[NewMusic] group discourse

[David Slusser]

On Jun 4, 2007, at 7:09 PM, matthew at matthewgoodheart.com wrote:
>  What if, for example, one
> subsumes their individualism to the group discourse, and over the  
> course
> of the performance one simply does not play. Not because of any
> Cagean-silence ideas, but rather the voice of the group simply does  
> not
> need the assertion of that individual- it would alter the course  
> too much
> or the collective statement has been made. It's a different  
> conception of
> the role of the individual in a group of improvisers. I haven't really
> heard that kind of thing, or not in a long time, at least.

That may not be the norm, but should be the rule.

At a certain point in various groups, after everyone has displayed
their chops, it can move on to the "what/when you don't play is
more important (or interesting) than what you do" level.

A lot of performances seem to be one-shot groupings, so it's not
surprising MG (and everyone) is missing it.  I've been working with
two long-running improv groups where it happens, but neither is
inclined to perform at all.