410  Sonic reprocessing and electronic DJs

Date: Sun, 10 Feb 2002 08:21:25 -0600
From: Stephen Brown <Stephen.P.Brown@DAL.FRB.ORG>
Subject: Re: Sonic reprocessing and electronic DJs

I think what constitutes a denigration or infringement of someone else's
artistic integrity is less clear than some might have us believe.

Suppose someone records what was previously a milonga with a tango rhythm.
Does that denigrate the composer's original intent?

Suppose the recording musician declares that his music is not for dancing
(as Astor Piazzolla did). It is contrary to the artists' original intent,
but does it denigrate the artists' original intent to dance to the music?

Suppose the producer of a CD uses digital equipment to speed up the tempo
before releasing it or asks the musicians to play at faster tempo for the
CD than they do for the show because it will sound more impressive for the
recording. In either case, would slowing the recording down impinge on the
muscians' original intent or restore it?

Suppose the DJ cuts off a 45 second non-danceable intro to a song that is
otherwise perfect for dancing. Suppose the DJ uses MP3 files to play the
music for a milonga, which loses some of the original sound layers.
Supposes the DJ plays hurricane sound effects while playing El Hurrican.
Which of these activities denigrates the original creation? Is it
permissable to add salt to food served at a restaurant or to eat a smaller
portion than is served?

(Non-tango examples) Suppose someone throws a dance track rhythm over all
the tracks on a CD and reissues it... Suppose a karaoke-bar uses software
to remove the vocal tracks from popular recordings so that others can sing.
Do those activities make a mockery of the original creation?

Why might CD players intended for use by professional DJs have been
developed with the ability to alter the tempo? To me it suggests that at
least some individuals (or companies) think that some aspects of the
creative process continue past the point where the music has been put on
CD.

By the way, I do not use digital reprocessing to alter the sound of any
tango music I play. The intent of my original posting was simply to point
out some possibilities to those who wished for time machines or electronic
DJs...

As for couples bringing their own music and wearing headphones plugged into
walkmans, I have a vision of such a milonga... I think it would be quite
humorous (too watch). The emoticon ;-) in my original posting was
intended to convey such sentiments...

With best regards and good will to all,
Steve (de Tejas)