The mad scientist of music | Mark Applebaum

[@Honest_Grifter]

This is earth radio, and now, "human music"...

[@kamilchosta5526]

I prefer snake jazz

[@Blue8Eh]

LOL

[@RevolvrGCF]

Boop beep boop. Boop beep boop.

[@elvispresley1529]

Kamil Chłosta 112

[@elvispresley1529]

Kamil Chłosta 125

[@timothybradley1906]

I was a music student when he was at UCSD- I remember the pretentiousness being real but a lot of it is due to him being an incredible musician and working on a level I could not appreciate. I sang in a group on one of his early choral compositions under his direction and it was strange stuff but he obviously knew exactly what he wanted out of us and it wasn't random sounds to him- there was definite order to his apparent chaos. He kept up with Ed Harkins, Phil Larson, Bert Turetzky, George Lewis, and Vinny Golia in improvisations I witnessed at UCSD and that's a tall order. Sometimes this kind of music is like modern art where it looks crazy simple or absolutely random but you realize that the performer/artist can do incredibly crafted conventional pieces- but they choose to do what they do for reasons most don't understand. I think it is funny that he followed the standard "weird music" concert format where the performer/composer/group comes out and crushes a standard (ie his Beethoven piano playing) then does their weird sounding stuff afterwards as a "proof" they're not just bad at playing. It's like a very early realist Picasso being displayed next to his late work.

[@MrS85755]

Thank you, fantastic comment actually and lots of useful info for rest of us to be able to interpret this guy 👍

[@mikemaster1773]

He's no Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Interpreting has nothing to do with it. If it is good you know it when you hear it.

[@LadyTracyOfTheDisk]

I think that if you do things like this, you have to take yourself somewhat seriously, or people simply laugh and walk away five seconds into it. I admire his courage at doing work that doubtless many do laugh at, but persisting anyway. The self-effacing humor definitely helps.

[@sherryb9770]

@@mikemaster1773 "If it sounds good, it is good." Duke Ellington

[@kaiyuzheng7663]

@@sherryb9770 It sounds awful to me. Then again, I am tone deaf and cannot sing if my life depends on it. I suppose music is a certain combination and permutation of sound in time just like art is a certain combination and permutation of coloured shapes in space. The purpose is to make the ensemble pleasing to your audience, whether it is yourself, your fans, critics, or maybe your pet cat. Whether it is music (art) or not, really is down to your target audience. It is all subjective.

[@kingkebo3960]

This man structured his TED talk about music into verses and choruses. Beautiful.

[@tgal164]

I noticed that pretty quickly too. (From the word "refrain"). :)

[@thelongislandguy]

He is obviously a very talented person. One thing I admire is his extraordinary commitment to seeing his projects to completion. 180 page musical score, 72 feet of musical hieroglyphics that he invented, subway map, watch faces, who knows how many other instruments he invented and actually built. How many of us have an idea and never execute? Or start something and never finish it? Not only has this man encouraged me to think about questions in my own discipline, but he’s also inspired me to have enough confidence in my own ideas to execute them to completion. I think it’s better to have a shelf full of failed ideas/inventions than an empty shelf.

[@dillionroy7722]

For anyone that is having trouble understanding the way he is relating his message. I believe he is saying: "Don't worry about the way other people think of your ideas. Do what is interesting to you."

[@GonzaReformado]

That's the reason why places like the MOMA are full of rubbish, not art.

[@paulthoresen8241]

You have a closed mind. Just because you don't like something doesn't mean it isn't art, and just because it is art doesn't mean it is good, and just because something is good doesn't mean it can't be improved. You don't progress without a bit of experimenting

[@susanna1803]

Dillion I believe he is also saying Broaden you mind/vision/experience.

[@ChanTheManBassInHand]

@Moi Varti Define "Art" You understand that opinions are like a@#holes, yes? Everyone has one and they all stink.

[@NitroNinja324]

Geez, why does it have to be one or the other with you people? If you want to enjoy something on your own, go for it. He certainly did. If you want to impress others, you have to tailor to them. It's not hard to figure out.

[@olojondro73]

this is kinda cool, even though I did have a hard time enjoying the sounds I was hearing, in the end you understand that what he's doing isn't about "liking" what you hear, it's about defining what YOU and ONLY YOU think is interesting in various areas and concepts. In this case, the guy is a composer (whether he is talented or not, you can't really tell from this video, but its not the point!) and he often does works of traditional composing and playing conventional instruments, as he mentioned. He has experience with it, and this experience has made him bored, also mentioned. So, HE tried to define what HE thinks is interesting for HIM AS A COMPOSER. Ultimately, what he was trying to say isn't "This is what music and talent sounds like!!!" as many of you commenting seem to think, but rather "look at what you are doing, see if you like it, and if you don't like it, find ways to change it so that you DO like it." THAT's the entire point of this.

[@alyackley3624]

Three conductors with no players is my favorite piece of his

[@dramalexi]

Could have been a sketch from Monthy Python :D

[@Khordmaster]

Haha yeah that was pretty funny! Lol

[@cowprez]

I believe it was John Cage that wrote 4 minutes and 33 seconds for solo piano that the piano player plays NO NOTES for the entire composition - except for a page turn of the music. It's all rests. Similar in nature. I wrote a piece once WAY back in college that had a forte over a rest. Was fun times.

[@babypig9481]

Lol

[@MarcassCarcass]

I really liked the Florist piece.

