What skater has the all-time impressive music list?

[Mathman]

I second this. Just the other day, YouTube recommended a fan's compilation of Michelle's Top 10 performances (in the fan's opinion), which I bit on.

What struck me most was the quality and variety of music. Mostly the music was new-to-skating, although there were a few warhorses thrown in, I suppose. None of it was boring - it didn't drone on. Of course in her day, competitive programs didn't have lyrics, so maybe that helped.

Michelle's choreographer, Lori Nichol, was very much into unique music choices. She knew and cared a lot about music. I believe that her husband was a classical guitarist or something of the sort (?) and that she also had a professional musicologist on tap as a consultant. She herself had skated (as a professional) with John Curry's company, which was all about choreography and music.

When Michelle left her coaching and choreography team in 2001, saying that she "wanted to take charge of her own skating," her own musical tastes proved to be more traditional.

I'm waiting for the first skater to use AI generated music. I don't know much about AI, so I wonder if you could have it compose something original... "Give me a cohesive orchestral piece, consisting of a 25 second opening with brass instruments, transitioning to 45 seconds of a slower tempo featuring strings, gradually build over the next minute to a great emotional swell..."

AI can certainly do this, although the quality of the result is up to debate. Way back in 1970 my office mate wrote his PhD thesis on comouter programs that composed symphonies. He had already got his master's dregree for programs that composed simpler forms such as rounds. The computer-gererated rounds weren't bad -- not exactly Dona Nobis Pacem, but a step up from Row, row, row your boat. This was 50 years ago. Presumably computer guys are better at it now.

 

[TontoK]

I suppose AI generated music would solve the copyright issue. Or maybe not, is AI music copyright-able?

@Mathman

Edit: What could also be interesting is to prompt the AI to generate a piece that mimics those idiotoic explanations that commentators use when describing the skaters' intent.

"AI machine, give me an orchestral piece in baroque style that represents the hopes of a flightless bird, yearning to soar high, but hampered by the travesties of an uncaring world. And while you're at it, design me an accompanying ridiculous costume that will force people to nod approvingly, lest they appear uncultured."

 

[4everchan]

Seriously, you should take this up as a side hustle!

LOL
1) I am thinking choreographers like to do their own research... some have a better CD collection than others
2) In order to really do this job, one needs more than musical knowledge but they need to deal with music editing ... in that department, some people are better than others for cutting music... I am not sure I'd want to learn how to do that nor be responsible for fitting a 30 minute piano concerto in 2m40 SP.

I simply wished that skaters, coaches and choreos consulted music experts the same way they will consult other specialists like off-ice dancers, ballet teachers, clothing designer... music is actually a major part of skating yet there are a lot of the same things utilized over and over and a lot of tragic cuts and covers (I don't mind covers as much as some other people do but some of them are indeed tragic)

 

[icewhite]

Maybe Lori Nichol has very good knowledge in a specific area. Or specific taste.

Personally I was wondering why those skaters who are very good piano players do not compose something themselves. Sure, it likely wouldn't be Mozart level, but it would probably better than Dreeeeeeeeeem the impossible dreaaaaaaaaaaaam or something.
If I knew music like that I would definitely try my hand at least once.
But either they know too much about music and are perfectionists and as such they think they might not live up to their own standards - or they are just not really into the creativity, but the perfect execution. Has anyone talked about this?

 

[Mathematician]

Maybe Lori Nichol has very good knowledge in a specific area. Or specific taste.

Personally I was wondering why those skaters who are very good piano players do not compose something themselves. Sure, it likely wouldn't be Mozart level, but it would probably better than Dreeeeeeeeeem the impossible dreaaaaaaaaaaaam or something.
If I knew music like that I would definitely try my hand at least once.
But either they know too much about music and are perfectionists and as such they think they might not live up to their own standards - or they are just not really into the creativity, but the perfect execution. Has anyone talked about this?

