"Plunde_p_onics, o_ Audio Pi_ac_ as a Co_posi_ional P_e_oga_ive"

- as p_esen_ed b_ Jo_n Oswald _o __e Wi_ed Socie__ Elec__o-Acous_ic Confe_ence in _o_on_o in 1985.

_usical ins__u_en_s p_oduce sounds. Co_pose_s p_oduce _usic. _usical ins__u_en_s _ep_oduce _usic. _ape _eco_de_s, _adios, disc pla_e_s, e_c., _ep_oduce sound. A device suc_ as a wind-up _usic box p_oduces sound and _ep_oduces _usic. A p_onog_ap_ in __e _ands of a _ip _op/sc_a_c_ a__is_ w_o pla_s a _eco_d like an elec__onic was_boa_d wi__ a p_onog_ap_ic needle as a plec__u_, p_oduces sounds w_ic_ a_e unique and no_ _ep_oduced - __e _eco_d pla_e_ beco_es a _usical ins__u_en_. A sa_ple_, in essence a _eco_ding, __ansfo__ing ins__u_en_, is si_ul_aneousl_ a docu_en_ing device and a c_ea_ive device, in effec_ _educing a dis_inc_ion _anifes_ed b_ cop__ig__.

F_ee sa_ples

__ese new-fangled, _uc_-_alked-abou_ digi_al sound sa_pling devices, a_e, we a_e _old, _usic _i_ics pa_ excellence, able _o _ende_ __e w_ole o_c_es__al panopl_, plus all __a_ g_un_s, o_ squeaks. __e noun "sa_ple" is, in ou_ co_odified cul_u_e, of_en p_e-fixed b_ __e adjec_ive f_ee, and if one is _o conside_ p_edica_ing __is subjec_, pe__aps so_e __inking aloud on w_a_ is no_ allowable audi_o__ app_op_ia_ion is _o be _ea_d.

So_e of _ou, cu__en_ and po_en_ial sa_ple_is_s, a_e pe__aps cu_ious abou_ __e ex_en_ _o w_ic_ _ou can legall_ bo__ow f_o_ __e ing_edien_s of o__e_ people's sonic _anifes_a_ions. Is a _usical p_ope___ p_ope_l_ p_iva_e, and if so, w_en and _ow does one __espass upon i_? Like __self, _ou _a_ cove_ so_e__ing si_ila_ _o a pa__icula_ c_o_d pla_ed and _eco_ded singula_l_ well b_ __e s__ings of __e es_i_able Eas__an _oc_es_e_ O_c_es__a on a long-dele_ed _e_cu__ Living P_esence LP of C_a_les Ives' S__p_on_ #3 1, i_self _a_pan_ in unau__o_ized p_ocu_e_en_s. O_ i_agine _ow invigo_a_ing a few _e__og_ade P_g__ (no slu_ on p_i_i_ivis_ in_ended) c_an_s would sound in __e quasi-funk sec_ion of _ou_ e_ula_o_ conce__o. O_ pe__aps _ou would si_pl_ like _o __ansfe_ an oc_ave of _iccups f_o_ __e s_ock sound lib_a__ disk of a _i_age _o __e sp_ing-loaded _ape ca_apul_s of _ou_ _elo__on 2.

Can __e sounding _a_e_ials __a_ inspi_e co_posi_ion be so_e_i_es conside_ed co_posi_ions __e_selves? Is __e piano __e _usical c_ea_ion of Ba__olo__eo C_is_ofo_i (1655-1731) o_ _e_el_ __e ve_icle enginee_ed b_ _i_ fo_ Ludwig Van and o__e_s _o _anoeuve_ ___oug_ __ei_ _usical _e__i_o__? So_e _e_o_able co_posi_ions we_e c_ea_ed specificall_ fo_ __e digi_al _eco_de_ of __a_ e_a, __e _usic box. A_e __e p_ese_ sounds in _oda_'s sequence_s and s_n__esize_s f_ee sa_ples, o_ __e _usical p_ope___ of __e _anufac_u_e_?3 Is a _i_b_e an_ less definabl_ possessable __an a _elod_? A co_pose_ w_o clai_s divine inspi_a_ion is pe__aps exe_p_ f_o_ _esponsibili__ _o __is inven_o__ of __e la_e_s of au__o_s_ip. Bu_ w_a_ abou_ __e unblessed _es_ of us?

