'sisyphus at peace with himself' and ‘the principle of unripe time’

horsemouth is back from work early (but he works later). it is a beautiful bluesky day.

he has been reading music in the USA: a historical introduction and an imagined life by richard hoggart. hoggart met laban (in 1947 in middlesborough).

hoggart tells a tale of st. catherine’s monastery on mount sinai - while he is at unesco he receives a report the israelis have burnt it down - he investigates - it turns out a certain brother ignatius had overindulged in the fermented cactus drink they made and fell asleep in bed smoking - later he visits brother ignatius’s bones are drying in the sun before being placed in the ossuary. so even after death do the monks support their institution.

...  and this is what has happened to hoggart - he has become entombed in institutions - first unesco, then goldsmith’s college... the clock of his life is running out and his opponent believe in the principle of unripe time (aka. ‘the time is not yet ripe for...’) and he’s investing his energy in never ending battles to get goldsmiths incorporated within the university of london (and other augean chores).

'the corporealization of the intelligence that is in sound' was a quote taken up by edgar varese, it was originally proposed by hoene wronsky (1778-1853), aka joseph marie wronsky, a polish philosopher and mathematician, known for his system of messianism.  varese, as well as lots of other american - or worked-in-america - electronic musicians horsemouth wasn’t aware of; gordon mumma, robert ashley) and non-electronic ones (ives etc.), make it into the music in the USA: a historical introduction. it’s a very fair-minded book. he’s tempted to listen to more of their work.

mark fisher has died. this is a shame. like lots of the people horsemouth met around that time (fellow enthusiasts for noise at the noise theory noise conferences at middlesex - like nina power, steve goodman etc.) he was friendly and helpful, smart and kind. horsemouth was delighted to meet such people (even if he may not have subsequently agreed with them on everything).