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Response to Lucier Sitting in a Room Future of American Music

Future of American Music

Lecturer: Mr. Prof. Dr. Herzogenrath

Student: Ahmad Deyhimi 7167063

10 Hearing Responses for the Hausarbeit

 Response to a piece of work by Alvin Lucier – “Sitting in a Room.”

My initial reception to "I am Sitting in a Room" was mixed, finding it fascinating but at the same tedious or uninteresting. It was a disorienting experience, deliberately repetitive. As the sound becomes increasingly distorted and unintelligible, it can be challenging to discern the original source material, which can be disorienting. For me, part of the piece's appeal is how it challenges conventional notions of what music can be, which makes the work mesmerizing and hypnotic but also challenging to listen to. Unlike traditional music, which is often focused on melody, harmony, and rhythm, "I am Sitting in a Room" concerns the physical properties of sound and how it interacts with space. Although "I am Sitting in a Room" challenges conventional ideas about music and sound, I have to criticize it for its lack of musicality and the fact that it can be difficult for listeners to engage with, which adds to its ambiguity. With its unconventional approach, I have to say that "I am Sitting in a Room" has dramatically impacted the music world, inspiring numerous artists to explore the sonic properties of physical space and how sound can be manipulated and transformed. However, I find it highly intriguing that the piece encourages listeners to focus on the physical properties of sound rather than simply its musical qualities. Overall, this music piece is fascinating but also hard to listen to; however, after listening to it, I understand why it is a crucial piece of experimental music and sound art. Even though it was tough listening to it, the work is an enriching and thought-provoking piece of music.
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