Klarinet Archive - Posting 001318.txt from 1998/07

From: <Maestro645@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Classical Music and Young People
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1998 19:06:19 -0400

In a message dated 7/29/98 2:03:05 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
charette@-----.org writes:

<< Webster's is my standard on the meaning of the word "music" -
"1) the art and science of combining vocal or instrumental sounds or tones
in varying melody, harmony, rhythm, and timbre, esp. so as to form
structurally complete and emotionally expressive compositions." Meanings 2
and 3 follow from 1. >>

Mark, where do you live? I'm going to come to your house and hide your
dictionary! :o)
There is rhythm and melody. The voices are carrying out a complex rythm, and
that is music (as stated by your Webster's). And there is sometimes melody,
referring to rise and fall of pitches, even if it's just voice texture, and no
singing.
We keep on saying that music is evolving. Why can't we just accept it, have
our own tastes, and leave well enough alone?
You hear, for example, Native American chants, some are not *sung*, but they
are percussive, and have a beat. We call that music. It all depends on the
cultural background.
Chris Hoffman

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