Soundscapes by Robert Fripp
Encyclopedia
A musical style developed by guitarist Robert Fripp
, involving the use of audio loops
created and modified by a specific set of digital music synthesizers and digital audio
processing devices.
Note that this is separate from the soundscape
concept utilized by various avant-garde
composers.
, in solo performances featuring audio loops created with electric guitar
and interconnected tape recorders.
The audio flow would typically be:
"has the aim of finding ways in which intelligence and music, definition and discovery, courtesy and reciprocation may enter into the act of music for both musician and audience".
Because Fripp has also stated that the intent is for active listening by the audience, it can be argued that Soundscapes may not be considered as a type of ambient music
, as it is sometimes described.
The performances are improvised; they can be quite loud, lengthy, dramatic, soothing, eerie, and possibly alarming. Because Soundscapes are often held as part of a rock concert
, they can prove somewhat taxing on an unprepared audience.
Another common Fripp quote regarding Soundscapes is:
"this remains the best way I know of making a lot of noise with one guitar".
He has also released pure Soundscape recordings as well:
back to the Microsoft
campus for a second full day of work on Windows Vista
following up on his first visit in the Fall of 2005. http://channel9.msdn.com/showpost.aspx?postid=287615
On October 21, 2006, Fripp was in Seattle, Washington
doing recordings of Soundscapes for Microsoft
to be used in sound themes by the Windows Vista
operating system
.http://channel9.msdn.com/Showpost.aspx?postid=151853
Robert Fripp
Robert Fripp is an English guitarist, composer and record producer. He was ranked 42nd on Rolling Stone magazine's 2003 list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" and #47 on Gibson.com’s "Top 50 Guitarists of All Time". Among rock guitarists, Fripp is a master of crosspicking, a technique...
, involving the use of audio loops
Music loop
In electroacoustic music, a loop is a repeating section of sound material. Short sections of material can be repeated to create ostinato patterns...
created and modified by a specific set of digital music synthesizers and digital audio
Digital audio
Digital audio is sound reproduction using pulse-code modulation and digital signals. Digital audio systems include analog-to-digital conversion , digital-to-analog conversion , digital storage, processing and transmission components...
processing devices.
Note that this is separate from the soundscape
Soundscape
A soundscape is a sound or combination of sounds that forms or arises from an immersive environment. The study of soundscape is the subject of acoustic ecology...
concept utilized by various avant-garde
Avant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
composers.
Frippertronics
In the late 1970s, Robert Fripp worked with a technique termed FrippertronicsFrippertronics
Frippertronics was a specific tape looping technique used by Robert Fripp. It evolved from a system of tape looping originally developed in the electronic music studios of the early 1960s that was first used by composers Terry Riley and Pauline Oliveros and made popular through its use in ambient...
, in solo performances featuring audio loops created with electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
and interconnected tape recorders.
Soundscapes
In the 1990s Fripp revamped the Frippertronics system by incorporating digital electronics in lieu of tape recorders and effects pedals, renaming it Soundscapes.Technology
The new digital technology included digital delay devices, digital audio processors, and guitar synthesizers.The audio flow would typically be:
- A guitarist (e.g. FrippRobert FrippRobert Fripp is an English guitarist, composer and record producer. He was ranked 42nd on Rolling Stone magazine's 2003 list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" and #47 on Gibson.com’s "Top 50 Guitarists of All Time". Among rock guitarists, Fripp is a master of crosspicking, a technique...
)... - The energy of which is transmitted to an electric guitar with a guitar synthesizer pickup/interface (e.g. the Roland GK-3) connecting to a guitar synthesizer module (e.g. the GR-33)...
- The output of this being routed to a digital audio processor to add guitar effects to the sound...
- This then is routed to an array of digital delay units (e.g. TC Electronic TC2290). The digital delays are used to create audio loops of various lengths of time. The common method being that one unit would be used to create one complete loop, then another unit to create a different loop. These loops would then be combined into the final audio output, being faded in and out by Fripp during the performance. The loops might not necessarily be heard during their creation, but may be faded in gradually...
- The audio from the digital delays would then be processed by more digital electronics (e.g. the EventideEventide, IncEventide is an audio & broadcast, communications, and avionics company in the United States whose audio division manufactures digital audio processors and DSP software, and guitar effects...
Harmonizer), then becoming the final composition.
Art
Fripp states on the Disicpline Global Mobile web site that Soundscapes:"has the aim of finding ways in which intelligence and music, definition and discovery, courtesy and reciprocation may enter into the act of music for both musician and audience".
Because Fripp has also stated that the intent is for active listening by the audience, it can be argued that Soundscapes may not be considered as a type of ambient music
Ambient music
Ambient music is a musical genre that focuses largely on the timbral characteristics of sounds, often organized or performed to evoke an "atmospheric", "visual" or "unobtrusive" quality.- History :...
, as it is sometimes described.
The performances are improvised; they can be quite loud, lengthy, dramatic, soothing, eerie, and possibly alarming. Because Soundscapes are often held as part of a rock concert
Rock concert
The term rock concert refers to a musical performance in the style of any one of many genres inspired by "rock and roll" music. While a variety of vocal and instrumental styles can constitute a rock concert, this phenomenon is typically characterized by bands playing at least one electric guitar,...
, they can prove somewhat taxing on an unprepared audience.
- Here is a Ground And Sky Review to illustrate.
Another common Fripp quote regarding Soundscapes is:
"this remains the best way I know of making a lot of noise with one guitar".
Performance
Fripp has performed Soundscapes in several situations:- Solo concerts; sometimes as music-only, sometimes interspersed with an informal audience Q&A
- On tour with King CrimsonKing CrimsonKing Crimson are a rock band founded in London, England in 1969. Often categorised as a foundational progressive rock group, the band have incorporated diverse influences and instrumentation during their history...
