Klarinet Archive - Posting 000323.txt from 1994/11

From: OLIVER SEELY <oliver@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: contemporary music
Date: Wed, 23 Nov 1994 16:13:42 -0500

I say, "If you can tap your foot to it and hum the melody
after you've heard it, it clearly has a better chance of
survival than if you can't figure out what is going on
when it is being played."

During the 18th century many composers had employers who
demanded that they compose and arrange things constantly,
but moreover, the works had to do nice things to the
sensibilities of the patron's weekend guests. Those
composers who couldn't conform found themselves employed
elsewhere.

That's why I believe that when the history of the 20th
century is written, the surviving musical form will be
the motion picture soundtrack. The music certainly
does nice things to our sensibilities and it is not
unusual for one to be able to remember the melodies.
And modern musical forms are certainly included in these
works.

Oliver