Music, to me, is a hook on which emotional attachments are hung. I can still remember a song I listened to after a particular breakup with a girlfriend, for instance. I can remember, two years ago, what song was playing as I pulled to a particular intersection in town (not on my normal route). That particular association is so strong I can even remember remembering it.
I used to work in a piano and organ store, and because the primary purchasers of electronic/digital organs are older folks, I learned a lot of older music, from Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller to Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, you name it. I learned old jazz standards, big band, swing, whatever. I played a couple of times for a retirement home.
It’s amazing, but although these people couldn’t always remember the names of their children, or what day of the week it was, they could tell me, “Ah, yes, ‘Amazing Grace,’ that song was played at our Elsie’s funeral, you know.” Or they’d say, “Why yes, I remember that! ‘Moonlight Sonata.’ I first heard that song when I danced with Billy Mueller at the USO.” They could place the song, and when they heard it, and what they were doing, and it brought back a flood of emotional attachments with it.
This one, chique. My posts are being mysteriously deleted on a routine basis at these boards.
Technically, music is any sequence of notes strung together on any type of instrument including found objects or the human voice. While music also contains rests, this in no way qualifies Philip Glass’ composition of pure silence. That is where I would draw the line. Anyone attempting to argue that whatever ambient noise surrounded the disused orchestra at the time of their nonperformance constitutes music can meet me out in the parking lot after this thread closes.
As an audio medium, music represents an incredibly broad subset of art. Witness rap, tone poems and other modern sonic forms. Some of these are so minimalist in terms of melodic content as to challenge most people’s definition of music itself. One thing to consider is that a huge number of people in America judge music strictly in the context of Western European classical tradition. This tradition tends to roughly take the form of the following sequence:[ul]1.) Prelude
2.) Introduction of theme
3.) Statement of theme
4.) Variation on theme
5.) Non-theme variations
6.) Crescendo
7.) Secondary theme variations
8.) Reintroduction of theme
9.) Coda (closure)[/ul]
In a similar fashion, most European folk music also has a fairly rigid form of verse and chorus. These “norms” are so entrenched in modern western culture that any contradictory structures (e.g., ethnic, experimental, synthesis, etc.) often find gaining a foothold rather difficult. There are arguments that in coordination with area 44 (a specific neural network of the brain) the human ear’s structure specifically inclines us to a 12 tone chromatic scale as found on modern keyboards.
This might explain some of the resistance to pentatonic and other less chromatic scales found among western cultures. Fortunately, this prejudice or predisposition is rapidly fading as people are more routinely exposed to other music forms. Music is an incredibly versatile communication scheme. It can take the shape of a full blown Italian opera or one lone shepherd playing a reed flute in the countryside. Music predates vocal speech and stimulates prehistoric (and preconscious) centers within the brain. Early oral tradition was set to music in order to facilitate memorization. The ancient Greek Homeric Odyssey was originally sung by groups of people called aoidoi. Much like the “book people” in Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, individuals would retain entire chapters as part of a group performance. The Greek narrators relied upon musical prompts to stimulate their recall of the material. The rhyme structures of poetry most likely arose out of the concordant endings to musical measures or passages.
Music may well have served as a “proto-language” prior to the emergence of spoken communication. The “talking drums” of African tribes are a sterling example of this. To this day, the ancestral roots of music continue to stimulate profound emotions in many people. All of this stems directly from the deep roots that music has in nearly every culture on earth. Few ethnic tribes do not have some indigenous form of musical expression. A specific musical passage can bring people to tears with its beauty and excite emotions and memories well beyond the scope of a composer’s intention.
The addition of lyrics to music provides yet one more avenue of impact for this art form. Originally serving as a method to preserve oral history and tradition, lyrical expression now lends itself to everything from fictional storytelling and political propaganda to national anthems. It is this specific versatility and such depth of personal connection that will keep music in its rightful place as one of humanity’s most profound achievements. Speaking as a musician, composer, songwriter and performer I find it difficult to imagine life without music and am unable to sufficiently overstate its importance in my own world. Sharing my written or improvised works represents one of the most intellectually and emotionally satisfying activities I have ever known.
Zeldar, as a person who has the nerve to possess actual thoughts and opinions on events and deeds going on around me, I tend to draw a lot of flack from those who feel threatened by such a novel concept. Then again, all these lost posts could just be random hamstering. Suffice to say that my money isn’t on the hamsters.
I’ll also repeat how grateful I am that you thought so highly of my post. Music is my life … the day job just pays for the instruments.
[Not really TRYING to hijack] See, the thing is, the hamsters are VERY well trained, and they resist eating anything unless it is clearly labeled as being intended for their consumption. Still, they are flesh and blood, and will ignore their conditioning when they are threatened with physical starvation. Thus, they are willing to adopt a “close enough” attitude toward posts that bear certain labels. There is only a three-letter difference between Hamster and Zenster. Therefore, when they get real hungry, they are quite happy to find a big, juicy post labeled xxx**-ster**. Just imagine how the nearly invisible poster named Hamster Chow must feel. He probably thinks the Mods have it in for him. [/Not really TRYING to hijack]
[sub]Note to the humor-impaired: As far as I am aware, there is no real poster named Hamster Chow. Chill out.[/sub]
I disagree with your statement about this particular work (although not enough to debate with anyone about it), but just wanted to clear up that the “silent” work you are referring to is probably John Cage’s 4’33" I don’t believe Glass ever did a silent work.
Surprisingly enough however, Cage’s piece was not the first (nor the last) of that type.