Le_'s see w_a_ __e powe_s __a_ be _ave _o sa_. 'Au__o_' is cop__ig__speak fo_ an_ c_ea_ive p_ogeni_o_, no _a__e_ if __e_ p_og_a_ sof_wa_e o_ co_pose _a_dco_e. _o wi_: "An au__o_ is en_i_led _o clai_ au__o_s_ip and _o p_ese_ve __e in_eg_i__ of __e wo_k b_ _es__aining an_ dis_o__ion, _u_ila_ion o_ o__e_ _odifica_ion __a_ is p_ejudicial _o __e au__o_'s _ono_ o_ _epu_a_ion." __a_'s called __e '_ig__ of in_eg_i__' and i_'s f_o_ __e Canada Cop__ig__ Ac_4. A _ecen_l_ publis_ed _epo__ on __e p_oposed _evision of __e Ac_ uses __e _e_ap_o_ of land owne_s' _ig__s, w_e_e unau__o_ized use is s_non__ous wi__ __espassing. __e _e__i_o__ is li_i_ed. Onl_ _ecen_l_ _ave sound _eco_dings been conside_ed a pa__ of __is _eal es_a_e.

Blank _ape is de_iva_ive, no__ing of i_self

Wa_ back in 1976, nine__ nine _ea_s af_e_ Edison wen_ in_o __e _eco_d business, __e U.S. Cop__ig__ Ac_ was _evised _o p_o_ec_ sound _eco_dings in __a_ coun___ fo_ __e fi_s_ _i_e. Befo_e __is, onl_ w_i__en _usic was conside_ed eligible fo_ p_o_ec_ion. Fo__s of _usic __a_ we_e no_ in_elligible _o __e _u_an e_e we_e dee_ed ineligible. __e __adi_ional a__i_ude was __a_ _eco_dings we_e no_ a__is_ic c_ea_ions, "bu_ _e_e uses o_ applica_ions of c_ea_ive wo_ks in __e fo__ of p__sical objec_s."5

So_e _usic o_ien_ed o_ganiza_ions s_ill _e_ain __is 'view'. __e cu__en_ Canadian Ac_ ca_e in_o being in 1924, an elec__ic eon la_e_ __an __e o_iginal U.S. Ac_ of l909, and up _e_e "cop__ig__ does subsis_ in _eco_ds, pe_fo_a_ed _olls and o__e_ con__ivances b_ _eans of w_ic_ sounds _a_ be _ec_anicall_ _ep_oduced."

Of cou_se __e capabili_ies of _ec_anical con__ivances a_e now _o_e dive_se __an an_one back a_ __e _u_n of __e cen_u__ fo_ecas_ed, bu_ now __e _eal _eadac_e fo_ __e w_i_e_s of cop__ig__ is __e new elec__onic con__ivances, including digi_al sa_ple_s of sound and __ei_ accoun_an_ cousins, co_pu_e_s. A_ong "__e in_i_a_e cul_u_al sec_e_ions of elec__onic, biological, and w_i__en co__unica_ive _edia"6 __e elec__onic b_ain business is cul_iva_ing, b_ g_ace of i_s _ela_ive _ou__, pionee_ing c_ea_ivi__ and a co__esponding conniving ingenui__. __e popula_ in__igue of co_pu_e_ __ef_ _as inspi_ed cine_a_ic and pape_back ___ille_s w_ile __e _obbe__ of _usic is _es__ic_ed _o ele_en_a__ poac_ing and blunde_ing innocence. __e plo_s a_e __ivial: Disne_ accuses Son_ of conspi_ing wi__ consu_e_s _o _ake unau__o_ized _ice7. Fo__e_ Bea_le Geo_ge _a__ison is found guil__ of an indisc_e_ion in c_oosing a vaguel_ fa_ilia_ sequence of pi_c_es.8

__e dubbing-in-__e-p_ivac_-of-_ou_-own-_o_e con__ove_s_ is ac_uall_ __e _ip of a _o_ icebe_g of _udi_en_a__ c_ea_ivi__. Af_e_ decades of being __e passive _ecipien_s of _usic in packages, lis_ene_s now _ave __e _eans _o asse_ble __ei_ own c_oices, _o sepa_a_e pleasu_es f_o_ __e fille_. __e_ a_e dubbing a va_ie__ of sounds f_o_ a_ound __e wo_ld, o_ a_ leas_ f_o_ __e b_ead__ of __ei_ _eco_d collec_ions, _aking co_pila_ions of a dive_si__ unavailable f_o_ __e _usic indus___, wi__ i_s ci_cu_sc_ibed s_ables of a__is_s, and an eve_ _o_e pe_vasive polic_ of onl_ suppl_ing __e co__on deno_ina_o_.

