David,
This is getting really off topic, but...
--- David Rastall <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> He is, nevertheless, a "cultural force."
>
I disagree. Piazzolla is popular today in some
spheres of classical music. Popularity does not a
cultural force make. Many mediocre composers in the
history of music have been quite popular without
contributing the least contribution to the culture at
large. In my opinion, Astor's current popularity is
from classical musicians who want to "slum it" with
the "authentic," earthy tango without really getting
their hands dirty.
Still, although audiences may like to listen to
Piazzolla, his changes to the tango weren't enough to
create a scaffolding that other composers could build
upon. What other significant composers claim Piazolla
as a prime influence? His so-called "New Tango" is
mostly just a traditional tango with some relatively
tame harmonic additions and a modicum of counterpoint
tacked on. In other words, Piazzolla hasn't done
anything to be a "cultural force" that inspires other
to re-think how they write music.
If I write a learned fugue in blues style, I haven't
done anything either; I've just written a fugue in
blues style.
>
> Uh, they play our music, we don't play theirs. Or
> do
> we...? ;-) ;-) ;-)
>
..and why not??? :-))
Chris
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