"That's the beauty of these pulses. Suddenly, there's no note that's not justified in the whole work."
Denis Vaughan, Conductor
Dr. Manfred Clynes, whom I have known for forty years both as a musician and scientist, continually astounds me with his uncommon insights into the meaning off our art. His recent studies have caused me, a hitherto confirmed anti-electronic composer, to reacess my long-held prejudices against all music that is not reproduced on traditional instruments.
Dr. Clynes' computer realized performances of the great masters of the past are unreservedly convincing. But his acutely sensitive realizations of my own music are no less than amazing. How, one asks, could a mere machine make decisions about the interpretation of my music which have eluded even the most careful, dedicated, and experienced human peformers?
Clynes is a wizard whose important work must continue!
Donald Martino
Walter Bigelow Rosen Professor of Music
Harvard University
In his SuperConductor program Manfred Clynes has created a unique interactive program which enables those who use it to discover the very nature of musical expression.
As a musician I found my few hours with SuperConductor profoundly thought provoking and stimulating, obliging me to question many of my musical preconceptions, and to refine and redefine my thinking aboutt musical gesture, pulse and interpretation, for which I am very grateful.
Furthermore, since the program entirely takes over the responsibilities of physically playing the score, all motivated non-performers can also effortlessly explore and develop their innate musical imagination.
I believe this program marks a major breakthrough in our relationship with the essence of music!
It is a revolution and a revelation.
Paul Robertson
leader of the Medici Quartet
I am quite sure that SuperConductor really opens a new door to the understanding of music. My students like your work as well. It's so exciting!
Dr. Wolfgang Mastnak
Professor of Music
Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst "Mozarteum"
Salzburg, Austria
I have to concur with Maestro Simon's evaluation of the SuperConductor system... it has an unbelievably remarkable lack of artificiallity to it. I will finally be able to leave MIDI to mere sketching... AI seldom delivers like this! It is, indeed, a breakthrough of monumental proportions in artificial music realization.
Jeff Harrington, composer
Dr. Clynes,
Received your Superconductor program and other material late this afternoon. Was so impressed that I forgot about dinner.
The program is a masterpiece. It is an achievement of the highest magnitude and obviously the product of a very deep mind and very deep heart. Thank you for creating it. You have ggiven the world a great treasure.
It is incomprehensible to me that all the wonderful music on the Bach and Beethoven CDs was created solely on a PC. To me, it is the equivalent of magic.
Again, congratulations on a marvelous creation.
All the best,
T.B.
Hello Dr. Clynes,
wanted to tell you that I recieved the program today and "WOW", it has exceded all expectations. Well worth the money at any price. I have just started playingg with some midi files that I have and you can hear the difference right away. I think that this is quite possibly the most terrific music piece of software in existence. You have really set a benchmark that I believe that few will ever reach. The program is phenominal. Also, I want ot thank you for the CD's that you sent me. The Brandenburg concerti are indescribable. I just sit here and listen, and I cannot believe that a computer program created such passionate music. But then again, I see the program now in all of it's incredible glory, and it is truly the most amazing musical 'infusor' our there...
B.A.
Composer
If Cakewalk is a sturdy carthorse, SuperConductor is a thoroughbred racer. Properly to appreciate this near miraculous piece of sofftware one needs to experience using it oneself.
Ronald Alpier
stringquartets.org
SuperConductor does an almost supernatural job of humanizing machine-read music.
G.S.
I am a violin teacher and plan to use SuperConductor to create "music-minus-one" practice sessions. Unlike MIDI sequencers, the product will allow me to work on musical expression in addition to technique. SuperConductor generously allows input of standard MIDI files. In the space of 24 hours, SuperConductor has become an essential tool in my studio. Much gratitude to you for making this miracle possible.
D.E.
Dear Microsound,
I have been involved with MIDI music ever since its inception, and I just have to say that it's about time someone developed a better tool for composers that would give them access to symphonic quality output of their sequences. Many aspiring composers, who do not have the luxury of a full orchestra at their disposal to try out new ideas, have had to suffer under the limitations of MIDI and its inherent artificial nature. Your software is a life-giving breath to musicians everywhere! Dr. Clynes should get the equivalent of a Nobel Peace Prize for his stunningg achievements.
I am a believer!
E.W.
