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

[Mike Craghead]

Hi Holden!

pholden at davtv.com wrote:
> 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.
>   
...I agree that some things are better than others, but I think that, 
especially in "art," it's more likely that it's just out of my realm, 
not that it's empirically "bad;" which is what your "lack of educated 
taste" comment suggested. Everything is of course not of equal quality, 
it's just up to the individual to decide. My point is that we all have 
our own criteria for quality, and it's a slippery slope to write off 
large segments of society because of their "lack of taste."
>  
>   
>> 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.
>   
Boneheads aside, it's of course a low-quality act to impose morality, 
just as it's low-quality to impose your taste. If I value saving cash 
more than I value fine wine, then what's wrong with buying the finest 
boxed vintage? It's far too easy to be smug in an "examined life," in my 
world, I think a greater goal is humility...
>   
>> 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 long as we can say it's crappy without writing off the folks who like 
it. We don't wear their goggles; we don't use their criteria, and things 
that we think are high quality are low quality to others.
>   
>> 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. 
>   
I mean, what's the point of a critic? The critic's job is to give their 
opinion, then they get to a certain level of  renown, and they start 
dictating their taste. Look at how nervous studio execs get over the 
reviews! If we all could always take their opinion as an opinion, that 
would be great. But we too often subjugate our taste to that of the 
critic; partially because there's just too much to see out there and we 
need filters to keep our heads from exploding. But can a hard-core 
MOQ-er stay a critic for long? Or will they reach a point where they 
feel compelled to stop dictating?
>   
>> 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 makes me want a grilled cheese sandwich. Is Carl okay with that?

Mike Craghead
humboldtmusic.com
humboldtmusic.com/mc
humboldtmusic.com/sarimike
>
>
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