Musique concrète is an avant-garde genre of electronic music that emerged in the mid-20th century, characterized by its innovative use of recorded sounds sourced from the real world. These sounds are manipulated through editing, looping, and effects processing to create an abstract, often non-melodic soundscape that challenges traditional notions of music composition. Pioneered by figures like Pierre Schaeffer, the genre transcends the bounds of conventional instruments, inviting natural noises and everyday audio into artistic expression. Composers in this field, such as Edgard Varèse and Iannis Xenakis, explore the texture, timbre, and dynamics of sounds, recontextualizing them into complex, layered works that can evoke intense emotion or intellectual curiosity. Musique concrète has profoundly influenced contemporary electronic music, sound design, and the broader spectrum of experimental audio art.
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