1. Observe and taste the inscribed
ideograms on the copy of the Phaistos disk, full of strange,
undeciphered and mysterious messages. Dwell upon the signs and
let them inspire you imaginary and intuitively.(Click here
to see the full picture) Rotate
the Phaistos disk on his axes and compare the ideograms of the
backside with the inscribed ideograms. Do you recognize the soldier?
If necessary, search for a
pocket light or put some details under a magnifying glass:
If you like to see a detail
of the BACKSIDE, click
here.
As you can see, it seems difficult
to decipher this mysterious message. Is this a heroic
legend? Is it about a dream of a soldier in the Ancient age who
deserts from a battlefield, becomes a slave of the Persian queen,
and finally dies as a gifted court-singer in exile?
Write down a few phrases or keywords of the story you seem
to detect.
2. Read your message very slowly
and on different height and depth. Pick up your voice, produce
a long stretched vowel A or UM. Just like monk.
Do you know what VOICE OVERTONES
are? LISTEN to the following MP3- audio-sample. CLICK HERE. Try
it yourself.
back to top
3. Look at the following ideograms
and draw only 4 graphs on a piece of paper, or write 4 numbers
down that inspire you to express yourself musically. If
you aren't alone, compare and discuss your selected sequence.
Keep the choosen ideograms in mind. Scroll down
MUSICALIZE: Take small sound objects
from your desk that inspire you to express your graphics. (Click
here and consult the 
Instrumental
Gallery page)
Eventually, enjoy the deciphering MUSICALIZING
of other musicians from your group or class.
back to top
4. Observe the copy of the Phaistos
disk (side B) again (click here to see the full picture), improvise spontaneously, and bask in the
fascination of this mysterious Phaistos disk.
This certainly means: play without
stress, without the purpose or duty to cover the ideograms with
full appropriate sound associations, and don't try to be the
best. The Phaistos disk is only the motive to enjoy yourself
and to be stimulated to improvise.
"Improvised music is based on something:
a word, a set of fixed tones, a melody, rhythmic pattern, chordal
sequence, timbral change, gesture (crescendo, diminuendo, fragmentation,
drone etc), a reaction, a memory, a dream. Or any combination
of these."
Click here and read
Alvin
CURRAN's article about Making Music Spontaneously.
5. Finally, practise your imaginary
singing and play your music act during a few minutes. Identify
yourself as the prisoner or any other sign from the Phaistos
disk.
If you need to practise your impressive
and expressive musicalization, you can first go to other ATELIER
- items, especially:The
World of Fragrance and Resonance (SMELL MUSIC) or
PAINT MUSIC (3 different levels).
If you'd like to add some sound effects
to your Phaistos act, please enjoy KAOSS
PAD SPACE.
back to top
MusicAnd©P.Timmermans
GO TO "CRACKING THE PHAISTOS
DISK".
to the ATELIER-INDEX
to MAIN
PAGE
All rights reserved
© MusicAnd P.Timmermans
This page belongs
to: http://www.multimania.com/musicand