Klarinet Archive - Posting 000213.txt from 2008/12

From: James C Langdell <jameslangdell@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: If Mozart Were Alive Today...
Date: Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:37:07 -0500

Mozart certainly didn't shy away from obscenities. Just look at his
letters. And listen to canons that he wrote for celebrations with
friends, which are rarely published with texts close to the original
coarse language. Here's a discussion of those canons by Dennis Pajot:

http://www.mozartforum.com/Lore/article.php?id=070

Another reason to think that Mozart might have chosen to mine
something of value from today's genre of rap is his interest in and
imitations of Benda's compositions in the new form of melodrama,
spoken drama with musical underlay. On the other hand, this would
point more strongly to Mozart composing movie soundtracks than
gangsta rap singles.

--James

On Dec 31, 2008, at 8:57 AM, cealleach@-----.net wrote:

> What is considered risque or off-color is very contextual and
> defined by social codes and morals. As Dan Leeson very rightly
> pointed out even music by Mozart deals with risque stubjects even
> by modern standards.
>
>
> Just a thought: The subject matter of music on its own does not
> define the good-ness or bad-ness of the music, but the musical
> treatment of a subject can. To say that rap music is bad or
> unmusical because it deals with sex, drugs and other topics of a
> risque or off-color leaning doesn't make sense in the same way the
> 'Figaro' or 'Don Giovanni' are bad for the same reasons. Music,
> including rap, if done right can be a wonderful medium for taking
> on difficult subjects like sex, drugs, etc. John Adam's "Dr.
> Atomic" is an excellent example of that. Whether or not one likes
> John Adams, or rap, or thinks John Adams, or rap, are music is a
> whole different kettle of fish.
>
>
> I'm not a rap fan and am hesitant to say that it is bad due solely
> to it's content.
> - Kelly W.
>
> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Sarah Bolton <heart_soul_music@-----.com>
>> Sent: Dec 31, 2008 11:22 AM
>> To: klarinet@-----.org
>> Subject: RE: [kl] Re: If Mozart Were Alive Today...
>>
>>
>> Hahaha! And just take a look at our modern musicals... there is
>> always off-color humor and a risque scene, or two.
>>
>> I agree that the content of most rap is not entirely wholesome. I
>> don't listen to it. I also agree that there is good and bad in
>> everything.... perhaps even rap. But I won't be the one to find
>> out what the good rap is!
>>
>>
>> *Sarah
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ----------------------------------------
>>> From: dnleeson@-----.net
>>> To: klarinet@-----.org
>>> Date: Wed, 31 Dec 2008 07:35:43 -0800
>>> Subject: Re: [kl] Re: If Mozart Were Alive Today...
>>>
>>> No so, Alexander. The central theme of Cosi Fan Tutte is based on
>>> lying,
>>> cheating, and wife swapping. Marriage of Figaro is also not very
>>> innocent,
>>> having a heavy theme of "right of the first night" and sexual
>>> predation,
>>> which is also a major theme of Don Giovanni.
>>>
>>> Dan Leeson
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Alexander Brash"
>>> To:
>>> Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 2:20 AM
>>> Subject: Re: [kl] Re: If Mozart Were Alive Today...
>>>
>>>
>>>> Yeah, rappers talk about sex, drugs, cheating, lying, stealing,
>>>> killing,
>>>> and rape. I can't think of a single Mozart opera on these topics.
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------
>

------------------------------------------------------------------