Luigi Russolo, The Art of Noises: Futurist Manifesto

This article by Luigi Russolo was edited by Christoph Cox and Daniel Werner in the book, "Audio culture: Readings in Modern Music." This reading was assigned for September 29th.

Luigi Russolo's article is based around sound and with the invention of machines, he concludes that noise is then born. From the Middle-Ages modifications of the Greek tetra chord system with Gregorian chant and popular songs is what enriched the musical art. Russolo claims that the desire, the search, and the taste for the simultaneous union of different sounds is what all musicians need. From early years of music and sound, musical art sought out and obtained purity and sweetness of sound where it would caress the ear with suave harmonies. As music grew, musical art seeks out combinations more dissonant, stranger, and harsher for the ear. Russolo says that the machine has created such a variety and contention of noises that pure sound in its slightness and monotony no longer provokes emotion. Russolo believes that we must break out of this limited circle of sounds and conquer the infinite variety of noise-sounds. Russolo claims that it cannot be objected that noise is only loud and disagreeable to the ear as it seems to be useless to enumerate all the subtle and delicate noises that produce pleasing sensations. Ultimately, we want to give pitches to these diverse noises, regulating them harmonically and rhythmically.  According to Russolo, every manifestation of life is accompanied by noise. Noise is thus familiar to our ear and has the power of immediately recalling life itself. Russolo then explains the 6 families of noises of the futurist orchestra that we will soon realize mechanically. I found this article to be quite complex and not completely clearly explained. Though, sound is important to all aspects of life, random noises put together are much less appealing than a harmonious group of instruments whose sounds lightly intertwine with one another. Russolo's explanation of all sounds working harmoniously to create aesthetic and physical please does not convey complete to me, though i did find it interesting to read of someone with a slightly opposite opinion to mine.