The Fredösphere

Symphony X is a bunch of composers with a group blog.  (No, I am not talking about a certain prog metal band from NJ whose music tends to be epic and powerful with touches of opera choirs and classical music but whose lead singer is not a parrot.) 

Symphony X blog member Stirling Newberry is not happy about Kyle Gann's prickliness v. normalcy continuum:

Will you guys please grow up? This is just embarassing twaddle to read. Look, you are the establishment, they kind of guy that people shouldn't offend, but should kiss up to. Subversions impossible because, duh, you're what needs subverting.

Personally, I liked Gann's post because that kind of big-picture theorizing stimulates my own thinking, even when I disagree with it.

Along the same lines, Mr. Newberry gives us an essay about "modal music based on phase."  Here, let him explain it.  He illustrates it with a sound file--just what we need to get the sense that we're getting a peek into a composer's mind.  Yes, some of us actually find that an appealing prospect.