On Monday, February 7, 2005, at 12:34 PM, Phil Daley wrote:
The first question: "Was this (Cage's) music as successful (moving, exciting, attractive) as other musics?"
I don't see how anyone can argue a yes answer to this question. The "scientific proof" would be that pretty much no one has ever heard of him (outside of academic music people).
Well, that's neither here nor there. What modern composer IS known outside of academic circles? Cage is at least as well-known as say, Takemitsu.
Well of course that's a trick question, because it all depends on your definition of "modern composer." Some people have, certainly with justification in their own minds, a rather narrow definition that almost REQUIRES failure to succeed in the marketplace. As a trained (but not completed) musicologist, I would suggest two names that will be of great interest to scholars in 200 years because their music has touched so many people: Paul McCartney (along with whatsizname), whose "throwaway" songs still won't go away 40 years later, and John Williams. (Save the flames; I know you won't agree!)
John
-- John & Susie Howell Virginia Tech Department of Music Blacksburg, Virginia, U.S.A 24061-0240 Vox (540) 231-8411 Fax (540) 231-5034 (mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]) http://www.music.vt.edu/faculty/howell/howell.html _______________________________________________ Finale mailing list [email protected] http://lists.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
