malik@star.DEC (Karl Malik ZK01-1/F22 1-1440) (04/26/84)
Subj; a few misc. statements
1) Posting lists without any explanation of why you like the
items on that list is pretty useless. I agree that net.music is a
great way to share ideas, interests, information, etc. But just
posting a list doesn't tell us very much (except that there's one
more person in the world who likes/dislikes 'x'). Please tell us
WHY you like it, and/or why you think we might like it.
2) PLEASE, let's not start the 'split debate' again. If
you're interested in reading about a topic (e.g. classical music),
then POST something! A lot of people tend to respond to posted
articles, rather than initiate them. Remember the flood of Mahler
and Verklerkt Nacht articles a while ago?
3) In the spirit of the above, I shall suggest a new topic -
Does 'minimalism' ('music as a gradual process') represent a new
and refreshing step in the developement of Western contemporary
music? Is it a valid extension of Cage's - music as 'process' rather
than 'object'?
Or is it (to quote a Dutch composer, whose name escapes me
at the moment) 'facistic'? A reactionary return to melody, tonality
and a steady pulse, ignoring all the advances made in music since
Webern?
- Karl
...decvax!decwrl!rhea!star!malikmalik@meteor.DEC (Karl Malik ZK01-1/F22 1-1440) (11/02/84)
Just a few responses to some recent net.music comments;
Re; Art Ensemble of Chicago - I haven't heard their recent
albums, but I used to love them. If you think it's 'wierd noise',
I would guess you are unfamiliar with the whole 'free jazz' scene
of the 60's. People like Ornette Coleman, Sun Ra, Cecil Taylor,
Pharoh Sanders, Eric Dolphy, John Coltrane, etc., were doing all
sorts of powerful, innovative stuff. The Art Ensemble came out of
that tradition.
By the way, I used to know/play with their percussionist,
Don 'unpronounceable_Arabic_name_which_I've_forgotten' Moye, when
he lived in Detroit. When he left, he stole my soprano saxophone.
Re; 'someday people will think Jackson Pollock is beautiful' -
I have a large Pollock reproduction in my livingroom. I think it's
extreemly beautiful!
Curious coincidence; One of the more famous 'free jazz'
albums is Ornette Coleman's 'Free Jazz' - and the cover has a
full color reproduction of a Pollock painting ('White light', I
think).
- Karl