Klarinet Archive - Posting 001333.txt from 1998/07

From: "Arnold Teres" <johnathant@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Classical Music and Young People
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1998 21:08:45 -0400

Seems to me this thread doesn't have much to do with either clarinets or
classical music but it is interesting so here's my $.02 worth.
Vulgar, rude, and downright obscene lyrics and themes have been a respected
theme in poetry and theatre ever since the early greeks. anyone who has seen
Lysistrata can attest to that. Chaucer was no better, in fact, he was
considerable worse. Shakespere was not reluctant to slip in a few lewd and
even filty jokes and the trend has continued right up through Mark Twain,
Henry Miller, and the current crop of rappers. I will note that rappers are
not nearly as artistic (or as skilled) as the artists I mentioned but I
don't think that you can make a case for rappers being more vulgar, obscene,
or tasteless.
So it seems that the f-word (or any other vulgarity) is nothing new and
certainly nothing to make a big deal about. The real issue is how does the
entire piece stand up after time has passed. If people still listen to
Publik Enemy after many years then it must have something of merit. I doubt
it - but only time will tell.

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