[Frameworks] Exemplary Sound Design in AG Film

robert harris lagonaboba at gmail.com
Mon May 16 17:43:24 UTC 2016


Thanks for the response Fred. Somewhere in in the recesses of my mind I thought of you when posting the question, a. because for decades I’ve respected your insights, and b., because one of your most memorable posts contained your statement (at least this is how I remember it…) that Beethoven’s Grosse Fuge is a definitive avant garde work.  A smile inducing and welcome statement in the context of Frameworks.

As to anonymity, community and the internet, I prefer my community to involve warm bodies sharing tangible space. Not to say the I don’t appreciate Frameworks, I do. And it’s fascinating and heartening to know that there are disembodied consciousnesses out there that profess to care about something I believe I care about. But this is no fun to type about abstractly. 

So, I’m Robert Harris. I live in greater Boston. I teach filmmaking (actual 16mm bolex/arri filmmaking in addition to digital video that everyone seems to think should be called film) at Fitchburg State University in central Massachusetts. I used to be involved with Anthology Film Archives Video Program in 70’s and 80’s.
The program for which I’m planning a sound design component is the New York State Summer School of the Arts.  Its a program I’ve run for 25 years, having inherited it from Gerald O’Grady.
A few lurking frame workers have taught with me and/or been visiting artists. Maybe even some former students out there. Tony Conrad taught in the program under O’Grady. Sharits probably had a bit to do with the program moving to my care. The program is for high school students.  We teach 16mm film, digital video, digital photo, computer animation, and electronic sound.  Watching healthy amounts of experimental film, from 16mm prints, has always been an essential part of the program.

So that’s that.
I appreciate the suggestions that have been offered, though I’ve not yet found what I’m hoping for in the preliminary samplings I’ve been able to view and hear.
So many works have music tracks, orchestral music, jazz, electronic music, pop…sometimes with narration.  Sometimes the music is great, sometimes it’s lacking, but my search is for sound design that reaches farther or deeper than sound track music. I enjoyed re-watching The End  but it’s “just” text and music.  Invocation of My Demon Brother  is “just” Mick Jagger’s electronic noodlings on a MOOG.  Robert Withers just posted that Abigail Child’s work is worthy, and I agree.  A title I didn’t mention earlier is Robert Gardner’s Forests of Bliss.  Deborah Stratman frequently does great sound work.  
I’m just hopeful that I learn that there is more really rich stuff out there.  Sound is pretty wonderful.  

Robert Harris



 
On May 15, 2016, at 9:10 PM, Fred Camper <f at fredcamper.com> wrote:

> Why not tell us your name, location, and the name of the school?
> 
> FraneWorks doesn't feel like much of a community anymore. Or maybe I'll just never get used to Internet anonymity, fine on some sex advice board but to me not right for a place like this.
> To be contrary, I'd suggest Christopher Maclaine's The End and The Man Who Invented Gold. They are very great films, in my view but not in everyone's, with great soundtracks that do not meet your criteria, but they are not "strictly intellectual" either -- far from it. Made with minimal means, they might seem amateurish to someone who hated them.
> 
> Then there's my favorite Bruce Baillie sound track, the one for Tung. But check into what i mean before renting the film.
> 
> Fred Camper, Chicago
> On 5/15/2016 2:36 PM, lagonaboba wrote:
>> For a class I’m preparing, I’m interested in suggestions as to Experimental Films with exemplary, excellent sound design and sound editing.
>> By excellent I mean, complex, layered, inventive, of rich and nuanced timbre….excellent for it’s sonic qualities (as opposed to strictly intellectual qualities).
>> As I plan to rent prints, it would be helpful if the works were available from FMC, Canyon, MOMA or some USA domestic distributor.
>> I would include:
>> 
>> Baillie’s Castro Street  & Quick Billy, 
>> Kubelka’s Unsere Afrikareise, 
>> Hindle’s Watersmith
>> Jack Chambers’ Hart of London
>> 
>> Thanks.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
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