File Under Popular
Encyclopedia
File Under Popular: Theoretical and Critical Writings on Music is a collection of seven essay
s on the political theory of popular music
written by English
percussionist, lyricist and music theorist, Chris Cutler
. The essays were written between 1978 and 1983, four of them in response to requests and the rest unprompted. Two of the essays were first published in two German
publications, and two were originally presented by Cutler at two international symposia on popular music. The book was first published in 1984 in London
by November Books, the publishing wing of Cutler's independent record label
, Recommended Records
. It was also published in Polish
, German
and Japanese
.
Rock critic
and sociologist Simon Frith
described File Under Popular as "A stirringly aggressive antidote to contemporary pop cynicism."
", what it is, its origins and the political and marketing forces behind it. Chris Cutler
charts the history of music and how it was changed by written notation
and then recording technology
. Three of the essays dwell specifically on individual musicians and groups, namely Sun Ra
, The Residents
, Phil Ochs
and Elvis Presley
, but their stories are told within the context of the evolution of music. "Necessity and Choice in Musical Forms" is the first sketch of an analytical theory that shows how memory systems underpin the forms that music can take; part III of this essay is a personnel memoir of Cutler's that explains how his former band, Henry Cow
functioned outside the music industry and their involvement in the establishment of Rock in Opposition
. The last two essays deal with the development of progressive rock
in the United Kingdom
, its significance and the politics behind it.
Cutler continued his analysis on "popular music" in 1986 in two articles, "Skill, Part 1: The Negative Case For Some New Music Technology" and "Skill, Part 2: Heavy Metal, Punk and the New Wave", published in the RēR Quarterly
sound-magazine, Volume 1 Number 3 (1986) and Volume 2 Number 2 (1987), respectively. These articles were later reworked by Cutler into a single essay entitled "Skill", which was included in the 1996 expanded Japanese
edition of File Under Popular.
at the instigation of Josef Vlcek of the Prague
-based non-profit arts organization, Jazzová Sekce-Artforum. As the majority of these essays had not been published in English, Chris Cutler
decided to publish an English edition in London
. The Czech edition was supposed to be published first, but it was delayed and the English edition appeared in 1984. Further delays and problems eventually resulted in the Czech edition being abandoned. File Under Popular was later also published in Polish
, German
and Japanese
.
Cutler placed the following dedicatory in the "Introduction" of File Under Popular: "Dedicated to Jazzová and Josef, the sine qua non
of its publication."
Essay
An essay is a piece of writing which is often written from an author's personal point of view. Essays can consist of a number of elements, including: literary criticism, political manifestos, learned arguments, observations of daily life, recollections, and reflections of the author. The definition...
s on the political theory of popular music
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
written by English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
percussionist, lyricist and music theorist, Chris Cutler
Chris Cutler
Chris Cutler is an English percussionist, composer, lyricist and music theorist. Best known for his work with English avant-rock group Henry Cow, Cutler was also a member and drummer of a number of other bands, including Art Bears, News from Babel, Pere Ubu and Gong/Mothergong...
. The essays were written between 1978 and 1983, four of them in response to requests and the rest unprompted. Two of the essays were first published in two German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
publications, and two were originally presented by Cutler at two international symposia on popular music. The book was first published in 1984 in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
by November Books, the publishing wing of Cutler's independent record label
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
, Recommended Records
Recommended Records
Recommended Records is a British independent record label and distribution network founded by Chris Cutler in March 1978. RēR features largely "Rock in Opposition" and related music, but it also distributes selected music released on other independent labels.In 1982 Cutler established November...
. It was also published in Polish
Polish language
Polish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
, German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
and Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
.
Rock critic
Critic
A critic is anyone who expresses a value judgement. Informally, criticism is a common aspect of all human expression and need not necessarily imply skilled or accurate expressions of judgement. Critical judgements, good or bad, may be positive , negative , or balanced...
and sociologist Simon Frith
Simon Frith
Simon Frith is a British sociologist, and former rock critic, who specializes in popular music culture. He is currently Tovey Chair of Music at University of Edinburgh.-Background:...
described File Under Popular as "A stirringly aggressive antidote to contemporary pop cynicism."
Essays
- "What is Popular Music?"
