"the question does arise: which music is more important/profound than others?"
Music that has ability to 'live' longest and most cultures. Boris Shoshensky To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Reading Kivy: Chaper 6 - The Quest for Musical Profundity Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:01:30 GMT >" Sound, music can have significant impact on our thoughts and emotions; surely we should be interested in why, how, and whatever of some music affecting us more profoundly and more stirringly than others?" -- Allan Sutherland I don't think Kivy would disagree with the above, Allan, but he might assign those kind of questions to sociologists, psychologists, or cultural historians. Just yesterday, the pounding rhythm and text of a James Brown song from the 1960's -- with its brazen assertion of sexual potency - reminded me of the profound effect that music apparently has had in personal lives and social interactions. But when we ask whether that music is more or less profound than Beethoven's Violin concerto -- that's a question which would engage philosophy -- not to provide an answer - so much as to examine the reasons supporting such answers. At least -- that's the kind of philosophy that engages Kivy, though it is apparently of no interest to the artists who dominate discussion on this listserv. And I don't really think that Kivy's own answer, regarding the profundity of music, is all that bad. (even if his approach is profoundly pre-Modern) He says that no music can be profound unless it has text that addresses profound issues -- which would eliminate almost everything from the running, including both the Beethoven concerto and the James Brown song -- but still allow things from a variety of genres - popular, folk, world, classical, jazz, gospel etc. Is "A day in the Life" (John Lennon) as profound as Beethoven's Ninth Symphony? It could be, so let's hear the argument. However -- I would also like to hear arguments regarding the relative profundity of "Pet Sounds" (Beach Boys) and Mozart's Piano Concerto #21 -- and Kivy would not allow that. Are such questions important to how I decide what to audition? No. I play what I like -- or think I might like -- or what somebody I know likes -- or has become iconic -- or has gotten good reviews. (and I play a whole lot of music - about 6 hours/day. I've got about 30,000 discs) But in an educational context, the question does arise: which music is more important/profound than others? And that's when philosophers like Kivy can play an important role. ____________________________________________________________ Water Heater Some like it hot. Click now for a reliable new water heater! http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2231/c?cp=vl1YsjqQEELivaRLDWr12QAAJz6c l_zTaptgNR5c8Mer1v9kAAYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGIAAAAAA=