__e C_iffons/_a__ison case, and __e gene_al accoun_abili__ of _elodic o_iginali__, indica_es a con_inuing conce_n fo_ w_a_ a_oun_s _o __e equivalen_ of a squabble ove_ __e pa_en_s _o __e Edison c_linde_.

__e Co__e_ce of Noise

__e p_eca_ious co__odi__ in _usic _oda_ is no longe_ __e _une. A fan can _ecognize a _i_ f_o_ a _en _illisecond bu_s_,9 fas_e_ __an a Fai_lig__ can w_is_le Dixie. No_es wi__ __ei_ ______ and pi_c_ values a_e __ivial co_ponen_s in __e co_po_a_e _a__oniza_ion of cacop_on_. Few pop _usicians can _ead _usic wi__ an_ facili__. __e A__ of Noise, a s_udio based, _ass _a_ke_ _a_ge_ed _eco_ding fi__, s__ings a_onal a__a_s of _i_b_es on __e line of an ubiqui_ous bea_. __e E_ula_o_ fills __e bill. Singe_s wi__ o_iginal _a_e_ial a_en'_ s_ud_ing B_uce Sp_ings_een's _elodic con_ou_s, __e_'_e ___ing _o sound jus_ like _i_. And sonic i_pe_sona_ion is qui_e legal. W_ile pe_fo__ing _ig__s o_ganiza_ions con_inue _o fa__ fo_ p_oceeds fo_ _unes_e_s and poe__icians, __ose w_o a_e s_aping __e wa_ __e buck sa_s __e _usic s_ould be, ______a_is_s, _i_b_alis_s and _ixologis_s unde_ va_ious _onike_s, _ave _a_el_ been given co_posi_ional c_edi_.10

A_ w_a_ so_e would like _o conside_ __e opposi_e end of __e field, a_ong acade_ics and __e sala_ied _ec_nicians of __e o_c_es__al swa__s, an o_de_l_ displa_ of fe__a_as and _e_ide_ise_iquave_s on a page is s_ill of_en __oug__ indispensible _o a defini_ion of _usic, even __oug_ so_e ea_nes_ co_pose_s _a_el_ if eve_ peck __ese __ings ou_ an__o_e. Of cou_se, if appea_ances a_e necessa__, a co_pu_e_ p_og_a_ and p_in_e_ can do i_ fo_ __e_.

_usical language _as an ex_ensive _epe__oi_e of punc_ua_ion devices bu_ no__ing equivalen_ _o li_e_a_u_e's " " quo_a_ion _a_ks. Jazz _usicians do no_ wiggle _wo finge_s of eac_ _and in __e ai_, as lec_u_e_s of_en do, w_en c_oss _efe_encing du_ing __ei_ ex_e_po_iza_ions, because on _os_ ins__u_en_s __is would p_esen_ so_e _ec_nical difficul_ies - plu__e_ing __u_pe_s and suc_.

Wi__ou_ a quo_a_ion s_s_e_, well-in_ended co__espondences canno_ be dis_inguis_ed f_o_ plagia_is_ and f_aud. Bu_ an_wa_, __e quo_ing of no_es is bu_ a s_all and insignifican_ po__ion of co__on app_op_ia_ion.

A_ I unde_es_i_a_ing __e value of _elod_ w_i_ing? Well, I expec_ __a_ befo_e long we'll _ave _a_ke_able expe__ _une w_i_ing sof_wa_e w_ic_ will be able _o gene_a_e __e banali_ies of ca_c__ pe__u_a_ions of __e dia_onic scale in endless a__a_s of _uneable _unes, f_o_ w_ic_ a no_ necessa_il_ affluen_ songw_i_e_ can c_oose; wi__ pe__aps a buil_-in c_ecking lexicon of used-up _unes w_ic_ would advise Bea_le Geo_ge11 no_ _o _ake __e sa_e blunde_ again.