[@roboltamy]

2:47 is phenomenal, I find myself listening to it multiple times each time I revisit the video

[@shrapnelface5978]

"It's good to have an open mind, but not so open that your brains fall out." I find this quote fits here quite well.

[@silentscribes]

+Shrap Nelface Well said.

[@zuzusuperfly8363]

+Shrap Nelface I disagree. Amon Tobin is an electronic musician that goes ham with this kind of music making. Check it out, because it's definitely musical, but very strange.

[@viniciusleite7772]

+Shrap Nelface LOL

[@silentscribes]

To me it's all about what sounds good, I couldn't care less how weird it is. What sounds good catches on.... I guess we will see if he catches on ;)

[@Azeralas]

+Shrap Nelface well said.

[@alexdelarge5800]

i bet, if you gave him mayonnaise, he would have played it.

[@RaixsOreh]

what about horse raddish?

[@robseid9820]

Because he's bored?

[@rockerseven]

FINALLY Patrick can say he plays an instrument!

[@dabunnyrabbit2620]

Just as long as I can open with a bacon sandwich.

[@passerbyhuman1370]

Hijikata approves of this message

[@Kingsolowings]

this guy has talent.. I can see his point. breaking the mold in music, at first as in most things is laughed at. then respected and desired. the human brain and body can and will need more than sound to increase the musical disire

[@kylersander4793]

Is Mayonnaise an instrument? Yes Patrick, yes it is.

[@coryogata]

Or rather, is mayonnaise interesting?

[@izmaxavier]

I remember that!!

[@therockazoid]

What about my Bhole?

[@andrewtucker94]

I love this guy. It's music in the form of mad sounds. Seems quite tongue-in-cheek. I'm glad these kind of crazy experiences exist.

[@thaincrediblemaier]

Did he actually turn the presentation into a musical piece by including the chorus of "is it music" and so on? That'd be wicked ;)

[@Knattyboy420]

+bad hair .day does the "is it interesting?" count as a key change? ;)

[@SkylandersFamily]

+Ceryini 420 bridge actually

[@Knattyboy420]

disagree.

[@i.c.y.]

+bad hair .day good catch... because in the end, his presentation was "interesting"

[@alphanum001]

+bad hair .day You're right; I didn't realize that!

[@topjimy69]

Once while curled up in a corner on a overwhelming mushroom trip. All the sounds of the world around me formed into the most beautiful chaos I must imagine that has ever been heard by a human. Every sound blended into a mindtwisting melody. For a moment in my time everything had its perfect place in the universe. I saw it. I heard it. I was it. So fleeting.

[@borgwir]

arnt you sad that this only happened once to you? and dont you want to go back there?

[@kevinfager.]

The most interesting part to me is that regardless of where our creativity takes us, we question its validity and relevancy the whole way. Just bc of where it started/the point of origin. It started at playing notes on a piano. Ended at creating movements illustrating strange sounds. But creativity is all encompassing. There is no real divide between visual, musical, theatrical or performance art. It’s free expression. And we shouldn’t feel limited by what we know. The exploration is what art is.

[@jayt658]

Personally I thought the psychology behind the idea is the greatest muse behind all of this. If your a creative person, it's good to not just think outside the box but to walk away from the box all together for awhile. Yes,some of what he did was odd but honestly the evolution of sound and instruments over the years absolutely teaches us that creative progressive ideas is key for music and art. Can you imagine what musicians in the 1400s would think of what's on the radio now? It's no different than DNA strands constantly changing and adapting.

[@jamesgrey13]

He's right about the florist making it better! I usually invite a florist over when I'm playing the carrots!

[@JoseAlvarez-kz7wu]

Tony James Gilpin kzbin.info/www/bejne/eHq2o3qtg5KsfpY ive had some experiance with the carrots too

[@jamesgrey13]

Very interesting! The sound, of the carrot clarinet, never gets old! :D

[@VM0451]

What a great avant-garde master. Very inspirational. I'm serious. This is great stuff!

[@apaapa14]

Vezonmodder Exactly what I was thinking

[@VM0451]

Saso Za God Always great to see people going beyond 4 chords, right? :)

[@VM0451]

Pip McSqueeza Well, here's the thing. I have heard very unlikely sounds all over music and stuff, and I like that. To me, it doesn't matter how much musical education or whatever someone has, it's more about thinking outside the box. Because of that, I think making noise can be very interesting, and sometimes just as musical as a structured composition. I like pushing boundaries, but I can have just as much fun with Beethoven's Ninth, for example. While I probably won't listen to this kind of stuff all day, it's really inspiring for me to combine with "actual" instruments.

[@VM0451]

Pip McSqueeza Sometimes, yes. Basically, I like noise, and I think it can be an interesting combination with melodic music.

[@VM0451]

***** I think what you said about challenging tradition is the essence of true art.

[@edwardzaleski6106]

I like the idea that "the ear" is both a shared as well as a singular sense and point of interpretation of music. Applebaum as a composer, inventor, interpreter, etc. occupies the role of Active Ear as well as Passive Ear, whereas the listener or audience while also active in interpreting his work, is passive in that adaptation and and assessment of sound comes to a terminus after the intellectual and emotional impact is received. Besides the training of learning to identify music and how to notate that music for the purposes of recreating it either digitally or live is the composer's use of the medium which comprises of both his/her ear as well as the projected outcome of music/sound on the listener's. This is a complex route to follow. Mark Applebaum explores that route even further beyond the beaten path of known quantity tonality and pattern and in doing so he expands the medium, albeit perhaps incrementally but importantly.

