[MD] (Lack of) Dynamic Quality in Music- Pachelbel Rant

[pholden at davtv.com]

Quoting Mike Craghead <mike at humboldtmusic.com>:

> pholden at davtv.com wrote:
> > Quoting Stephen Hannon <stevehannon at gmail.com>:
> >
> >   
> >> If art exhibits Quality then why do people like so many
> >> songs with these same (Static) chords?  Any thoughts?    
> >>     
> >> Lack of educated taste.
> 
> "Lack of educated taste."
> 
> Pardon me Holden, but ARRRGH!!
> Folks who have not studied music to your standard cannot appreciate 
> music? Someone who cannot converse about composition and style and line 
> and form has a lower quality experience when they view art?

I guess you don't believe about art (as in all things) that some things are
better than others. Quality is meaningless if everything is of equal quality.
 
> You see art and music through your goggles, and to claim that they are 
> better goggles is like claiming that your fingerprints are superior to 
> mine. They are different, and that's about the only statement you can 
> make without imposing your morality.

I have no interest in "imposing my morality" although I see many people
who would like to, like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson ruin the career of Imus
for making an "insensitive" remark.

> This is not to say that there is not music out there that is crappy. 
> This is to say that it's not up to you or me to dictate which is crappy. 
> If a 15 year old sees quality in something, finds it transformative or 
> cathartic, that's what they see through their goggles, and no Phaedrus 
> can say anything about it except "that's not for me."

Exactly. Except you and I can say it's crappy any old time we want. But
dictate it out of existence? No. 

> As for "same (Static) chords," there are entire genres built around 
> common chord progressions. Blues is not about dynamic chord structure, 
> it's power lies elsewhere. Country is often about nailing the canon; 
> there is a formula, it is static, and that's okay! The dynamic quality 
> is in there, it's just sitting on top of a really solid static 
> foundation. "Bad" pop? As much as it pains me to say it, formulaic pop 
> CAN have quality. The fact that I don't get it and you don't get it is 
> irrelevant. We just lack the perspective. Are we overeducated? 
> Undereducated? Improperly educated? Not 15?

Good point about common chord progressions. But, why is our opinion of music
"irrelevant." After all, above you say (and I agree) some music is "crappy."

> Can a critic survive the MOQ?

Don't know what you mean. 

> There, I feel better. Nothing personal, Holden-  you touched a nerve! 

Not a problem. As Carl Sandburg said, "If it doesn't make you laugh, cry or
angry, what's the point?"



-------------------------------------------------
This mail sent through IMP: http://horde.org/imp/