wjm@whuxl.UUCP (MITCHELL) (08/17/84)
----- News saved at Fri, 17-Aug-84 14:56:53 EDT
<gulp,gulp>
While I was sitting in Avery Fisher Hall (NYC) last evening (Thurs 8/16)
listening to a delightful and well performed concert of Beethoven, Mozart, and
Shubert chamber pieces by the Beaux Arts Trio (part of the Mostly Mozart
Festival), I was musing on why ________ music (you fill in the blanks) isn't
popular.
1. I suspect CLASSICAL music isn't popular with many people because it doesn't
lend itself to use as background music (in general, I know the Boston Pops
and others (remember '101 strings' of early stereo days) have made light
arrangements of some classical works (some Mozart and Hayden chamber works
come to mind)) but must be listened to with some attention to be fully
appreciated. However, I have noticed that while consciously listening
to a classical concert, I'll subconsciously reach an answer to a problem
(not related to music) that's been bothering me for a while.
Perhaps this emotional depth and requirement for some intellectual effort
is what makes a piece a classic over time.
2. I suspect MODERN music isn't popular, since it requires INTENSE
concentration to be dissected by one's mind. This is probably due to the
differences between it and the more traditional music structures that we
have grown up in a Western (North American, European, or Australian)
society. I've found the same intense concentration is required to listen
to non-Western music, and I suspect for the same reasons. Thanks to the
electronic entertainment media, we've been blitzed with traditional
melodic and rhythmic structures (perhaps not knowingly, but it happens
every time we hear a commercial for Bug Juice on the radio).
3. JAZZ also requires considerable concentration to be appreciated, and
probably isn't that popular for the same reason.
Therefore, I suspect that the music that is popular is music that does not have
to be consciously listened to get its message across.
Yet this kind of casual listening still does not bring out all that is
in some types of popular music (e.g. country).
Of course, these are my personal opinions only.
Regards,
Bill Mitchell (whuxl!wjm)
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