The Loose Filter Project

Just the right balance...

...of skill required and possible fame.  More evidence of the wisdom of musicians.

Are we in control of our own decisions?

A fascinating TED Talk from behavioral economist Dan Ariely, demonstrating that we may not be as in control or aware of our decisions as we think:

Making music online

This is really, outstandingly cool: a simple sine wave synthesizer with an easy interface that allows you to create your own music.  Have fun!

Amusing ourselves to death, almost certainly

I've long loved Neil Postman's seminal book Amusing Ourselves to Death, and this cartoon is a nice introduction to the book's thesis--whose message is more urgent now than ever.

Also, bonus link to a terrific lecture by Postman.

In B-flat

Collaborative, online music-making: create your own song in the key of B-flat.

Frank Zappa, pitchman

"In 1967 I hired Frank Zappa for $2,000 to do the soundtrack for this animated TV commercial that I was animating and producing. It won a Clio award for 'best use of sound.' It was the beginning of a two year relationship that had me filming 14 hours of footage to be used for a film he called "Uncle Meat".

Thank you, Mr. Salonen

From last month, a great retrospective on Esa-Pekka Salonen's tenure in Los Angeles.  What a fantastic artist.

Mason Bates, helping to bring now into the concert hall

LF Project readers probably know that our first real-world concert event was back in spring 2007, collaborating with composer/DJ Mason Bates.  (Check out the photo album down on the left sidebar for more on that.)  Here he is performing with the Youtube Symphony, a movement of his new, soon-to-be-premiered San Francisco Symphony Commission, The B-Sides:

Bang on a Can, May 31!

Here is the schedule for this year's Bang on a Can marathon, the granddaddy of excellent new music coolness.  Get to New York if you can and enjoy the fabulous sounds, and if you can't, they've put together a Youtube sampler of this year's featured artists.

(and if you're thinking "Bang on a Can?  what's that?", then definitely spend some time reading and listening, starting here.)

The power of music (cont.)

13,500 people singing "Hey Jude" in Trafalgar Square (another public music event from T-Mobile):



(post of their first event here)