basis

English translation: the trumpets' part in the composition/on the recording was as the writer had suggested

13:07 Aug 21, 2006

English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Art/Literary - Music

English term or phrase: basis

"It was during a dinner at my publisher’s home that I came across the legendary American trumpeter Jon Hassell". A passionate discussion followed late into the night with this pioneering musician in world music, whose albums have become references in their own right. Collaboration projects are rare for him) "but I tried my luck without expecting too much and one morning found the trumpets placed on the basis that I had sent him. This was a moment of pure joy for me". "

I am not sure whether this term is about music or not (i guess it is). Can you please explain what this word means here in this context? Something related with DJ'in/samples or so on?

Thank you.

Tuncay

Tuncay Kurt KudoZ activity Questions: 201 (none open) (9 closed without grading) Answers: 285 Türkiye
Local time: 09:12

Selected answer:the trumpets' part in the composition/on the recording was as the writer had suggested

Explanation:
I think what the writer is saying is that although Jon Hassell very rarely collaborated on a project, the writer made some suggestions anyway. Jon Hassell obviously agreed with suggestion about how the trumpets should sound - what their part should be in the piece - and put the suggestion into practice.

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Note added at 9 mins (2006-08-21 13:17:31 GMT)
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'although Jon hassell rarely collaborateS' - sorry

Selected response from:

Caryl Swift
Poland
Local time: 08:12

Grading comment

Thank you for your kind and helpful explanation.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED

3 +7

the trumpets' part in the composition/on the recording was as the writer had suggested

Caryl Swift

3 +2

base track(s)

Mandy Williams

an invitation to collaborate

Fan Gao

placement

David Moore (X)

basis track

M_a_r_i_n_a

basis or basses?

kt88keys

Discussion entries: 7

Answers

6 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +7

the trumpets' part in the composition/on the recording was as the writer had suggested

Caryl Swift
Poland
Local time: 08:12
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4

Grading comment

Thank you for your kind and helpful explanation.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

agree

Can Altinbay: the original sentence is a bit awkward, but this is how I read it.

5 mins

-> Thank you! :-)

agree

juvera

8 mins

-> Thank you! ;-)

agree

NancyLynn

12 mins

-> Thank you! :-)

agree

Kim Metzger

21 mins

-> Thank you! :-)

agree

Alison Jenner

22 mins

-> Thank you! :-)

agree

RHELLER: yes, nothing to do with music here

32 mins

-> Thank you! ;-)

agree

Jeanette Phillips: the writer was pleased that Jon Hassel used a musical arrangement he had suggested. Can Altinbay is right, the sentence is slughtly awkward.

1 hr

-> Thank you! :-)

agree

writeaway: source text doesn't sound like native English.

2 hrs

-> Thank you! :-)

disagree

M_a_r_i_n_a: this is a very attractive explanation. of course you can choose it and use it. But do not forget that "basis track" is a term of the musical field - MW as well as I confirm it as musicians, not as litterary translators...

2 hrs

-> Thank you for the note.I'll write a note to the asker. :-)

8 mins confidence:

an invitation to collaborate

Explanation:
As collaboration was mentioned it sounds like one morning he woke up and collaboration had been hinted at and then he saw the trumpets had been laid out so it was like and acceptance of the idea.

Fan Gao
Australia
Local time: 16:12
Native speaker of: Chinese
PRO pts in category: 4

14 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

base track(s)

Explanation:
I don't think it's a technical term. I would just understand it to mean that he sent the trumpeter a base track (or base tracks), i.e. with piano, drums, whatever, and the trumpeter played over the top of it all. He "placed the trumpet" on top of the base track(s).

P.S. I am a musician but not a recording engineer.

Mandy Williams
Local time: 08:12
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English

27 mins confidence:

placement

Explanation:
I think this may well mean the location of the trumpet(s) in relation to the other instruments and (probably) the microphones used to make the recordings.
The conventional layout of an orchestra is generally to balance the various instruments, and can be altered to suit, when the score calls for less instrument of one type, etc.
That is why I think this means "trumpets positioned on the basis (I had suggested)".

David Moore (X)
Local time: 08:12
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4

39 mins confidence:

basis track

Explanation:
A "basis track" is as far as I know a more or less technical term meaning a primary track, with some elementary "compositional lines", lets say some instruments (percussions, rhythm and so). On this basis track you can add more instruments, voice etc...
You may also say "basis track" if you base a composition on someone else's composition/track.

I found this reference in internet completing your sentence:
but I tried my luck without expecting too much and one morning found the trumpets placed (in the track). This was a moment of pure joy for me".

Reference: http://www.indie911.com/directory/pop-and-electronica/alexki...

M_a_r_i_n_a
Local time: 08:12
Native speaker of:

Greek

73 days confidence:

basis or basses?

Explanation:
This is just a stab in the dark... but was this text transcribed from a document--a telephone or radio interview, or some sort of recording--for which there was only a sound track? Because I'm wondering if "basis" should actually perhaps be "basses"--that is bass parts? As a musician, that makes more sense to me than "basis" (and writing basis or bases instead of basses is a VERY common mistake, even among musicians)

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Note added at 73 days (2006-11-03 09:03:43 GMT) Post-grading
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I think Marina Varouta ("basis track") might be right. Here's an
excerpt from an interview with Mark Wastell on readysteadybook.com: "When we eventually began to record, some hours into the session, we started playing an improvised piece. It didn't work. We stopped and tried another. Again, it didn't feel right. Not that any one of us was doing anything wrong, there was just something missing. We took a break to listen to what had been recorded and it was at this moment that Bernhard suggested it might be interesting to use some of his electronic compositions as some kind of foundation, a basis on which to work. Immediately the session really began to gell. Working with the basis track gave our improvisations a completely different feel and meaning."

kt88keys
Local time: 20:12
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English

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