[@JotaShank]

Wtf is up with the comment section? He's definitely a talented artist, I'd even call him a genius at what he does. Not only is he talented at playing musical instruments, but he is driven by the necessity to create art, new sounds, complex designs and musical instruments. Also he's really intelligent, you can tell by his humour. I loved this video, glad this guy is around.

[@borgwir]

because it is SUPERSTRANGE art that noone of us has ever heard before. people dont like new things, especially if they physically hurt when you hear it. but i think this video is not about art, its about finding your own way of living by trying out a lot of things (his different characters he lists) and do things you are interested in even if others might laugh and the things you are doing...or if others dont get what you are doing, why something is interesting to you

[@WNxExectechWarriorNation]

It's not interesting to the negative commenters, so they have to criticize it to make it interesting to them.

[@payneroadstudios9663]

I think you answered your own question. He is a talented Artist. People look at duChamp's "The Fountain" and wonder how that can be considered 'art'. yet it kicked off a whole movement in a new style of art where art is EVERYTHING around you. Meanwhile, he's beyond a genius...he's a prodigy. He has other videos where he creates some insanely good music with just random stuff or just sits down at a piano and rocks it. I mean people might see this video and not realize that this is his experimental stuff for TED (a hit or miss convention, but he was a hit with this whole concept) based on physics and mathematics and yes, humor sometimes (and man is he funny. he's almost like a mix between Demetri Martin (especially his "If I" special) and Steven Wright). But his whole point at the end (which probably why the comment section doesn't get it because they don't watch the whole video), is that you can change just one word in whatever you do and make a big change in your life by getting out of the 'inside the box' thinking and instead focusing on 'changing the box'.

[@Josivis]

His instrument looks like it will fit in Nicola Tesla's Laboratory

[@mrhoton]

Jota.Shank w 😍🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🚎🚎🚎

[@Preview43]

Interpretive artists are typically legends in their own minds and the audience is left wondering wtf they just endured but applaud anyway because everyone else did.

[@ineedtostopwatchingyoutube5211]

This is true

[@Preview43]

@@wayfaringstranger what... like a banana taped to a wall? Or maybe large white canvases on a white wall? Or maybe a stage full of naked people pretending to be scared of firecrackers? No thanks... that ain't art.

[@tressel2489]

@@Preview43 art comes from curiosity and asking questions about the world. If we start with "I don't like it, it isn't art", we learn nothing and never move from where we started

[@Preview43]

@@tressel2489 Maybe you assume I never spent years at university learning the intricacies of what constitutes art. In my personal experience the field was full of alcoholics, drug fiends, job dodgers and time wasters. The instructors typically favoured absolute nonsense as 'groundbreaking' stuff. It's all personal opinion in the end.

[@tressel2489]

@@Preview43 I don't know or assume anything about you, though frankly I don't think your background has anything to do with it. I think art is meant to stimulate us to think, and to construe meaning in life, including those more unsavoury aspects of life like drug use, joblessness etc. I don't know of any other definition of art that makes sense. Yes, it's personal opinion, but just because you can't please everyone, doesn't mean it's not art.

[@jacobtrull4208]

but does it djent

[@coldguto]

I caught the reference hahahahahahahah

[@BladeofmoonlightKitto]

+Wadsmitter banana banana banana baanaannnaa

[@johnhonai3942]

Haha ✋🏽

[@HamRadioConcepts]

amazing how a "pick-up-a-pancake-pick-up-pick-up-a-pancake" video can influence a comment on some video seen here which makes no sense to me, but shows you how all these videos lead you from one end of KZbin to the other HAHAHA BA-NA-NAAAAAAA

[@BladeofmoonlightKitto]

+HamRadioConcepts look up if djent was added to the Oxford dictionary if you want us to make sense

[@jordandecker6539]

This dude just impressed an entire crowd full of people with industrial dance hand movements paired with some music a child wrote with a bop it

[@SteveFrenchWoodNStuff]

I think you over-estimate his ability. I don't think anyone was actually impressed.

[@SteveFrenchWoodNStuff]

I think you over-estimate his ability. I don't think anyone was actually impressed.

[@charlesmichaels6648]

@@SteveFrenchWoodNStuff Do THEY come back For more, Or just go to the door, Muttering Nevermore, Like Poe's Raven, Speaking of Lenore? The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe (1845).

[@goahnary]

Keep in mind a high number of people in this room probably have PhDs

[@charlesmichaels6648]

@@goahnary So what.

[@georgeadams5835]

This man performs with the quiet confidence that comes with knowing that nobody but him can understand why he's doing what he's doing

[@goodgravy9562]

Quiet confidence hahahahahaha

[@sleebs]

oh. when he drilled through the book i cried.

[@RumerPriestly]

|-/

[@vcalblas]

Don't worry; it was one if the books from the Twilight Saga.

[@tinderbox218]

Then his art/music succeeded in provoking an emotional reaction in you.

[@bricology]

Brilliant. So, "emotional reaction provoked" = "successful art" in your book, eh?

[@Mintythefoxy]

@@bricology We should drill it.

[@qwasd0r]

I'll never get sick of great jazz piano improv

[@Jamie7-w]

turning a blind eye to mediocre comments...this is refreshing! i love it! very inspiring!

