics collective took the principled position of relying on this form of direct finance from readers, rather than seeking income from advertising or grant-aid.
Musics came out six times a year. With full respect to Bells and The Grackle (sold in the same shops), the content of its 23 issues made it arguably the most significant publication in the history of improvised music in the second half of the 1970s.
MUSICS argued for the destruction of artificial boundaries and linked jazz, the music of composers such as John Cage, and indigenous and non-European musics. It was significant in the discussion of traditional Asian instruments (Clive Bell) as paths of equal value for the performance of musics, a term that discarded the use of the word jazz. Early issues covered audio soundscape work reviewing performance events ranging from a cliff-top piano hurling festival or burning pianos, trap set improvisation against a rising sea tide that drowned cymbals and floated and retuned toms, or drummer Han Bennick's inclusion of saws and power tools into his percussion set. Electronics were explored as micro-environments at a level of equality with acoustic instruments in the precursors of glitch, such as the STEIM experiments with the cracklebox or the circuit board work of Hugh Davies
(1943–2005), and a furious attack on the supposed limits to what was possible with brass instruments, notably by Steve Lacy
and Evan Parker
. Co-conspirators in this cultural discovery of new world MUSICS and improvisation included baritone saxophonist Anthony Braxton
, the Chicago school of jazz collectives, the revolutionary German trombonist Albert Mangelsdorf (1928–2005), both American and European Free jazz, Michel Waisvisz
of STEIM in the Netherherlands, and connections to the ECM record label.
However the real contribution of the journal was not about reviewing or diffusing techniques, such as circular breathing, but in its deeply rooted discussions of philosophical questions and positions on the basic nature of music, improvisation, and filters of race, gender, traditional approaches, or audience expectations. For instance analyses Lindsay Cooper
in her legendary essay Women, Music, Feminism – notes in Musics #14 (October 1977) in a differentiated way the specific difficulties in music to overcome societal defined gender roles.
The journal moved quickly to discard jazz-dependence on personalities to become a collective. The magazine collective convened and organised the inaugural meeting of the London Musicians Collective
in 1975.
Free improvisation
Free improvisation or free music is improvised music without any rules beyond the logic or inclination of the musician involved. The term can refer to both a technique and as a recognizable genre in its own right....
. Its need was originally suggested in a conversation between Evan Parker
Evan Parker
Evan Shaw Parker is a British free-improvising saxophone player from the European free jazz scene.Recording and performing prolifically with many collaborators, Parker was a pivotal figure in the development of European free jazz and free improvisation, and has pioneered or substantially expanded...
and Madelaine and Martin Davidson
Martin Davidson
Martin Davidson is an American film director, screenwriter, producer and actor. After attending the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, he spent five years as an actor in Off Broadway shows and regional theater. His directorial debut was The Lords of Flatbush starring Sylvester Stallone and Henry...
.
In 1975 Derek Bailey, Steve Beresford
Steve Beresford
Steve Beresford is a British musician who graduated from the University of York. He has played a variety of instruments, including piano, trumpet, euphonium, double-bass and a wide variety of toy instruments, such as the toy piano. He has also played a wide range of music...
, Max Boucher. Paul Burwell
Paul Burwell
Paul Dean Burwell was a British thaumaturge and percussionist, influential in the fields of free improvisation and experimental art....
, Jack Cooke, Peter Cusack, Hugh Davies
Hugh Davies
Hugh Seymour Davies was a musicologist, composer, and inventor of experimental musical instruments.Davies was born in Exmouth, Devon, England. After attending Westminster School, he studied music at Worcester College, Oxford from 1961 to 1964. Shortly after he traveled to Cologne, Germany to work...
, Madelaine and Martin Davidson, Richard Leigh, Evan Parker
Evan Parker
Evan Shaw Parker is a British free-improvising saxophone player from the European free jazz scene.Recording and performing prolifically with many collaborators, Parker was a pivotal figure in the development of European free jazz and free improvisation, and has pioneered or substantially expanded...