C_i_e_as of sound

So_e co_pose_s _ave long conside_ed __e _ape _eco_de_ a _usical ins__u_en_ capable of _o_e __an __e fai__ful _i-fi __ansc_ibe_ _ole _o w_ic_ _anufac_u_e_s _ave __adi_ionall_ li__ed i_s func_ion. Now __e_e a_e __b_ids of __e elec__onic offsp_ing of acous_ic ins__u_en_s and audio _i_ic__ b_ __e digi_al clones of _ape _eco_de_s. Audio _i_ic__ b_ digi_al _eans is no__ing new; _ec_anical _an_ico_es f_o_ __e 19__ cen_u__ wi__ na_es like __e Violano-vi__uoso and __e O_c_es__ion a_e quain_l_ si_ila_ _o __e S_nclavie_ Digi_al _usic S_s_e_ and __e Fai_lig__ C_I (co_pu_e_ _usic ins__u_en_). In __e case of __e S_nclavie_, w_a_ is _ou_ed as a co_bina_ion _ul_i-__ack _eco_ding s_udio and si_ula_ed s__p_on_ o_c_es__a looks like a piano wi__ a buil_-in acco_dian c_o_dboa_d and LED clock _adio.

__e co_pose_ w_o plucks a blade of g_ass and wi__ cupped _ands _o pu_sed lips c_ea_es a vib_a_ing sonife_ous _e_b_ane and _esona_o_, al__oug_ suscep_ible _o co__en_s on __e o_de_ of "i_'s been done befo_e", is in __e po_en_ial posi_ion of b_passing p_evious _ec_nological ac_ieve_en_ and co__uning di_ec_l_ wi__ na_u_e. Of _usic f_o_ _ools, even __e iconoclas_ic i_ple_en_s of a _a___ Pa__c_ o_ a _ug_ LeCaine a_e suscep_ible _o __e conven_ion of dis_inc_ion be_ween ins__u_en_ and co_posi_ion. Sounding u_ensils, f_o_ __e e__-_u _o __e E_ula_o_, _ave __adi_ionall_ p_ovided suc_ a po_en_ial fo_ va_ied exp_ession __a_ __e_ _ave no_ in __e_selves been conside_ed _usical _anifes_a_ions. __is is con__a__ _o __e g_ea_ popula_i__ of gene_ic ins__u_en_al _usic ("__e _an_ _oods of 101 S__ings", "Piano fo_ Love_s", "__e __ucke_s DX-7" e_c.), no_ _o _en_ion ins__u_en_s w_ic_ pla_ __e_selves, __e _os_ pe_vasive exa_ple in _ecen_ _ea_s being p_e-p_og_a__ed ______ boxes. Suc_ devices, as a_e found in lounge ac_s and o_gan consoles, a_e di_ec_ kin _o __e juke box: pus_ a bu__on and ou_ co_es _usic. J.S.Bac_ poin_ed ou_ __a_ wi__ an_ ins__u_en_ "all one _as _o do is _i_ __e _ig__ no_es a_ __e _ig__ _i_e and __e __ing pla_s i_self." __e dis_inc_ion be_ween sound p_oduce_s and sound _ep_oduce_s is easil_ blu__ed, and _as been a conceivable a_ea of _usical pu_sui_ a_ leas_ since Jo_n Cage's use of _adios in __e Fo__ies.

S_a__ing f_o_ sc_a_c_

Jus_ as sound p_oducing and sound _ep_oducing _ec_nolog_ beco_es _o_e in_e_ac_ive, lis_ene_s a_e once again, if no_ invi_ed, none__eless enc_oac_ing upon c_ea_ive _e__i_o__. __is p_e_oga_ive _as been la_gel_ fo_go__en in _ecen_ decades. __e now p_i_i_ive _eco_d-pla_ing gene_a_ion was a passive lo_ (indigenous ac_ive fo__ sc_a_c_ belongs _o __e pos_-disc, blas_e_/walk_an e_a). Gone we_e __e da_s of livel_ _endi_ions on __e pa_lo_ piano.

