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 Other peoples experiences of music
Author: Rachel 
Date:   2003-11-24 22:50

While I know, theoretically, that everyone hears music differently, it can be hard to remember.
It really hit me once how different peoples reactions to music are when I was listening to a piece of music that I thought was really beautiful, and my little brother said "What's so great about that? It's just a bunch of notes!"
Has anyone else had similar experiences?

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 Re: Other peoples experiences of music
Author: clarinetmajr 
Date:   2003-11-25 03:31

Yes! I think that once i've become actively involved with a piece (i.e. i've played it or i've played other works by that same composer) it becomes a lot more interesting! Also I think our tastes in music change as we age and have more and varied experiences with music in general.

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 Re: Other peoples experiences of music
Author: sfalexi 
Date:   2003-11-25 03:34

I can't stand more contemporary music. I'm a bach/beethoven/mozart fan. Music with very strict meters and very mechanical (maybe it's my love of math coming out) but I just love those classical eight note runs, four bar phrases, ending a good old one or five chord.

Alexi

US Army Japan Band

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 Re: Other peoples experiences of music
Author: ChrisC 
Date:   2003-11-25 03:57

Well, much serialist music (Boulez in particular comes to mind) is intensely mathematical, but somehow I doubt it would interest you.

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 Re: Other peoples experiences of music
Author: sfalexi 
Date:   2003-11-25 04:15

After some quick research I agree that, although I haven't heard it, serialist music doesn't sound very appealing to me. Especially since the article I read listed Bach as a "contrast" to serialist music.

http://www.lewrockwell.com/edmonds/edmonds14.html

US Army Japan Band

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 Re: Other peoples experiences of music
Author: EEBaum 
Date:   2003-11-25 04:27

Don't dis it until you've tried it. Then again, I've tried it and don't care incredibly much for a lot of modern music. However, there is a lot that's very interesting. For modern music, I find the listening experience even more subjective than older Bach/Beethoven/Mozart crowd.

For contemporary music that still sounds really cool (to my ear), you might look into George Crumb. Berio also strikes my fancy, but only if given the time for a proper listen. If it is too strictly rule-based, especially with modern music, I get bored... from my perspective, it's knowing when to break the rules that makes a great composer.

-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com

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 Re: Other peoples experiences of music
Author: ned 
Date:   2003-11-25 05:14

I think I understand the difference between tonal and serial now - thanks for the link to Rockwell too. It's "favouritised" for future reference. Please note the new word I just invented!!??

I guess that a piece written for a vacuum cleaner (someone did, I understand) could be described as serial? Or would one, by necessity, need 12 vacuum cleaners, with different motor speeds in each?

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 Re: Other peoples experiences of music
Author: EEBaum 
Date:   2003-11-25 06:08

Serial is not the opposite of tonal. Atonal is. There is plenty of non-serial atonal music.

A piece for vacuum cleaner would only be serial if you have a really strange-sounding vacuum cleaner that plays series of 12 nonrepeated pitches that are some number of half-steps away from each other.

You could probably pull it off with 12 vacuum cleaners, but you'd have to continuously turn them on and off to play in sequence.

-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com

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 Re: Other peoples experiences of music
Author: sfalexi 
Date:   2003-11-25 06:49

Rachel, I also have this point when it comes to polka music. I can appreciate polka music. I like it a lot. However last time I tried to play it in the car with my girlfriend riding next to me . . . well, she reacted like your brother. Just with some stronger words [wink]
Alexi

US Army Japan Band

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 Re: Other peoples experiences of music
Author: ned 
Date:   2003-11-25 08:11

"Serial is not the opposite of tonal."

I don't think I was saying this actually - I was merely pointing out that I recognise the difference between them.

As for vacuum cleaners - perhaps the would-be composer could approach Hoover or Electrolux and ask for tuned machines. Perhaps he/she could link the switches to a keyboard to facilitate ease of tone change.

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 Re: Other peoples experiences of music
Author: John O'Janpa 
Date:   2003-11-25 13:52

Taste is taste!

Any sensory experience is only valid for the person sensing it.

Some people love a "good" cigar. Most of us would choke.

Some people preferl MD 20 20 to cabernet sauvignon.

Music, like other tastes, is frequently aquired. Not simply the combinations of frequencies and overtones, but memories and feelings, associated with those frequencies and overtones.

Mothers singing to babies. Dancing with your first date. Having the hair on your arms stand up when the symphony orchestra you are playing in really "hits" it.