[@LordDeLaIdiots]

Opposite of most of the comments on here, I think this guy is great! He’s funny and creative. I can appreciate being inventive. He’s having fun. I applaud his courage for being an individual.

[@Bornsolareclipse]

Being an artist you have to stand firm next to your vision and Mark stands very strongly next to his . All artist do. And by him doing so puts him out there to be judged and criticized by other artists . How narcissistic and egotistical to gang up against him and say he's wrong . If you don't agree then just do that and move on. Maybe I'm just a more accepting person of be and let be . I definitely do not judge people who are brave enough to vocalize their perspective especially if they're vocalizing it for for everybody to hear. Thank for reading my opinion and respecting the fact that's just what it is my opinion

[@nicholas_8617]

And yet, not a single cowbell.

[@DlcEnergy]

I NEED MORE COWBELL!!

[@JasonJrake]

I like to think of this as a conscious, meta talk on the inherent narcissism and pretentiousness of giving a TED talk, barely veiled as something about musical theory.

[@jon00769]

Yeah that’s what makes this whole thing hilarious. There’s another video floating around with a speaker making fun of the whole concept of TED talks while giving a TED talk lol.

[@daveshaw5328]

This was not about music theory. It wasn’t even about music, it just featured it.

[@HeidiSue60]

This is the comment that I was looking for

[@z.r0.m_0n]

hurr durr the shooter has been reported as sam hyde

[@Scyber_Official]

Satire.

[@ClamsAnonymous]

homie sweatin bullets

[@spencerj]

ClamsAnonymous insightful commentary from clams anonymous.

[@ClamsAnonymous]

i try

[@planewire2153]

music isn't just sound like this guy is saying, music is a way to see into the soul of the artist. And as a listener to connect that sound to a certain event or emotion

[@Ascketism]

Yes, very true. The appreciation comes from the listener though, so anyone can have their own opinion. Therefore the more conventional music will always be more appreciated and please bigger audiences.

[@Alex-vs2rj]

Since when did music have rules?

[@Ascketism]

If someone enjoys this kind of performance they're o course welcome to do so. He damn sure doesn't have to be an experienced musician to do this silly act however. :D

[@bkeels002]

This concept has been around in music for years already and is still worth exploring because obviously it's still controversial. He's just continuing what John Cage started

[@mycofairbanks3321]

This is my number one favorite person I have see on TED. Priceless

[@adamholm2436]

Many people missing the point. His experimental stuff is for his own interest regardless of whether it's music or not. Watch the ending before you decide that this "isn't music". Negative comparisons to "successful experimental bands/artists that stayed down-to-earth" are entirely irrelevant; he mentions his creativity being his guide so why does it matter so much what he's doing?

[@xotixus1219]

Just because he's doing it for enjoyment, or for the sake of exploration, doesn't exempt it from being absolute garbage. People are free to say it isn't music because it isn't. It's poorly arranged sound that doesn't evoke powerful feelings due to a lack of coherency or theme.

[@raymondhoovers5460]

Adam Holm if it's for his own interest, then why share it, and record it, and talk about it in general? Unless... It is not...

[@ezekieltucker2245]

Raymond Hoovers because it makes a point to take things in a different direction regardless of opinion, in an effort to expand musical horizons.

[@davidschmidt6013]

For the non-likers out there, open your mind just a little. It helps if, instead of feeling pain at the thought of labeling this gentleman's creations 'music', think of it as 'musical sounds'. He holds a Ph.D in Composition, has toured world-wide as a jazz pianist, and been commissioned to compose for numerous organizations in America and Europe, so I believe he's entitled to have his opinion on ANYTHING involving music be given some serious consideration. If it's different, that's good. Through change comes growth.

[@drdepena1958]

Thank you for the information David, it just proves that this world of flakes is really fucked up to the maximum, unbelievable bullshit, it's amazing what old money can do for their conceded little brats.

[@lazurm]

His main art, here, is describing his art so artfully as to make it seem like it's really art. It actually is but your mind isn't really convinced. Very clever....

[@MetalSlugzMaster]

Zappa explored like this and did similar work, but it was more cohesive.

[@jhansenhlebica6080]

True, and a lot of other people have, in avante-garde and electro-acoustic music. The only thing original here, and it should be noted, is his various ways of making interpretive musical notations. That was cool. Otherwise, he does come off as though he thinks he's unique for doing some of this stuff.

[@madyjules]

Perfectly stated Drop the mike!! I’m outta here...

[@louisgardner5580]

He looks a bit liek zappa too

[@giordanobruno7943]

its certainly more interesting than what they play on radio these days .

[@gfloor5216]

giordano Bruno I disagree. Would you actually listen to this for the entirety of a 30 minute drive?

[@kenhimurabr]

+Trevors GFloor Undoubtedly! Even more time!

[@dvamateur]

I like this video, as is demonstrates what 20th Century classical music is about. Most mainstream public haven't even reached the interpreter level, but they are all of the sudden knowledgable in judging and criticizing classical musicians' performances and their music. That's the problem I find with today's society and that's why Justin Bieber is smart enough to ploriferate on such crowd.

[@bobbrannon9518]

0

[@numbah12time]

/10

[@carlosewm]

So you are complaining about people being unaware of something they shouldn't be aware of in first stance? You know what? I'm shocked that you people complain about computer technicians when you don't have a basic level of technical knowledge. Easy, wasn't it?

[@dvamateur]

Mister Opioid Sure, better than opiates.