- "The Realm of Lightning / Black Music in a White World / Sun Ra, a Life Work"
- "Living in the Electric: The Residents"
- "Phil Ochs and Elvis Presley"
- "Necessity and Choice in Musical Forms: Concerning Musical and Technical Means and Political Needs"
- "Progressive Rock in the UK: What Was Unique to the Development of Rock and Electric Music in the UK?"
- "Progressive Music, Progressive Politics?"
Essay notes
- "What is Popular Music?" was a paper written and presented by Chris CutlerChris CutlerChris Cutler is an English percussionist, composer, lyricist and music theorist. Best known for his work with English avant-rock group Henry Cow, Cutler was also a member and drummer of a number of other bands, including Art Bears, News from Babel, Pere Ubu and Gong/Mothergong...
at an International Association for the Study of Popular Music (IASPM) conference in 1983. - "Living in the Electric: The Residents" was written in 1980 for a GermanGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
publication Rocksession; a postscript was written for this collection in 1983. - "Phil Ochs and Elvis Presley" was written in 1978 in response to OchsPhil OchsPhilip David Ochs was an American protest singer and songwriter who was known for his sharp wit, sardonic humor, earnest humanism, political activism, insightful and alliterative lyrics, and haunting voice...
's suicide in 1976, his public obsession with PresleyElvis PresleyElvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
and the connection between the two. - Parts I and III of "Necessity and Choice in Musical Forms" were derived from an address given by Cutler at the Popular Music Research Symposium at ExeterExeterExeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
in September 1982, and at the Festival des Politischen Liedes in East BerlinEast BerlinEast Berlin was the name given to the eastern part of Berlin between 1949 and 1990. It consisted of the Soviet sector of Berlin that was established in 1945. The American, British and French sectors became West Berlin, a part strongly associated with West Germany but a free city...
in February 1982 respectively; Part II is a free-standing bridge linking Parts I and III, written for this collection in 1983. - "Progressive Rock in the UK" was written for publication in the former German Democratic RepublicGerman Democratic RepublicThe German Democratic Republic , informally called East Germany by West Germany and other countries, was a socialist state established in 1949 in the Soviet zone of occupied Germany, including East Berlin of the Allied-occupied capital city...
; a postscript was written for this collection in 1983.
Synopsis
The essays in File Under Popular tackle the subject of "popular musicPopular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
", what it is, its origins and the political and marketing forces behind it. Chris Cutler
Chris Cutler
Chris Cutler is an English percussionist, composer, lyricist and music theorist. Best known for his work with English avant-rock group Henry Cow, Cutler was also a member and drummer of a number of other bands, including Art Bears, News from Babel, Pere Ubu and Gong/Mothergong...
charts the history of music and how it was changed by written notation
Musical notation
Music notation or musical notation is any system that represents aurally perceived music, through the use of written symbols.-History:...
and then recording technology
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
. Three of the essays dwell specifically on individual musicians and groups, namely Sun Ra
Sun Ra
Sun Ra was a prolific jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, poet and philosopher known for his "cosmic philosophy," musical compositions and performances. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama...
, The Residents
The Residents
The Residents is an American art collective best known for avant-garde music and multimedia works. The first official release under the name of The Residents was in 1972, and the group has since released over sixty albums, numerous music videos and short films, three CD-ROM projects and ten DVDs....
, Phil Ochs
Phil Ochs
Philip David Ochs was an American protest singer and songwriter who was known for his sharp wit, sardonic humor, earnest humanism, political activism, insightful and alliterative lyrics, and haunting voice...
and Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, but their stories are told within the context of the evolution of music. "Necessity and Choice in Musical Forms" is the first sketch of an analytical theory that shows how memory systems underpin the forms that music can take; part III of this essay is a personnel memoir of Cutler's that explains how his former band, Henry Cow
Henry Cow
Henry Cow were an English avant-rock group, founded at Cambridge University in 1968 by multi-instrumentalists Fred Frith and Tim Hodgkinson. Henry Cow's personnel fluctuated over their decade together, but drummer Chris Cutler and bassoonist/oboist Lindsay Cooper were important long-term members...
functioned outside the music industry and their involvement in the establishment of Rock in Opposition
Rock in Opposition
Rock in Opposition or RIO was a movement representing a collective of progressive bands in the late 1970s united in their opposition to the music industry that refused to recognise their music...
