seven musicians
Pong was the first ever computer game, and still has a kind of legendary reputation as the game that spawned the billion-dollar computer game industry. Although in this kind of game, on the surface there seems to have been a development in graphics and presentation, the basis for all these games was already present in “Pong”, objects in motion that hit or miss each other. One could argue that the same could be said about life itself.
“Hocket” would be the musical equivalent to “Pong”. My piece Pong is a kind of musical game using an imaginary “racket” that hits and misses notes, sends them to other players, stops them dead, etc… For this technique at least two players are needed—“hocket” doesn’t work when you’re on your own.
When we look at motion itself, it seems to be the most basic element of music—without motion of some sort there is no sound. Without sound there is no communication. Without the will to communicate something there is no need for any musical composition.
This is why in this piece I embrace the principle of “Pong”—as I embrace life itself.
Moritz Eggert, 2002 [ii-07]
oeuvre@22482 generated in Montréal by litk 0.600 on
Thursday, September 8, 2011. Development & maintenance: DIM.