I'm not a big "rap music" fan, but then again I'm not in love with Picasso either.

John

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 Re: Other peoples experiences of music
Author: Jack Kissinger 
Date:   2003-11-25 13:59

The vacuum cleaner piece was by Malcolm Arnold, a novelty piece for vacuum and orchestra. It is actually quite humerous and tonal as I recall. (It was written for a the British Hoffnung (I think that was the name of it) festival.

Best regards,
jnk

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 Re: Other peoples experiences of music
Author: Ken Shaw 2017
Date:   2003-11-25 14:02

Rachel -

An interesting thread, but little brothers are irritating by nature. Isn't it just possible that, as Lewis Carroll said, "He only does it to annoy, because he knows it teases"?

Or is your litle brother a perfect angel all the time (and wouldn't that be even more annoying)?

Ken Shaw

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 Re: Other peoples experiences of music
Author: Rev. Avery 
Date:   2003-11-25 14:04

"It really hit me once how different peoples reactions to music are when I was listening to a piece of music that I thought was really beautiful, and my little brother said "What's so great about that? It's just a bunch of notes!"
Has anyone else had similar experiences?"


Yes, whenever I listen to the Allman Brothers Band. My wife doesn't "appreciate" them at all :) That's OK. My three sons and I see them every summer. But, I did take my wife to see the Boston Pops this summer. She loved that. I guess give-and-take is a good thing.



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 Re: Other peoples experiences of music
Author: BobD 
Date:   2003-11-25 14:52

Music evokes memories. If one has no memories then it's just notes.

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 Re: Other peoples experiences of music
Author: Bob A 
Date:   2003-11-25 20:18

Yep, I can remember leaning on the bandstand at the Pasadena Civic in "the old days", listening to San Kenton and his band. Then came WWII and no more Kenton Band and others, most of whom went into the services in the military bands of the day.
Bob A

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 Re: Other peoples experiences of music
Author: diz 
Date:   2003-11-25 20:30

Back to the original question ... that's why everyone has likes and dislikes in music (composers) and no one is right or wrong. I happend to love modern music - I don't like serial music (can't see the point of it myself) but I love Ligetti, Boulez and - especially Messiean (who I personally think was the most original composer of our time).

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 Re: Other peoples experiences of music
Author: David Spiegelthal 2017
Date:   2003-11-25 21:13

My wife thinks Country & Western is music --- I don't. Q.E.D.

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 Re: Other peoples experiences of music
Author: Rachel 
Date:   2003-11-25 22:13

I love the way this bulletin board can get completely off-topic. In six posts, it went from "Have you noticed how people hear music differently" to "Did you know that someone wrote a piece for vacuum cleaners?".
I don't like much serialised music, it gets boring.
My cat doesn't appreciate music either- he runs out of my bedroom when I play the high notes on my clarinet.  :)

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 Re: Other peoples experiences of music
Author: marcia 
Date:   2003-11-25 22:48

My cats run out of the room, telling me off in no uncertain terms as they go, as soon as I open my case!!

Marcia

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 Re: Other peoples experiences of music
Author: EEBaum 
Date:   2003-11-26 01:50

My dog runs looks toward the door the second I reach for my clarinet case. If I actually pick it up, she begins to get up. I open it, and she starts to walk. Once I actually take a segment of it out of the case, she has bolted for the geographical opposite end of the house. If the door to my room is closed, she scratches it like there's no tomorrow, begging to be let out.

-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com

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 Re: Other peoples experiences of music
Author: john gibson 
Date:   2003-11-26 01:59

true musicianship knows no boundaries....."there once was a note...pure and easy....."
You've got to experience it alll.......
Don't just think classical is the "end all"......yeah it's great for scales and arpeggios.....and texture....but there's jazz...rock....pop....and whatever your mind has in store for.....the rest of us to hear first hand.....experiment...
"lip it" differently....play your heart.....BE YOU.... musicians are creators.....not readers of what's been done before......

John Gibson

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 Re: Other peoples experiences of music
Author: Rachel 
Date:   2003-11-26 23:43

Well, my cat isn't that bad... he just sleeps under my bed for most of my practice; it's only when I play loudly in my altissimo register that he runs out. He tends to run away if my radio suddenly goes loud, too.

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 Re: Other peoples experiences of music
Author: ksclarinetgirl 
Date:   2003-12-01 04:26

My cat doesn't like vacuum cleaners OR clarinets ;)

Stephanie :o)

"Vita Brevis, Ars Longa"

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