Klarinet Archive - Posting 000021.txt from 1997/04

From: "Edwin V. Lacy" <el2@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Songs Without Words
Date: Tue, 1 Apr 1997 16:42:45 -0500

On Tue, 1 Apr 1997, Lord Rob wrote:

> While a strict interpretation of the dictionary definition of "song"
> (Webster's, "That which is sung or uttered with musical modulations of
> the voice, whether of a human being or of a bird, insect, etc.") may
> make the phrase "song without words" seem self-contradictory, if we view
> instruments as extensions of the voice (why are teachers forever telling
> their students to SING?), then it doesn't seem quite so silly.

What I intended to refer to in my original post on this topic is the habit
which I have observed in many musician, especially young ones, to refer to
any musical work as a "song." Thus, a "song" may be an etude (as in,
"This was a really hard song for me."), a composition for a large ensemble
(Upon hearing the "Stars and Stripes Forever," "Didn't Sousa write that
song?"), or any other piece of music. There seems to be a reluctance to
use such terms as composition, piece, work, opus, etc. So, whenever one
of my students says something about what they are going to play for me in
their lessons, such as, "I'm going to play this song first today," I feel
obligated to reply, "Oh, are you going to sing it." Unfortunately, they
usually don't get it. ;-)

Ed Lacy
el2@-----.edu