[@numbah12time]

"Everyone knows that nothing is better than opiates." -Benjamin Bjergsen Franklin

[@mitchellwaltmann1872]

Is there any way to tell if he’s actually really pretentious or just being really self-aware

[@h_curly6384]

Pretentious

[@ESEJESEJ]

@Alan Hardcastle Both

[@Me-dk3lh]

Is there a difference?

[@grendlsma]

I think he took the idea of "what do you find beyond the conventional boundaries" and followed it to its conclusion. Most people are too self conscious to go there.

[@unchainmybrain]

A question i ask myself when watching kanye

[@jorgemt62]

When I was at El Prado, and I saw the sketches Picaso had made for Guernica, I though "But, he DID know how to paint!!". This somehow made me rethink the idea that his work was just a great joke on everybody, some version of the emperor's new clothes hoax. Today I heard Applebaum play that piece of Beethoven, and I thought "Wow, he really knows how to play!!". But the same I couldn't shake my feeling about Picaso, I cannot possibly shake it with him. I understand what he says. My mind gets it. But to me, art is about aesthetics as well, and I cannot for my life find the aesthetics in this. It is expression though, no argument about that. Anyway, since this is not science, where there cannot be dissent and everything must be precise and everybody must strive to solve controversy, that's just my view and everybody else can keep their own.

[@matthewbaumann630]

This is the kind of stuff they want you to write if you take music in college or university. I absolutely hate it, so I wrote music with baroque harmonies instead.

[@_JellyDonut_]

Matthew Baumann Seriously. I mean, if this is what he finds interesting then good for him but it kind of seems like a waste of talent. I guess you could argue he's sacrificing his musical talent for some other purpose. I'm just not sure what that purpose would be.

[@SykoLiu]

Matthew Baumann They make you do that because it's important for you to broaden your horizons. No one is asking you to stick with those "modern" (which is a hilariously misused term) styles. It's to establish new ideas so you can make your own decisions. Sadly, too many composers come with too big an ego. Write like Bach if you like, but you will never be as good at being Bach as Bach was, so why try?

[@crigupagui]

+SykoLiu But the point is not to copycat Bach, or Bach harmonies. or any other composer, "modern" or not. Most of the teachers in music colleges emphasize the fact of broaden your horizons with this kind of music and students start composing with this kind of atonal language without even apreciate the valuable concepts of tonal music, or even without writing a single good tonal piece. I mean, Stravinsky music is full of experimentation in tonal music as a result of his studies about Russian folkloric music. Listen to Arvo Pärt and his take on Gragorian chants.. There's serialism in his music, and is completely tonal. Musical experimentation doesn't translate in this kind of music at all.

[@SykoLiu]

cristhian galin Arvo Part is NOT tonal. It is an example of post-tonal triadicism. Perhaps you need to review your own understanding of tonal music?

[@crigupagui]

+SykoLiu In fact it is. Not strictly tonal in terms of cadences and functionality, but the presence of a tonal center in his pieces is indisputable.

[@gavionchandler4629]

I really like 'outside of the box' thinking, pushing challenging and questioning creative potential.

[@BoHorn]

Bet he can't do guitar hero on expert though.

[@lloydousf02]

The Lonliest Barnacle nice!! you really got him with that "I can do your mom" insult. I'll bet you even mad him cry

[@lloydousf02]

so funny

[@uncletacosupreme7023]

Bo Horn or can he?

[@AlexRiversMusic]

Bo Horn guitar hero is lame

[@BoHorn]

Alex Rivers Yes, I know, that's why it's a joke.

[@MaXaNoMaLoUs]

I appreciate how he pulled me in the beginning by jazzing the heck outta some Beethoven! To me, that was incredibly interesting. The fact that he changed the entire question from “is it music, to is it interesting” is the very theme and variation. Mutation. What is my purpose/do I care once I find out? BRAVO

[@RayfieldA]

My most Favorite part of this video is 1:31 to 3:29! Amazing piano work!

[@roboltamy]

I wish I knew what the name of the piece was

[@orvvro]

14:39 sums up this whole video. Thank me later

[@ericmendez5815]

CrazyCaptain thanks cap

[@M-1996A1]

The Mouseketeer was cool and has potential, the rest I think he got too bored for his own good.

[@re9024]

Right on right on

[@kykampp]

Dude😂😂😂

[@joshisnot11]

@@M-1996A1 I think bored is the wrong word. I think this man is NEVER bored.

[@alexisfortin4379]

three conductors and no musicians is the best thing I've ever seen I'ma search it up to see more xD

[@cronos42]

He is thinking so far out of the box...he's in space. But not space as you know it.

[@Melinmingle]

Someone needs to sit him back behind his piano

[@billgatesleavingyamomshous8177]

cronos42 space, as he knows it

[@bean2345]

His music is in the fourth dimension

[@MarsLonsen]

mah dude reached the lvl cap

[@baabaablacksheep6693]

His music bends space-time in a crazier way than black holes

[@matthewrorke7497]

This guy did music for so long he went crazy

[@sparro768]

I love that so much, "is it music? Maybe thats not the right question maybe the right question is, is it interesting?"

[@maxbowen6482]

Vance Perry it's neither

[@BAHTY3_228]

I'm don't like / understand all of these modern arts, but the moral of this speech is very valuable.

[@cathuman5463]

He *is* right about the florist. It adds... something.

