Music without sound can refer to music that falls outside the range of human hearing (typically 20 Hz–20 kHz) or to compositions, such as visual music, that are analogous to or suggestive of conventional music but in media other than sound, such as color, shape, position, motion and literature (see Discursive music below). It is commonly taken for granted that music is wont to be performed or recorded, but some sound works simply won't fit on a disc or on stage, being either extremely discreet (like Robin Minard's Silent Music) or incomplete (Varèse's Unfinished music). Additionally, silence can be regarded as the via negativa of music and has induced long lasting fascination to music composers of all kinds. A composer deals with the absence of sound as much as he deals with sounds. Therefore, this article includes several examples of apophasis in music (like Algorithmic music or Gesture Music).
| “ | "It seems to me that the most radical redefinition of music would be one that defines 'music' without reference to sound." Robert Ashley, 1961. |
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Read more about Music Without Sound: Gesture Music, Algorithmic Music, The Optophonic Piano, Unfinished/aborted Music, Silent Music, Discursive Music, See Also
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Unless I spake, or looked, or touched, or carved to thee.”
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