Klarinet Archive - Posting 000001.txt from 2009/01

From: Chane Smith <chane@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: If Mozart Were Alive Today...
Date: Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:03:41 -0500

I generally don't have a lot to say on the list, but this is such a
delightful topic that I have to chime in! I agree with the argument that
has been set stating that different people identify with different kinds
of music. That's why this all got started isn't it?
Now, as to defining music, (more so if rap is music or not) it
seems like those against rap are not thinking their argument through
completely. The "definitions" of music presented in this tread seem to
be mostly stuck within the barriers of Western music. The music of
Thailand, has an extremely different taste as for as the melody,
harmony, and rhythm go. The same idea goes with rap. Rap is in fact
music; just not in the style that many of us are used too. Rap may not
be incredibly melodic or harmonic, but the rhythms are "off da hizzy,
yo!" Why can't music be predominantly rhythmic? Saying that rap is not
music is as ridiculous and uneducated as me saying the rhythms and
lyrics of rap stem from the rhythms and chants of African drum circles!
Does rap contain good, or bad messages? The answer is a resounding
no. The messages come from the writers of the lyrics! Rap is a genre. A
genre can't send a message. After all, outside of the urge to dance that
the rhythms of the rap genre induce; rhythms have a hard time telling
people to kill the foo who trespassed on my turf. Therefore associating
rap with rape, killing, stabbing, shanking, shiving, bustin' a cap,
sex, drugs, alcohol, and reckless cycling is just plain silly.
When I graduate, I plan on teaching band. I don't expect that my
students will be completely enveloped in Mozart, Haydn, Rachmaninoff,
and the Bach clan. I expect them to care more about the popular music,
which will probably contain rap. My problem is how can I bridge the gap?
Will I have to pull a Glenn Holland and play a song the kids will know
and then play what it actually stemmed from? I know I can't tell them
what they listen to isn't music at all. That kills the entire point of
helping kids gain a better appreciation for all music. Even the "old stuff!"
Everyone on this lost loves music (I hope), but everyone doesn't
have to like all music. However, making general and uneducated
statements about one genre is actually insulting music as a whole.
And as to the original question of what will Mozart be like today. I
think he will probably write whatever makes him the best money!

Thanks for wading through my rant!

Chane

--
Chane M. Smith
Kappa Kappa Psi-Alpha Theta Vice President
University of Northern Colorado
Email: chane@-----.net

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