[@Cannongabang]

People. You know what? This is cool, i love when people invent and interest. Music is not only of one kind, everything is music when it comes to your ears. It's only that we end up forgetting what sounds are, why our ears are here, just judging, without admiring.

[@DamesTC]

Literally could not have said it better myself, I commend you for trying to take interest into this very foreign interpretation of art, instead of shoving it of like the majority of people do.

[@DamesTC]

Off*

[@paulthoresen8241]

Music doesn't have rules, it has theory. Composers make their own rules, but you don't have to follow them, like sonata form, or ABABCB form, or 12 bar blues, there are popular approaches, but you don't have to mimic them. If that were the case many forms of music wouldn't even exist. Disco, rock, funk, death metal, jazz, djent, dubstep, techno, electro-pop, hip-hop, song parodies, baroque.. Sometimes you need to take chances.

[@MedalionDS9]

This is like when Ross was trying to make "music" on Friends

[@fyiaustralia9686]

Haha! Yeah, he totally lost it after the dog barks...

[@HrhFish]

Frank Zappa was doing this kind of stuff in his compositions. Listening to Zappa's material as a musician you think he is just making it up on the spot until you go and see him live then you realise that every sound is part of the composition. What's challenging as a musician regarding Franks material is that you cant rely on the regular song structures and you have to learn and rehearse every piece of his songs. I am amazed how his musicians know exactly where they are in a piece of music. The avant garde thing seems to be an extension of Franks style taken one step further.

[@ZER0--]

+Hrh Fish There were many artists doing experimental music before you or Frank were born. Frank was just taking other composers music one step further. Music did not star when Frank picked up a guitar.

[@goodbeans]

+Paul L You're correct. It didn't start when he picked up a guitar. It started when he picked up a bicycle.

[@destroyerofstupid7073]

agreed frank is the man

[@vic2net]

Me at start of this video: Hmm I hope I'll become smarter and learn some "essence" of music watching TED video. Also me watching this video at 14:39 : LOOOOL, Mooomm come here!!

[@janfyhrholdt2788]

There are not many music comedians around. I can only remember Victor Borge, Frank Zappa and then a few more from the past. This Mark Applebaum I never heard about. I'm very happy to once again be both entertained and educated by this rare genre.

[@srmontevirgen]

I've now watched this twice and adore the curiosity and joy found here. Lovely talent and remarkable endeavors! It would have been nice to see him reference the other composers who were in many ways made firsts into these formats like Harry Partch (self made instruments) Bussotti (graphic scores) , George Brecht (performance pieces) and most importantly Richard Maxfield with electronic music. The paradox of parenthetically referencing both narcissism and schizophrenia makes we wince a bit, as many composers suffered from these paradigms of mind and didn't make it.

[@anguswallace5548]

You're not supposed to think it sounds good, he's experimenting with the concept of music and what defines it. Remember he IS a composer, a lot smarter on the topic than most of the neckbeards getting angry because it doesn't sound like Linkin Park.

[@trashmike7642]

Lmao

[@adamcunningham8248]

+Angus Wallace IS IT MUSIC?

[@anguswallace5548]

Adam Cunningham As he stated at the end of the video, He doesn't think so. I take his word for it.

[@medicineman6384]

+Angus Wallace lame

[@LovableWierdo]

+Angus Wallace Implying Linkin Park are a good thing to base the definition of music on...

[@macrophage2495]

this is what my anxiety sounds like

[@elbertmyers4374]

That's funny .

[@alivewithchrist777]

Seriously!!

[@Eric.Morrison]

The reason people like music a certain way is because it is pleasing to our brains in certain ways and not in others. If regular music isn't pleasing to this particular man's brain, then I don't think there's something wrong with the rest of us.

[@matthewgibbs5820]

+Eric Morrison Incorrect. The deeper you get into music, and the more you learn about it, and appreciate it, the more you will understand what this guy is saying.

[@lolhaha6552]

sure, you can enjoy whatever music you like. but if you really are passionate about any artform, the natural progression that happens is boredom with what you know and excitement about what you don't know. most of the population enjoys a very basic and shallow pool of music because most people don't know that much about it. yes, this is fine as long as that's not your passion. every great artist became bored with the norm and innovated ans evolved. p.s. although i like this guy, im not standing up for him because this is the first time ive seen him

[@drumavidcheckupz4792]

+Mattthew Gibbs The Emperor is naked. Period.

[@bjornlangoren3002]

+Eric Morrison Define "people". If you had traveled a bit, or even peeked out from under that rock you've been living, you would have noticed that different people like very different kinds of music, most of which sounds disagreeable to all other people. If all music had to be a certain way, we would all still be stuck with just Greensleeves as the only agreeable song, and Bach would have been chased out of town as a nutty hack.

[@Draphcone]

+Eric Morrison But is it interesting? If I served you your favorite dish for every meal every day will you not want some difference, big or small?

[@Pneumanon]

The number of people whinging that this music doesn't appeal to them... pretty sure he said he makes this music to keep *himself* interested...

[@etiennedegaulle3817]

He said that explicitly. He's also making a public talk which is now posted on a public forum. Thus, the public is responding to it.

[@sknuts6429]

Like Frank Zappa

[@davedexter1583]

a good deal of it is not music

[@Alomoes]

@@davedexter1583 I'm sure he'd say, "I don't care if it's music or not. I like it"

[@DaveDexterMusic]

irrelevant to my point, being that a good deal of it is not music

[@Fish_InChips]

Anyone notice his shirt getting progressively saturated with sweat?😂 lol

[@will4282]

That's what happens when you give presentations on lighted stages. It gets hot up there!

