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Listening Report of Alvin Lucier’s “Nothing is Real”

 

Patryk Merci

The Future of American Music

Matriculation number: 7613841

Dr. Herzogenrath

WS 22/23

 

Listening Report of Alvin Lucier’s “Nothing is Real”

 

Lucier’s „Nothing is Real” does not reveal much about the nature of the piece before it actually concludes, as the piece starts and continues through the use of a piano. However, the truly futuristic trait is revealed at the very end, when Lucier steps down from the piano and replicates its sounds by the use of an amplified tea pot.

 

The piece starts with fast paced high notes, which almost serve as a warm up for the composer before he starts going deeper into the sounds, as the following rhythm is created by low notes which are much slower and create a sad atmosphere. This sad aura then turns into an ominous and threatening rhythm, but it suddenly stops and leads the listener back to the high notes, which prevent the emergence of a depressive atmosphere. Those new high notes are much happier now, and they are organized into a positive rhythm which completely changes the appearance of the piece. This happy rhythm reminds of a sound which accompanies dream scenes in movies, because it creates a very promising and pleasant mood, just like spring in nature. Nevertheless, this happy atmosphere does not last very long, as the low notes eventually slowly make their way back into the piece, almost as if they were supposed to remind the listener that happiness is not everlasting. Finally, the piano stops and there is a short pause before the piece continues, this time by the help of a tea pot. A careful readjustment of the top cover allows for a manipulation of sound, creating an organized rhythm, very much like that of the piano. The sound stays pretty much the same, but is a little quieter, which is very interesting considering the fact that a common household item is able to replicate sounds of a highly complex piano. This practice underlines how beautiful music can also be created without using any traditional instruments, which also truly emphasizes the fact that modern music is evolving and reaching beyond limits of conventional standards.

 

The whole piece really serves as a comparison between sounds created by instruments, and sounds created by conventional items that people use in their everyday life. Lucier also makes sure that it serves as a proof that music can be created everywhere and through the use of every item, not just instruments. In that way, the piece also stays true to its title, because in the end a listener would not be able to distinguish between the sounds of a tea pot and the sounds of a piano, which results in questioning the concept of music and reality in general.

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