- In concert with Crafty GuitaristsGuitar CraftGuitar Craft was a series of guitar and personal development classes, founded and often presented by Robert Fripp, who is best known for his work with King Crimson.-Courses:GC includes three ways of developing relationships:...
- As part of the G3 (tour)G3 (tour)G3 is a concert tour organized by guitarist Joe Satriani featuring him alongside two other guitarists. Since its inception in 1996, G3 has toured most years and has featured many guitarists, including Steve Vai , Eric Johnson, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Yngwie Malmsteen, John Petrucci, Robert Fripp,...
with Steve VaiSteve VaiSteven Siro "Steve" Vai is a three time Grammy Award-winning American guitarist, songwriter and producer who has sold over 15 million albums. Steve Vai is widely known as a flamboyant guitar virtuoso....
and Joe SatrianiJoe SatrianiJoseph "Joe" Satriani is an American instrumental rock guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, with multiple Grammy Award nominations... - As opening act for Porcupine TreePorcupine TreePorcupine Tree is a progressive rock band formed by Steven Wilson in 1987 in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England. Their music is difficult to categorise, being associated with both psychedelic rock and progressive rock, yet having been influenced by trance, krautrock and ambient due to Steven...
Recordings
Fripp has featured Soundscapes on various King Crimson albums.He has also released pure Soundscape recordings as well:
- 1994 - Robert Fripp 1999 (CD)
- 1996 - Radiophonics: 1995 Soundscapes Volume I (CD)
- 1996 - A Blessing Of Tears: 1995 Soundscapes Volume II (CD)
- 1996 - That Which Passes: 1995 Soundscapes Volume III (CD)
- 1996 - Pie Jesu (CD)
- 1997 - November Suite: Soundscapes - Live at Green Park Station (CD)
- 1997 - The Gates Of Paradise (CD)
- 2005 - Love Cannot Bear: Soundscapes - Live in the USA (CD)
- 2005 - World Financial Centre New York, New York November 30, 2000 (FLAC or MP3)
- 2005 - St Peters Church December 3, 2005 (FLAC or MP3)
- 2005 - Junction, Cambridge UK, December 11, 2005 (FLAC or MP3)
- 2005 - MDH, Manchester UK, December 8, 2005 (FLAC or MP3)
- 2006 - Sutton Parsh Church, Ely UK, December 12, 2005 (FLAC or MP3)
- 2006 - Wulfren Civic Hall, Wolverhampton UK, December 6, 2005 (FLAC or MP3)
- 2006 - Shepherds Bush Empire, London UK, December 7, 2005 (FLAC or MP3)
- 2006 - All Saints Church, Broad Chalke, Wiltshire UK, January 14, 2006 (FLAC or MP3)
- 2006 - Arts Center, Carrboro, NC, USA, February 21, 2006 (FLAC or MP3)
- 2006 - Variety PlayhouseVariety PlayhouseVariety Playhouse is a music venue in the Little Five Points neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It is located on Euclid Avenue and features a variety of music acts including rock, country, folk, bluegrass, jazz, blues and world music as well as other live shows.-Details:The building...
, Atlanta GA, USA, February 25, 2006 (FLAC or MP3) - 2006 - Rhythm and Brews, Chattanooga TN, USA, February 27, 2006 (FLAC or MP3)
- 2006 - Belcourt Theatre, Nashville TN, USA, March 1, 2006 (FLAC or MP3)
- 2006 - Blueberry Hill St.Louis, MO, USA March 4, 2006 (FLAC or MP3)
- 2006 - St. Paul's Cathedral, London UK, June 13, 2006 (FLAC or MP3)
- 2006 - Salisbury Cathedral, Salisbury, Wiltshire UK, June 14, 2006 (FLAC or MP3)
- 2006 - Jaani Kirik, Viljandi, Estonia, August 25, 2006 (FLAC or MP3)
- 2006 - Evensong (FLAC or MP3)
- 2007 - Zepp Osaka, Osaka, Japan, November 28, 2006 (FLAC or MP3)
- 2007 - Hitomi Memorial Hall, Tokyo, Japan, November 29, 2006 (FLAC or MP3)
- 2007 - Jaani Kirik, Tartu, Estonia, August 26, 2006 (FLAC or MP3)
- 2007 - Glass and Breath, May 4, 2007 (FLAC or MP3)
- 2007 - At The End Of Time - Churchscapes Live in England and Estonia (CD)
- 2007 - Sound Sculpture - ND Ateneo, Buenos Aires, Argentina, June 8 2007 (FLAC or MP3)
- 2007 - The Society for Ethical Culture, New York, N.Y., June 23, 2005 (FLAC or MP3)
- 2007 - Sound Sculpture - ND Ateneo, Buenos Aires, Argentina, June 10, 2007 (FLAC or MP3)
Trivia
On May 4, 2006, Steve Ball invited Robert FrippRobert Fripp
Robert Fripp is an English guitarist, composer and record producer. He was ranked 42nd on Rolling Stone magazine's 2003 list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" and #47 on Gibson.com’s "Top 50 Guitarists of All Time". Among rock guitarists, Fripp is a master of crosspicking, a technique...
back to the Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
campus for a second full day of work on Windows Vista
Windows Vista
Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
following up on his first visit in the Fall of 2005. http://channel9.msdn.com/showpost.aspx?postid=287615
On October 21, 2006, Fripp was in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
doing recordings of Soundscapes for Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
to be used in sound themes by the Windows Vista
Windows Vista
Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
operating system
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
.http://channel9.msdn.com/Showpost.aspx?postid=151853