[@lenlen8099]

I'm surprised you even noticed that

[@macaulayholland9110]

i did wonder how his shirt randomly got wet

[@breadleymcthicc5444]

Macc- I would say that's what she said, but that is impossible. Unless he's actually an alien!

[@orvvro]

I was looking for this comment haha

[@drinx116]

Class: *is quiet* My Stomach: 5:47

[@MyBeansAndToast]

Dude needs to add "undershirt consumer" to his credentials.

[@NoughtE]

Some men are immune to undershirts.

[@NK-fx1qs]

sweating to the oldies

[@softest_eevee]

@@NK-fx1qs most likely to suck

[@laurenf1478]

LOL i snorted...I literally kept rewinding to see if he drank water and spilled, or if it was sweat cuz at one point i stopped looking

[@enoz.j3506]

I thought it was a shadow initially,then i saw he was a little overweight & realised it was underboob juice.

[@TheSquareOnes]

Guy: "Don't be afraid to take risks and explore ideas you find interesting which may fall outside of the conventional scope of your field." KZbin commenters: "Different! DIFFEREEEEENT!!!"

[@CanisoGaming]

Lmao ikr

[@MonkeyBallZ]

@Cyan Light Are you white knighting for a dude with a perm/mullet/gay haircut? GAYYYYYY

[@gdawgs101]

@@MonkeyBallZ This is too perfect. We have our first of the aforementioned commenters

[@AffordBindEquipment]

would you recommend we all do this or is it only for a select few "artists", where "different" doesn't affect everyday life? Because if we all did this, then this country would come to a screeching halt.

[@gdawgs101]

@@AffordBindEquipment Variety is the spice of life. Don't be a fuckin normie

[@cincilitigator5108]

He is fundamentally just honest in recognizing and then combating boredom.

[@djphoenixproductions]

sounds exactly like what i hear when im in a quiet room on acid lol

[@FloraSora]

It seems like people either love or hate this guy. I don't understand the hate, at least not the majority of it. If somebody could explain, that would be great. I, for one respect his willingness to think outside of the box. I get the feeling that people who dislike him think he cannot grasp the beauty of simplicity or something. The beauty of being limited and making the most out of those limitations. But I disagree. Whether he is original in these crazy instruments or experimentation in regards to sound design and art, I believe that there is only a reason to dislike his works due to personal taste, but not simply because they are different. He seems to seek to find new ways of expressing oneself through art, or creating entertainment. Exploring the limits of potential sounds and images and combinations between the two. I'm a 8-bit music composer at the moment (like old NES music), and I appreciate the limits of composing such music. But I cannot see anything wrong here. There's nothing wrong with exploring and sharing with others what has been found through said exploration. So, seriously, what is the problem?

[@Quaalz]

Whatever it is, it will always be hate.

[@p.t.mchaineyman3235]

This is just another example of new ideas or ways of doing things being misunderstood, feared, or despised for their breaking of convention. Some people seem to forget the significance of imagination & how humanity has benefited from it.

[@Rebius]

There are meanwhile 7 billion people on our planet and everyone has his unique processor and software we call the brain and soul (or what ever). That's why you find haters all over. Your question is good, but irrelevant. It's like asking why is the color red really red and not blue? ;)

[@orbik_fin]

Hate is a bad word, but I might have the explanation you ask for. The presentation is very different from what one would expect from the title. Instead of the traditional musical genius, people got something... confusing... is this music? - is this comedy? - did you just tell me all the music I like is boring? The point he's making - to discard the box in which to think - itself may be a worthwhile goal. But a lot of what he's come up with and presents us seems to amount to random collations of noises and gestures. Different just for the sake of being different. I did give the video a thumbs up for the enthusiasm and idealism. I like the general attitude, but the end result could be more - let's say polished, relatable.

[@patrickfarley8036]

This cat seems to have found Frank Zappa's compass and maps to creativity land! Back in 1963 Frank Zappa was on the Steve Allen show playing a bicycle with the shows orchestra in a loose improve piece that FZ had composed. You can find it right here on youtube and I strongly suggest you do. I dig the 3 conductors and no players and the hand choreography the best!

[@Abubobbledo]

Almost exactly what I was thinking. What would FZ done with the mousecateer? Probably something that sounds like Nine Types of Industrial Pollution or anything else on Uncle Meat.

[@rivverbonner3787]

That was an excellent piece of history 🤣🤣

[@penchev73]

Fresh and really smart way to interpret feel of music and art.....

[@Mcbassy]

penchev73 I’m just trying to understand it. Very interesting.

[@tgal164]

This is guy is an advocate for the plight of the thoughts inside the heads of creative people who suffer from ADD. Inspiring.

[@BadYossa]

Excellent vid. I love TED for providing a platform where I can discover people and concepts like this. Riveting

[@oov55]

All the great artists, even the ones that might commonly be desribed as "difficult" know a thing and do that thing - and that is: guide, control and include their audience. It underpins their many other talents. There is no room for an artist who wants someone else to actually do that work for them. When you see guys like this, you suddenly understand what even an OK artist acheives. Applebaum has the advantage of 1st World indulgency - and little else. He is a Professor of Composition at a top University - but in a rich society, we can afford frippery to exist.

[@thewu1313]

This guy needs to collab with Reggie Watts. Idk if I could handle what comes of it.

