Klarinet Archive - Posting 000043.txt from 2001/04

From: Bilwright@-----.net (William Wright)
Subj: RE: [kl] Meta-music?
Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2001 15:01:13 -0400

<><> David@-----.=A0Kumpf wrote:
However, in formal language theory, a meta-language is a language used
to describe other languages [snip] When we say "meta-music," are we
talking about describing music by using music?

Yes, although I fumbled a bit when I began this thread (and perhaps
I am still fumbling?).

The idea that I'm struggling with is that, perhaps, you can appear
to obey the rules of 'valid music' and yet still produce a disturbing
result because (in some way that I haven't been able to define) you have
made a self-modifying musical statement analogous to "This sentence is a
lie." I guess this would be equivalent to writing self-modifying code
in a computer program.

Wouldn't most of us agree that (say) Stravinsky devised new musical
language without being, umm... self-modifying? So what's a musical
example of "This statement is a lie"? I don't have an example myself
--- although for reasons that I don't understand, this concept popped
into my mind when somebody began to talk about Richard Stolzman's
playing (and conducting). I think it's time for me to listen to his
Mozart Concerto recording again.

....oh well, now I'm off to the zoo to see about the lemur
costume....

Cheers,
Bill

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