Date: Tue, 14 Nov 1995 16:55:28 -0500 (EST)
From: Stephen Tompkins <st265089-AT-oak.cats.ohiou.edu>
Subject: Logic and 19th cent. music


Reg, I am not denying or throwing 'certain restricted associations' of 
musical 'evolution' through time.  I am suggesting that other than the 
fact that the conventions used - bass clef, alto clef, finely ornamented 
theater, nice tuxedos on performers, audience member coughing, beethoven 
slowly growing deaf, etc..........I simply don't understand what a claim 
that music is logical, for me personally, it removes the intensification 
of music in general.  The effects that move me as listener/writer of 
music are those that are perhaps a sort of entropy to the ratinalized 
process of writing down on paper what is heard. A jazz musician can 
usually *feel* his way about the progressions and free fall so to speak, 
yes perhaps s/he's using a piano with neatly configured arrangement of 
ivory and ebony  -  I suppose you know what I'm talking about if you play 
an instrument or are an avid listener to the subtleties of different 
composers.  When I listen to Mozart or Debussy, I'm not sure if the 
social history concerns me, although that's not to say it's not without 
value to others, but once again as musician it's not as much a concern 
as what the artist may be attempting to do, even though this is 
inescapably relative in some way or another to the audience that you wish 
to appeal to.  I read an interesting article one time about a man from 
India who attended a classical music concert and said, when asked which 
part of the concert he liked best, "I like the very beginning", referring 
to the squeaks and tunings of the musicians' warm-up.

stevilbollweevil



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