Composing a good piano piece is beyond just being able to play piano. Few world class pianists even compose anything and those that do turn out to be mediocre (usually). Nevermind the time and energy required for it which is all used at skating practice.

I am surprised we dont see some more programs to original songs though like Trusova did.

 

[icewhite]

Composing a good piano piece is beyond just being able to play piano. Few world class pianists even compose anything and those that do turn out to be mediocre (usually). Nevermind the time and energy required for it which is all used at skating practice.

I am surprised we dont see some more programs to original songs though like Trusova did.

I think it depends on what your goal is. In my opinion it should be doable to compose something better than at least 30% of music choices... And I would at least try it for an exhibition.
Many people write songs for entertainment or their own bands - not a great symphony, just a song.

 

[gkelly]

Off the top of my head, the skater-composers who come to mind are Mark Militano, Dmitry Dmitrenko, Eric Radford.

You should at least be able to find Radford (and Duhamel) skating to his own music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AI9m68NS8Nk

Any other examples?

 

[el henry]

Timothy Dolensky (for those not familiar, US, men's singles), skated to his own music. I thought he did a very credible job. Went looking for YouTube and of course nothing is to be found.

I agree that one's own composition does not need to rise to the level of greatness. Nothing could be more personal, or presumably interpreted more naturally, than one's own music.

ETA: Timothy skating to his own composition at the JGP

]

 

[Weathergal]

Off the top of my head, the skater-composers who come to mind are Mark Militano, Dmitry Dmitrenko, Eric Radford.

You should at least be able to find Radford (and Duhamel) skating to his own music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AI9m68NS8Nk

Any other examples?

Timothy Dolensky (for those not familiar, US, men's singles), skated to his own music. I thought he did a very credible job. Went looking for YouTube and of course nothing is to be found.

I agree that one's own composition does not need to rise to the level of greatness. Nothing could be more personal, or presumably interpreted more naturally, than one's own music.

ETA: Timothy skating to his own composition at the JGP

]

Although not composing, of course, Starr Andrews did skate to her own singing, which I found impressive - she sang well!

 

[Mathman]

2) In order to really do this job, one needs more than musical knowledge but they need to deal with music editing ... in that department, some people are better than others for cutting music... I am not sure I'd want to learn how to do that nor be responsible for fitting a 30 minute piano concerto in 2m40 SP.

I can remember back when the only technology available was reel-to-reel audio tapes. This required a certain dexterity just to stop the tape at the exact right instant, sometimes resulting in jarring lurches between sections.

As for cutting down the music to fit the required time, I can see why a musician would say thumbs down to that. Hey, what about the development of the second theme? On the other hand, that might be exactly why a skater would want to get professional input in the first place.

 

[Mathman]

I suppose AI generated music would solve the copyright issue. Or maybe not, is AI music copyright-able?

A whole new branch of copyright law. I would suppose that if a skater commissioned a robot (or human, for that matter) to compose a a work, then the copyright is owned by the client, bought band paid for.

Until the robots get smart enough to hire their own lawyers to protect their creative opuses (or do I mean opera?)

 

[4everchan]

I can remember back when the only technology available was reel-to-reel audio tapes. This required a certain dexterity just to stop the tape at the exact right instant, sometimes resulting in jarring lurches between sections.

As for cutting down the music to fit the required time, I can see why a musician would say thumbs down to that. Hey, what about the development of the second theme? On the other hand, that might be exactly why a skater would want to get professional input in the first place.

Don't get me started on such major omissions

 

[TallyT]

I can remember back when the only technology available was reel-to-reel audio tapes. This required a certain dexterity just to stop the tape at the exact right instant, sometimes resulting in jarring lurches between sections.

Whereas now the software for cutting is so good even luddite me can get the exact nanosecond right.

As for cutting down the music to fit the required time, I can see why a musician would say thumbs down to that.

Witness Joe Hisaishi being very very picky about who gets permission...