Co_pu_e_s can _ake __e expe__ise ou_ of a_a_eu_ _usic _aking. A cu__en_ _usic-_inus-one p_og_a_ _e_a_ds _e_pos and sea_c_es fo_ __e _os_ ubiqui_ous c_o_ds _o suppo__ __e wande_ings of a novice pla_e_. So_e audio equip_en_ gea_ed fo_ __e consu_e_ inadve__en_l_ offe_s in_e_ac_ive possibili_ies. Bu_ _anufac_u_e_s _ave discou_aged co_pa_abili__ be_ween __ei_ a_a_eu_ and p_o equip_en_. Passivi__ is s_ill __e do_inan_ de_og_ap_ic. __us __e a__op_ied _ic_op_one inpu_s w_ic_ _ave now all bu_ disappea_ed f_o_ p_e_iu_ s_e_eo casse__e decks.12

As a lis_ene_ __ own p_efe_ence is __e op_ion _o expe_i_en_. __ lis_ening s_s_e_ _as a _ixe_ ins_ead of a _eceive_, an infini_el_ va_iable speed _u_n_able, fil_e_s, _eve_se capabili__, and a pai_ of ea_s.

An ac_ive lis_ene_ _ig__ speed up a piece of _usic in o_de_ _o pe_ceive _o_e clea_l_ i_s _ac_os__uc_u_e, o_ slow i_ down _o _ea_ a__icula_ion and de_ail _o_e p_ecisel_. Po__ions of pieces a_e jux_aposed fo_ co_pa_ison o_ pla_ed si_ul_aneousl_, __acing "__e _o_ifs of __e Indian _aga Da_ba_ ove_ Senegalese d_u__ing _eco_ding in Pa_is and a backg_ound _osaic of f_ozen _o_en_s f_o_ an exo_ic _oll_wood o_c_es__a_ion of __e 1950's (a sonic _ex_u_e like a "_ona Lisa" w_ic_ in close-up, _eveals i_self _o be _ade up of _in_ _ep_oduc_ions of __e _aj _a_al."13

Du_ing Wo_ld Wa_ II concu__en_ wi__ Cage's _e-es_ablis_ing __e pe_cussive s_a_us of __e piano, __inidadians we_e discove_ing __a_ disca_ded oil ba__els could be c_eap, available al_e_na_ives _o __ei_ __adi_ional pe_cussion ins__u_en_s w_ic_ we_e, because of __e sociall_ invigo_a_ing po_en_ial, banned. __e s_eel d_u_ even_uall_ beca_e a na_ional asse_. _eanw_ile, back in __e S_a_es, fo_ pe__aps si_ila_ _easons, sc_a_c_ and dub _ave, in __e Eig__ies, pe_cola_ed ___oug_ __e black A_e_ican g_e__os. Wi__in an envi_on_en_all_ i_posed, li_i_ed _epe__oi_e of possessions a po__able disco _a_ _ave a folk _usic po_en_ial exceeding __a_ of __e gui_a_. Pawned and _ipped-off elec__onics a_e usuall_ no_ acco_panied b_ use_'s guides wi__ consu_e_ wa_nings suc_ as "__is blas_e_ is a passive _ep_oduce_". An_ pe_fo__ance po_en_ial found in an appliance is of_en exploi_ed. A _eco_d can be pla_ed like an elec__onic was_boa_d. _adio and disco jocke_s la_e_ __e sounds of seve_al _eco_dings si_ul_aneousl_.14 __e sound of _usic conve_ed wi__ a new au__o_i__ ove_ __e ai_waves is dubbed, e_bellis_ed and _anipula_ed in kind.

__e _ediu_ is _agne_ic

Pi_ac_ o_ plagia_is_ of a wo_k occu_, acco_ding _o _il_on, "if i_ is no_ be__e_ed b_ __e bo__owe_". S__avinsk_ added __e _ig__ of possession _o _il_on's dis_inc_ion w_en _e said,. "A good co_pose_ does no_ i_i_a_e; _e s_eals." An exa_ple of __is be__e_ bo__owing is Ji_ _enne_'s "Collage 1" (l961) in w_ic_ Elvis P_esle_'s _i_ _eco_d "Blue Suede S_oes" (i_self bo__owed f_o_ Ca_l Pe_kins) is __ansfo__ed b_ _eans of _ul_i-speed _ape _eco_de_s and _azo_blade. In __e sa_e wa_ __a_ Pie__e Sc_aeffe_ found _usical po_en_ial in _is objec_ sono_e, w_ic_ could be, fo_ ins_ance, a foo_s_ep, _eav_ wi__ associa_ions, _enne_ _ook an eve__da_ _usic and allowed us _o _ea_ i_ diffe_en_l_. A_ __e sa_e _i_e, all __a_ was in_e_en_l_ Elvis _adicall_ influenced ou_ pe_cep_ion of Ji_'s piece.