, John Russell
John Russell (musician)
John Russell is an acoustic guitarist who has worked exclusively in the field of free improvisation since the 1970s. He has been active consistently during that time as a promoter of concerts of freely improvised music in London, providing hundreds of playing opportunities for both local and...
, David Toop
David Toop
David Toop is an English musician and author, and as of 2001 was visiting Research Fellow in the Media School at London College of Communication. He was notably a member of The Flying Lizards. He was a prominent contributor to the British magazine The Face. He is a regular contributor to The Wire,...
, Philipp Wachsmann and Colin Wood formed the journal.
The journal was distributed through postal subscriptions and through a network of alternative bookshops and similar outlets worldwide. For example this author purchased his copies in Black Swan records in Vancouver BC, Canada. The Musics collective took the principled position of relying on this form of direct finance from readers, rather than seeking income from advertising or grant-aid.
Musics came out six times a year. With full respect to Bells and The Grackle (sold in the same shops), the content of its 23 issues made it arguably the most significant publication in the history of improvised music in the second half of the 1970s.
MUSICS argued for the destruction of artificial boundaries and linked jazz, the music of composers such as John Cage, and indigenous and non-European musics. It was significant in the discussion of traditional Asian instruments (Clive Bell) as paths of equal value for the performance of musics, a term that discarded the use of the word jazz. Early issues covered audio soundscape work reviewing performance events ranging from a cliff-top piano hurling festival or burning pianos, trap set improvisation against a rising sea tide that drowned cymbals and floated and retuned toms, or drummer Han Bennick's inclusion of saws and power tools into his percussion set. Electronics were explored as micro-environments at a level of equality with acoustic instruments in the precursors of glitch, such as the STEIM experiments with the cracklebox or the circuit board work of Hugh Davies
Hugh Davies
Hugh Seymour Davies was a musicologist, composer, and inventor of experimental musical instruments.Davies was born in Exmouth, Devon, England. After attending Westminster School, he studied music at Worcester College, Oxford from 1961 to 1964. Shortly after he traveled to Cologne, Germany to work...
(1943–2005), and a furious attack on the supposed limits to what was possible with brass instruments, notably by Steve Lacy
Steve Lacy
Steve Lacy , born Steven Norman Lackritz in New York City, was a jazz saxophonist and composer recognized as one of the important players of soprano saxophone....
and Evan Parker
Evan Parker
Evan Shaw Parker is a British free-improvising saxophone player from the European free jazz scene.Recording and performing prolifically with many collaborators, Parker was a pivotal figure in the development of European free jazz and free improvisation, and has pioneered or substantially expanded...
. Co-conspirators in this cultural discovery of new world MUSICS and improvisation included baritone saxophonist Anthony Braxton
Anthony Braxton
Anthony Braxton is an American composer, saxophonist, clarinettist, flautist, pianist, and philosopher. Braxton has released well over 100 albums since the 1960s...
, the Chicago school of jazz collectives, the revolutionary German trombonist Albert Mangelsdorf (1928–2005), both American and European Free jazz, Michel Waisvisz
Michel Waisvisz
Michel Waisvisz was a Dutch composer, performer and inventor of experimental electronic musical instruments...
of STEIM in the Netherherlands, and connections to the ECM record label.
However the real contribution of the journal was not about reviewing or diffusing techniques, such as circular breathing, but in its deeply rooted discussions of philosophical questions and positions on the basic nature of music, improvisation, and filters of race, gender, traditional approaches, or audience expectations. For instance analyses Lindsay Cooper
Lindsay Cooper
Lindsay Cooper is an English bassoon and oboe player, composer and political activist. Best known for her work with the band Henry Cow, she was also a member of Comus, National Health, News from Babel and David Thomas and the Pedestrians...
in her legendary essay Women, Music, Feminism – notes in Musics #14 (October 1977) in a differentiated way the specific difficulties in music to overcome societal defined gender roles.
The journal moved quickly to discard jazz-dependence on personalities to become a collective. The magazine collective convened and organised the inaugural meeting of the London Musicians Collective
London Musicians Collective
The London Musicians' Collective is a cultural charity based in London, England devoted to the promotion of contemporary, experimental and improvised music...
in 1975.