[@Viewer453]

Reggie actually makes sense though

[@oneofthedreamers]

You're not supposed to be looking for a narrative in this guys work. It's about creating a feeling or engaging a certain type of thinking.

[@fjeinca]

+oneofthedreamers You're not supposed to tell me what I'm not supposed to do.

[@TerrapinTurtleHoevenaar]

+fjeinca you're not supposed to tell what to tell you not to do though.

[@ajkelly451]

Looks like SOMEBODY watches too much Ted for their own good.

[@astrowolfm7723]

The notation around 8 minutes is FANTASTIC

[@oNTiger]

Not "Is it interesting?" but the question should be "Does it stay interesting?" No.

[@RewdAwakening]

Agreed...

[@DiamondPugs]

But the question was if it was interesting for himself. Not everyone else including you.

[@oNTiger]

MaddieFrankX Oh, intellectual masturbation, much better.

[@lerzivice6655]

This is a really stupid question "Does it stay interesting?". Does anything stay interesting? If you listen to the same piece by mozart every day, you will find that it's not that interesting in the end. If you watch the same great movie day in and day out it won't stay interesting. Therefore this is quite the ignorant question, which isn't even worth answering.

[@programaths]

Lerzi Vice Fractal music stay indefinitely interesting; Maybe because of its fractional dimension. :-)

[@juliuslapi7108]

he gets bored pretty easily

[@monksb]

and so are we, it's called life.

[@robinenlennard]

+Julius Lapi Well, the guitar, piano, etc. were also invented sometime by someone

[@grandmestredespoulpes2435]

and the most interesting is that all the people wo created a new instrument was probably guys who was bored and needed something new.

[@Psychodegu]

I got bored once he started playing his new instrument.

[@ChanTheManBassInHand]

Lack of imagination on your part does not imply lack of talent on his part. You can reverse that too and it s just as accurate.

[@austinjennings7895]

I really want him to come out with a full song of his interpretation/version of Beethoven at 2:50

[@pyrointeam]

If life gives you lemons, stick a copper wire in it, plug it in a synth and play it. I am not yet inspired by him, but it's these mavericks who suddenly discover or come up with something very brilliant.

[@03xE0]

It is interesting! Also its pure creativity. So, yes, it is indeed music.

[@PikPikkabbu]

I love this. The guy is crazily brilliant, or brilliantly crazy. Blue thumb up !

[@randomstuff2312]

Brilliantly crazy

[@TR13400]

How is this brilliant😂😂

[@deeliciousplum]

I do not gravitate towards TED style talks. Prefer the drawn out talks and discussions that many channels on this platform are hosts to. Okay. Enough of my brouhaha. I loved watching this. Mark's artistry brough me back to the mid to late 80s when a co-worker, a co-worker who soon after became an artist that I worked with, would take me to Concordia University's Atonal concerts which where held in the basement of an old church on Concordia's school grounds. I left feeling like the composers set fire to my love for sounds/soundscapes. 🌺

[@3xAudio]

Thank you for sharing. This guy is such an inspiration. I love making whacky sound art and sculptures.

[@Geckey53]

Have no fear, the Horror Movie Sound Composer, is here.

[@inverovenevectum6857]

I love it how he explains the music industry xD... genious

[@andreasvandieaarde]

2:47 to 3:25 was genius.

[@jacklynisasi9114]

Wintergatan: *am I a joke to you*

[@harpoolmusic]

hahahahahaha

[@bongo50_]

I actually came here from there.

[@gun3562]

which video of wintergatan is that?

[@charliemorris2338]

He is a musical genius ...hands down.

[@heheheiamasuperstarwarrior9281]

... and up. And to the side now...

[@ramyshaalan53]

his breathing makes me nervous

[@grandplans]

This feels like the next phase of the group "Stomp" Loved it

[@Stigi1996]

Sooo when I was 3 years old, I was a scientist too? Good lord... mom never told me this...

[@t77snapshot]

The real question.. is that George Carlin in the middle at 11:48?

[@Phoenix-One0922]

you noticed that too??? ha! ha! ha!!! pretty cool!!!

[@samanchitsazian9698]

😂😂

[@rvdnagel1963]

No, that’s me.

[@timothybradley1906]

No- that's Phil Larson. He's incredible in his own right. Had pieces written for him to sing because he was the only one who could with his range from Bass to Soprano. Also, a super nice guy. music-cms.ucsd.edu/people/faculty/regular_faculty/philip-larson/index.html

[@cameronhorspool8527]

George Carlin is dead

[@grahamhaslett6943]

You know, if you straightened his hair, took away his glasses and gave him a goatee, he'd be Dave Grohl

[@KyuseiFFXIV]

+Graham Haslett Thats kinda like with everyone :D

[@grahamhaslett6943]

+Benjamin Hutchinson Face..... ....off

[@stnhristov]

+Graham Haslett they said it like a million times in the movie :D:D

[@FilmscoreMetaler]

+Graham Haslett Could also be Penn Jilette.

[@-Vitalis-]

***** Or Charles Manson...

[@Phoenix3573]

This video keeps making more and more sense as the years go by.

[@rmsv]

Listening to Applebaum "improving" Beethoven is like going from the cathedral to the cafeteria.

[@the_3d6]

Well, he wasn't improving, he was improvising. Although I must admit that I've heard a whole lot of much better improvisations ))

[@coleozaeta6344]

Church is awful and food is great.

[@G0RD0NL1M35]

The cafè.