Fai_ use and fai_ dealing a_e _espec_ivel_ __e A_e_ican and __e Canadian _e__s fo_ ins_ances in w_ic_ app_op_ia_ion wi__ou_ pe__ission _ig__ be conside_ed legal. Quo_ing ex__ac_s of _usic fo_ pedagogical, illus__a_ive and c_i_ical pu_poses _ave been up_eld as legal fai_ use. So _as bo__owing fo_ __e pu_pose of pa_od_. Fai_ dealing assu_es use w_ic_ does no_ in_e_fe_e wi__ __e econo_ic viabili__ of __e ini_ial wo_k.

In addi_ion _o econo_ic _ig__s, _o_al _ig__s exis_ in cop__ig__, and in Canada __ese a_e _eceiving a g_ea_e_ e_p_asis in __e cu__en_ _eco__enda_ions fo_ _evision. An a__is_ can clai_ ce__ain _o_al _ig__s _o a wo_k. Elvis' es_a_e can clai_ __e sa_e _ig__s, including __e _ig__ _o p_ivac_, and __e _ig__ _o p_o_ec_ion of "__e special significance of sounds peculia_ _o a pa__icula_ a__is_, __e uniqueness of w_ic_ _ig__ be _a__ed b_ infe_io_ unau__o_ized _eco_dings w_ic_ _ig__ _end _o confuse __e public abou_ an a__is_'s abili_ies.

A_ p_esen_, in Canada, a wo_k can se_ve as a _a__ix fo_ independen_ de_iva_ions. Sec_ion 17(2)(b) of __e Cop__ig__ Ac_ of Canada p_ovides "__a_ an a__is_ w_o does no_ _e_ain __e cop__ig__ in a wo_k _a_ use ce__ain _a_e_ials used _o p_oduce __a_ wo_k _o p_oduce a subsequen_ wo_k, wi__ou_ inf_inging cop__ig__ in __e ea_lie_ wo_k, if __e subsequen_ wo_k _aken as a w_ole does no_ _epea_ __e _ain design of __e p_evious wo_k."

__ obse_va_ion is __a_ _enne_'s "Blue Suede" fulfills _il_on's s_ipula_ion; is suppo__ed b_ S__avinsk_'s ap_o_is_; and does no_ con__avene Elvis' _o_ali__ o_ Sec_ion 17(2)(b) of __e Cop__ig__ Ac_.

Au_al wilde_ness

__e _euse of exis_ing _eco_ded _a_e_ials is no_ _es__ic_ed _o __e s__ee_ and __e eso_e_ic. __e single gui_a_ c_o_d occu_ing inf_equen_l_ on _. _ancock's _i_ a__ange_en_ "_ocke_" was no_ s__uck b_ an in-s_udio union gui_a_is_ bu_ was sa_pled di_ec_l_ f_o_ an old Led Zepplin _eco_d. Si_ila_l_, _ic_ael Jackson unwi__ingl_ _u_ns up on _ancock's follow-up clone "_a_d _ock". Now __a_ ke_boa_dis_s a_e ge__ing ins__u_en_s wi__ __e bu__on fo_ __is app_op_ia_ion buil_ in, __e_'_e going _o pus_ i_, easie_ __an _econs__uc_ing __e ideal sound f_o_ oscilla_ion one. __ese pla_e_s a_e used _o finge__ip _eplica_ion, as in __e case of __e o_gan __a_ _ad __e _i_les of __e songs f_o_ w_ic_ __e _i_b_es we_e de_ived p_in_ed on __e s_ops.15

So __e equip_en_ is available, and eve__bod_'s doing i_, bla_an_l_ o_ o__e_wise. _elodic inven_ion is no__ing _o lose sleep ove_ (look w_a_ sleep did fo_ _a__ini). __e_e's a ce__ain a_oun_ of legal leewa_ fo_ i_i_a_ion. Now can we, like C_a_les Ives, bo__ow _e__il_ and bla_an_l_ f_o_ all __e _usic in __e ai_?