. The last two essays deal with the development of progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, its significance and the politics behind it.
Cutler continued his analysis on "popular music" in 1986 in two articles, "Skill, Part 1: The Negative Case For Some New Music Technology" and "Skill, Part 2: Heavy Metal, Punk and the New Wave", published in the RēR Quarterly
ReR Quarterly
The RēR Quarterly was an English "quarterly" sound-magazine comprising an LP record and a magazine. It was published at irregular intervals between 1985 and 1997 by Recommended Records and November Books, and edited by English percussionist, lyricist and music theorist, Chris Cutler...
sound-magazine, Volume 1 Number 3 (1986) and Volume 2 Number 2 (1987), respectively. These articles were later reworked by Cutler into a single essay entitled "Skill", which was included in the 1996 expanded Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
edition of File Under Popular.
Background
File Under Popular was originally intended for publication in 1984 in what was then CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
at the instigation of Josef Vlcek of the Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
-based non-profit arts organization, Jazzová Sekce-Artforum. As the majority of these essays had not been published in English, Chris Cutler
Chris Cutler
Chris Cutler is an English percussionist, composer, lyricist and music theorist. Best known for his work with English avant-rock group Henry Cow, Cutler was also a member and drummer of a number of other bands, including Art Bears, News from Babel, Pere Ubu and Gong/Mothergong...
decided to publish an English edition in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. The Czech edition was supposed to be published first, but it was delayed and the English edition appeared in 1984. Further delays and problems eventually resulted in the Czech edition being abandoned. File Under Popular was later also published in Polish
Polish language
Polish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
, German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
and Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
.
Cutler placed the following dedicatory in the "Introduction" of File Under Popular: "Dedicated to Jazzová and Josef, the sine qua non
Sine qua non
Sine qua non or condicio sine qua non refers to an indispensable and essential action, condition, or ingredient...
of its publication."
Editions
- United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
- First edition, November Books, 1984
- Second edition, November Books, 1989
- Revised second edition, November Books, 1992
- United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
- Revised second edition, AutonomediaAutonomediaAutonomedia is one of the main North American publishers of radical theoretical works, especially in the anarchist tradition. For many years, it was linked with Semiotext, one of the major sources for English language translations of post-structuralist literature, especially in the 1980s...
, 1992
- Revised second edition, Autonomedia
- GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, published as Texte zur populären Musik, translated by Kersten Glandien- First edition, Michael Schwinn, 1985
- Revised second edition, Michael Schwinn, 1994
- PolandPolandPoland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, published as O Muzyce Popularnej, translated by Ireneusz SochaIreneusz SochaIreneusz Socha . Drummer, Composer. Co-editor of DRUT – one of Poland's first artzines. The mastermind behind Kirkut-Koncept – a group performing original compositions bordering on rock song, cabaret, ethnic music and experimental...
- First edition, Zielona Sowa, 1985
- Revised and expanded second edition, Zielona Sowa, 1999
- JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, published as ファイル・アンダー・ポピュラー―ポピュラー音楽を巡る文化研究- First edition, Suisei Sha, 1985
- Revised and expanded second edition, Suisei Sha, 1996
Edition notes
- The expanded second edition published in Poland contains an extra essay, "Plunderphonia".
- The expanded second edition published in Japan contains two extra essays, "Plunderphonia" and "Skill".
- "Plunderphonia" was first published in MusicWorks 60 in 1994.
- "Skill" was derived from two articles, "Skill, Part 1: The Negative Case For Some New Music Technology" and "Skill, Part 2: Heavy Metal, Punk and the New Wave", published in the RēR QuarterlyReR QuarterlyThe RēR Quarterly was an English "quarterly" sound-magazine comprising an LP record and a magazine. It was published at irregular intervals between 1985 and 1997 by Recommended Records and November Books, and edited by English percussionist, lyricist and music theorist, Chris Cutler...
sound-magazine, Volume 1 Number 3 (1986) and Volume 2 Number 2 (1987), respectively.
External links
- Autonomedia catalogue. Autonomedia.
- Books written by Progressive Rock artists. Progressive Rock Bibliography.
- File Under Popular : Theoretical and Critical Writings on Music. WorldCat.org.
Subject of instruction
- American Music: Progressive Rock. University of Colorado at Boulder.
- Music in the South. Columbia University.