Paul Shepheard

Longplayer is a continuous piece of music that began on 31 December 1999 and will play without repeating until the turn of the next millennium. This limited edition (1,000 copies) book is 12 inches square, and, yes, it includes a longplaying record with excerpts from the Longplayer composition. The essays that introduce the book are a mixed bag, reflections on the nature of music, time and human perceptions of each through history. But the substance of the book is Jem Finer's account of the five-year development of his ideas in composing and implementing Longplayer. He details his discussions with funding agencies, advisors, technical experts and others as he evolves an idea of a mechanical computer to help keep the music playing even if the electricity stops. The combination of practical and creative considerations - as necessity gives birth to invention - is what makes the book fascinating.… (altro)