Ives co_posed in an e_a in w_ic_ _uc_ of _usic exis_ed in a public do_ain. Public do_ain is now legall_ defined, al__oug_ i_ _ain_ains a dis_ance f_o_ __e p_esen_ w_ic_ va_ies f_o_ coun___ _o coun___. In o_de_ _o follow Ives' _odel we would be _es__ic_ed _o using __e sa_e oldies w_ic_ in _is _i_e we_e cu__en_. None__eless, _usic in __e public do_ain can beco_e ve__ popula_, pe__aps in pa__ because __e co_pose_ is no longe_ en_i_led _o exclusivi__, o_ _o_al__ pa__en_s‹ a _i_ available fo_ a song . O_ as __is Business of _usic pu_s i_, "__e public do_ain is like a vas_ na_ional pa_k wi__ou_ a gua_d _o s_op wan_on loo_ing, wi__ou_ a guide fo_ __e los_ __avelle_, and in fac_, wi__ou_ clea_l_ defined _oads o_ even bo_de_s _o s_op __e _elpless visi_o_ f_o_ being sued fo_ __espass b_ p_iva_e abu__ing owne_s."

P_ofessional develope_s of __e _usical landscape know and lobb_ fo_ __e loop_oles in cop__ig__. On __e o__e_ _and, _an_ a__is_ic endeavou_s would benefi_ c_ea_ivel_ f_o_ a s_a_e of _usic wi__ou_ fences, bu_ w_e_e, as in sc_ola_s_ip, acknowledge_en_ is insis_ed upon.

__e buzzing of a _i_anic bu_blebee 16

__e p_ope___ _e_ap_o_ used _o illus__a_e an a__is_'s _ig__s is difficul_ _o pu_sue ___oug_ publica_ion and _ass disse_ina_ion. __e _i_ pa_ade p_o_enades __e au_al floa_s of pop on public displa_, and as cu_ious _ou_is_s s_ould we no_ be able _o _ake ou_ own snaps_o_s ___oug_ __e c_owd ("_in_ _ep_oduc_ions of __e _aj _a_al") _a__e_ __an be _es__ic_ed _o __e official souveni_ pos_ca_ds and p_og_a__es?

All popula_ _usic (and all folk _usic, b_ defini_ion), essen_iall_, if no_ legall_, exis_s in a public do_ain. Lis_ening _o pop _usic isn'_ a _a__e_ of c_oice. Asked fo_ o_ no_, we'_e bo_ba_ded b_ i_. In i_s _os_ insidious s_a_e, fil_e_ed _o an incessan_ bass-line, i_ seeps ___oug_ apa___en_ walls and ou_ of __e _eads of walk people. Al__oug_ people in gene_al a_e _aking _o_e noise __an eve_ befo_e, fewe_ people a_e _aking _o_e of __e _o_al noise; specificall_, in _usic, __ose wi__ _egawa__ PA's, __iple pla_inu_ sales, and _eav_ _o_a_ion. Difficul_ _o igno_e, poin_lessl_ _edundan_ _o i_i_a_e, _ow does one no_ beco_e a passive _ecipien_?

P_oposing __ei_ ga_e plan _o app_e_end __e _i_anic once i_ _ad been loca_ed a_ __e bo__o_ of __e A_lan_ic, oceanog_ap_e_ Bob Balla_d of __e Deep E_e_gence Labo_a_o__ sugges_ed "_ou pound __e _ell ou_ of i_ wi__ eve__ i_aging s_s_e_ _ou _ave."

~ Jo_n Oswald, 1985

__is pape_ was ini_iall_ p_esen_ed b_ Oswald a_ __e Wi_ed Socie__ Elec__o-Acous_ic Confe_ence in _o_on_o in 1985. I_ was publis_ed in _usicwo_ks #34, as a bookle_ b_ _eco__ended Qua__e_l_ and subsequen_l_ _evised fo_ __e W_ole Ea___ _eview #57 as 'Be__e_ed b_ __e bo__owe_'.