Multimedia Artist
Dear Microsound,
As one of the original women in the field of electronic music, I have used every analog and digital sound technology to create and teach electronic music. I can say that there has never been anything approaching the musical sophistication of SuperConductor and the ease and speed with which I can do musical work released from tedious and musically irrelevant mechanics. The program radically reduces the number of hours of programming required to produce musically expressive results using MIDI or the UNIX based computer systems used in university computer music centers such as the Columbia Princeton Electronic Music Center where I have served as Associate Director and Director of Development.
SuperConductor can be used in the teaching of music and performance skills at all levels of education from middle primary school through graduate school and conservatory, and in music composition by film composers, composers off all forms of popular music and classical music.
Through your program you have created something which has never existed until now -- computer music that is of greater beauty, depth and musicallity that most live performances are capable of.
Thank you,
Dr. Alice Shields
Dear Dr. Clynes,
Your SuperConductor program is simply incredible.
My first listening experience on your Microsound Website was ear-opening. I'd been surfing the web with my new computer searching for the best sound. After weeks of disappointing exploration I found your site, and I can honestly state yours is the best on the web for classical music. After listening to most of the music files on the site, I had to have more.
When I first got the SuperConductor program I used it purely for listening. I was curious about how to get midi files off the web and into the program. While it seemed complicated, it wasn't at all.
In the Classical Midi Archives on the web I searched through the Chopin page and downloaded a file of his Nocturne 21. I listened to the midi file while it was downloading, and it was very flat and dull. It took me just a few minutes to upload it into SuperConductor, add the Chopin pulse, and save it under a new file name.
As I listened to the playback I experienced one of the great musical epiphanies of my life. It sounded 1000% better than the midi file. But while listening it dawned on me that I can add more and more interpretive elements to the piece from this moment on, and save them all in a new file. Then I realized that since I can do it with this one file, I can do it with hundreds, maybe thousands of others on the web! All my life I've been putzing around with music, playing a few chords on the guitar, and singing at parties. I can read music, but I'm not an accomplished musician. Your program has made it possible for me to feel and experience musical interpretations that I thought were far beyond my ability.
R.L.
Dear Dr. Clynes
I just received your most welcome parcel with SuperConductor and your interpreted Brandenburg Concerti. I installed the program without incident while listening to your CD. I also just installed the new SoundBlasterLive! audio card, and the music is marvelous.
You unequivocally have spent innumerable, loving hours with the program, its development, and with the Brandenburg interpretation. With all the hassles that can cross our human paths each day, it's a real blessing having music to smooth and soothe those paths. From one musician to another, I thank you for contributing so beautifully to that perfecting.
Most sincerely,
D.E.W.
Music Director - Pianist - Arranger - Composer
San Francisco
Dear Manfred,
My first impression on hearing your Brandenburg Conertos was that the volume had to be increased. Once this adjustment was made I became aware of a continuity in the rendition which I appreciated more and more the longer I listened to it.
Shortly before Yehudi Menuhin died, he was in Melbourne givingg a master class that we could view on TV. Yehudi praised the performer for her skills and stressed that even more important than the individual emotional input was to attend to the continuity of the over-all line.
This over-all line I could truly appreciate in the rendition of your CD and thank you for giving me so much pleasure.
Yours sincerely,
F.R.
Dear Manfred,
First of all I want to thank you for this splendid and wonderful program. I've never seen some equal in Italy. People here in Italy when visited me, said it's great. It's a sort of revolution in music. I congratulate you on your great great software. We are working with R. for music files from Comarosa, Donizetti operas... so if you are interested in some pieces of our work to use a samples we will send you some files so you can see the results .
L.B.
I've decided to use SuperConductor to realize some "impossible" orchestral pieces I've been thinking about for awhile. Pieces using microtonal tunings, etc... I'm planning on putting out a CD of these types of quartertone SuperConductor pieces (and I'll cite you and your software prominently for what it's worth)... I've decided to try and write some really way out, futuristic pieces that will wow people and I think your software and research should help me realize this vision in a way that would make electronic music (for lack of a better term) artistic and musically interesting. I just feel that because classical music is so dead now, that only a music that appeals to people's futuristic hopes can succeed...
Jeff Harrington
Composer
Manfred,
I'm glad to hear the number of appreciators is growing! I find new things to like about SuperConductor every day.
E.H.
Intel Corp