What are we called?

Aylor_Draw wrote on 8/23/2011, 12:36 AM

What are we called? 

I'm not talking about those that are using Music Maker in conjunction with their own singing or those that play their own instruments or those that write musical notes to compose music from scratch.  Those all fit under the classical meaning of Musicians.


I'm talking about those of us who don't have any of those talents, but do a fairly decent job of coming up with (hopefully) pleasing songs by using bits of recorded loops and music like those that are provided for us with Magix Music Maker and other similar programs.

I don't feel right calling myself a Musician, because I'm not at all, not according to any definitions I could find.  The closest I could find is maybe "recording artist" but I'm not even sure about that. 

What we do is a lot like creating an Art Collage, only rather then bringing together various bits of pieces of materials in interesting ways to create visual art, we are taking bits and pieces of various recorded materials and putting them together in Interesting ways to make Musical Art.  So maybe we are Musical Collage Artists?

I'm new to all this, so there may already be a term for us, but if so, I don't know it. 

So what are your thoughts on the subject, anyone? 

 

Comments

Procyon wrote on 8/23/2011, 4:58 AM

The best description would be a "musical arranger" and "sound engineer".  You are creating a musical "arrangement" by taking existing material and arranging it in a new way..  Then, you may be editing and "sculpting" the sound, by mixing and mastering, as a sound engineer would.

Musical Collage Artist sounds nice, although it might not be as precise.

Aylor_Draw wrote on 8/23/2011, 6:25 AM

Procyon, you're description made me like Musical Collage Artist even better.  The Traditional Collage Artist does just exactly what you said a musical arranger does... taking existing material and arranging it in a new way.  They also do what you say the sound engineer does... further editing and sculpting their Collage until they have created a work they are pleased with.
 

It could just be the girl in me, but somehow  "Musical Collage Artist" has a better ring to it then a "Musical Arranger Sound Engineer". 

CBY_TLSE wrote on 8/23/2011, 12:34 PM

Hi,

 

In France people using this kind of software are called "MAOISTE" !!!  like the red guards in China, because they make MAO : Musique Assistée par Ordinateur (Music assisted by computer).

 

 

Regards

Aylor_Draw wrote on 8/24/2011, 6:34 AM

Oh my goodness..wouldn't understand what it meant if you hadn't told me, but it looks good.  LOL!  Don't think that would work in the US though.  We'd always be having to explain ourselves.  Of course, bet telling them that I'm a Musical Collage Artist will require some explaination too, I'm betting.  I love that you call computers Ordinateur.  Kinda like saying Termanator! Only with an ordi in the front. 

Thanks for sharing what Musical Collage Artists are are called in France. 
 

smartsmurf wrote on 8/25/2011, 2:43 AM

We are not called composers... that's for sure.

But I don't have a problem with Musician... Musical Arranger or... whatever.

I mean the melodies and logics of musical composition are in this world already. "Real" musicians do just the same... taking ideas (sounds)... or being inspired by them... and (if they are inventive) arrange all that in a new way...

If you work hard on those samples... give them your "stamp"... use them to transport your ideas... you do just the same... you can call yourself "creator of art"... 

But no matter what we are called... it's more important how we feel by "doing it"

For me I can only say:

I feel good !!!       

Aylor_Draw wrote on 8/29/2011, 8:55 PM

We are not called composers... that's for sure.

But I don't have a problem with Musician... Musical Arranger or... whatever.

I mean the melodies and logics of musical composition are in this world already. "Real" musicians do just the same... taking ideas (sounds)... or being inspired by them... and (if they are inventive) arrange all that in a new way...

If you work hard on those samples... give them your "stamp"... use them to transport your ideas... you do just the same... you can call yourself "creator of art"... 

But no matter what we are called... it's more important how we feel by "doing it"

For me I can only say:

I feel good !!!     

If you ask a  "real" musicians, they wouldn't think we do the same as what they do.  I think real musicians would be quite upset that we can come in and make music without the years of training and practice that they've had, and, when put into that context, I can certainly see why they would be.  But you just can't put the Genie back in the bottle.  Many things have changed with the rise of the personal computer and the advent of the internet.  We are making music without the years of experience and practice, and,  judging by the examples uploaded in this site, it's wonderful exciting music at that.   There will always be a place for the real musicians, but, from here on out, there's always going to be a place for our music too!  

I, still, however, feel that I need a title.  Here's what I found when searching to define Musician:

musician - artist who composes or conducts music as a profession
music - an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
adapter, arranger, transcriber - a musician who adapts a composition for particular voices or instruments or for another style of performance
artist, creative person - a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination
cantor, choirmaster, precentor - the musical director of a choir
composer - someone who composes music from scratch
conductor, music director, director - the person who leads a musical group
virtuoso - a musician who is a consummate master of technique and artistry...

According to the above definitions artist is the one that fits,  so I've settled on Musical Collage Artist for myself and Musical Collage for my compositions.  Works for me. 

And I feel good too!