Jean-Clause Risset is a pioneer of new classical music. This CD contains some of Risset's most important works.Some of Risset's most widely known efforts are in the field of electronic music. He presented the discrete scale implementation of the circular pitch judgement paradox formerly presented as a continuos scale by Roger N. Shepard; tones that appear to rise or fall continuously.
By clicking on the preview link for track 2, you will hear what appears to be an example of infinite phase shifting of white noise. By clicking on track 5, you will hear the continuously falling tone that is known as the Risset scale.
Such tones which lead to circularity in pitch judgement are also called "barber poles" in reference to the devices used in front of old barber shops to attract customers (the actual movement is horizontal and rotating, but the perceived movement is vertical and infinite). Barber pole tone generators (oscillators) and tone processors (infinite phase shifters) are commercially availabe from Buchla & Associates, Berkeley, California (their website can be found through a Google search).
