The third in a series of writings for Yellow Barn related to my artist residencies there, exploring how recordings have impacted how we make and experience music, in conjunction with a British Library Edison Fellowship.
The Cult of the Work
During our talks in Putney (at the Greenwood School and for the general audience) we framed the discussion in terms of an issue raised by various commentators: whether music is an object or an activity. It is, of course, an activity. However we have, in certain ways, taken steps towards turning it into an object (through musical scores and recordings). In doing so all kinds of "rules" have been created – many of which we are unaware of; our residency was about becoming aware of and re-thinking these "rules".