Experimental music: does it have a role in today's society?

Hi guys,

This is a short survey regarding experimental music. It's quite provocative, at least in my opinion. Please take the time to fill it out; it'll make you think about the place "experimental" music has today. 

Now I know some of you consider yourselves as part of this experimental music spectrum, at least in what you write or listen too. Feel free to share your thoughts by wither messaging me or posting in the forum: I'll be glad to share the results of the survey. You have the right to exit the survey at any time and you have the right to anonymity.  

I'll be awaiting your responses as I'm sure that everyone has at least something to say.

Maximus

In some way, the first answer in the poll is answered twice by me...
Maybe it has to do with the moderator permissions I have, but please count me on the ''1-3 hours'' answer.

Answering question 7 ''Will you be remembered by the general public'' with a 'no' honestly really hurts me. Of course, I prefer to answer with a 'yes', but for now I am negative about the future of my music.

Nice research, though!
I will write an essay about the Dutch identity regarding classical music. Maybe I will share the translated version here (originally Dutch).

1 hour ago, ilv said:

First of all, I would use radio buttons instead of check boxes to prevent multiple answers to one question. With questions 5 to 7, my real answer is "maybe".

 

I'll keep that in mind for future surveys: can't change it now since it's already in motion. Also, this may be a pilot for a bigger survey in the future.

The real purpose of this survey is get people critically thinking about what they perceive, what other people perceive and what role young composers have in today's world.

Also to all, please fill out the survey only ONCE. Thank you!

As my music catalogue is quite minimal, what do you consider experimental? 

What do you think of "experimental" music? You know, we can't define a certain style as "experimental".

For example, you can consider someone like Chopin an experimental composer, because lots of his works are too different from other composers of his age. But actually, he's not an experimental composer.

In my personal opinion, "experimental art" is always alive, because there are always people who love to break the rules and create new things. For example in my country, Iran, lots of young composers (18-25 years old ones) prefer to compose rap or pop music (actually, they don't compose or write, they just copy and paste loops :)) ). But I make ambient music, some of my friends make metal music, and sometimes, we prefer to write classical/orchestral pieces. We can be counted as "experimental" artists, when people are busy with meaningless pop or rap songs made by others.

3 hours ago, Muhammadreza said:

What do you think of "experimental" music? You know, we can't define a certain style as "experimental".

For example, you can consider someone like Chopin an experimental composer, because lots of his works are too different from other composers of his age. But actually, he's not an experimental composer.

In my personal opinion, "experimental art" is always alive, because there are always people who love to break the rules and create new things. For example in my country, Iran, lots of young composers (18-25 years old ones) prefer to compose rap or pop music (actually, they don't compose or write, they just copy and paste loops :)) ). But I make ambient music, some of my friends make metal music, and sometimes, we prefer to write classical/orchestral pieces. We can be counted as "experimental" artists, when people are busy with meaningless pop or rap songs made by others.

 

I've posted another topic on Composers headquarters to start a discussion on the definition of experimental music. I recommend you to check it out.

While I don't generally listen to experimental music.. I do occasionally, and write it every once in a great while..  To me, it's something I appreciate, to 'cleanse my palette. It is also fun, to ignore all the music rules, and conditioning most of us have been infused with..  It is also an area, where a composer can create his own rules.. If they continue this path, they create their own grammar and syntax to use..

Part of it's appeal is it is different, and the conception someone breaks the rules.  something some composers and some listener can appreciate or go out of their way to discover.

The first synthesizers, were collections of electronic circuits, used for scientific projects, LFO', VCO's, Sine waves, VCA's etc..  So some of the first electronic pieces, were more often done by engineers, a collection of sounds, and processes.  Many of these men, were not musicians per say.  (some were)..  Commercial synths, MOOG, and ARP, put all these separate modules into a box, with a patching system to connect things..  Other than Walter/Wendy Carlos, (who made the first commercially successful record of synths playing Bach);.  Electronic music was largely blips, and beeps.. very experimental.. weird, off-putting, and also 'enticing' to some.  

Also experimental music can sound 'chaotic', because it ignores most harmonic, and music process our ears have become conditioned to appreciate. It's something some can appreciate as our world seems to become more chaotic.. Frank Zappa, had a wide variety of musical influences as a child and young man.. Some well known (in their circles) experimental composers, as well as classical and jazz.  Although his first music was more rock..  He advanced towards more experimental and chaotic compositions, once he acquired one of the first Synclaviers (a synthesizer or even 'workstation')..  It made first class, out of this world sounds.. As his music became more experimental (and to me chaotic)  his audience changed.  

@Maximus

If all answers of the poll are hidden for everybody except staff, I apologise for publicing your answer on question 4.
I would like to know why you answered ''no.''
Why are, in you opinion, experimental composers not to be called composers?

I think experimental music is too ill-defined. In a way, all music is inherently experimental, and it's difficult to choose an axis of experimentation and a threshold on that axis which most people can agree with. I suspect you may get answers coming from very diverse ways of thinking.

But I'm definitely pro experimentation in principle.

I'll judge each experiment individually rather than say anything ill of such a broad category. I don't feel inspired by anything I've heard of John Cage or Stockhausen, but I'm glad they got it over with, and I think it's important to remember what they did so you don't get the same ideas and believe your work is more special than it is.

I think many experimenters of any kind will be remembered because the accessibility of music is better than it ever was and it will probably stay so or get even better, so the chance of the world "remembering" whatever goes public is high. Though, a lot will also practically drown in the quantity of known works.