It’s been said so many times that music tanscends boundaries, that it comes as a shock when someone comes along and says this isn’t the case.
- Classical Music 101: What Does A Conductor Do? - June 17, 2019
- Classical Music 101 | What Does Period Instrument Mean? - May 6, 2019
- CLASSICAL MUSIC 101 | What Does It Mean To Be In Tune? - April 23, 2019
In his seven year-old book, In Defense of Classical Music, Australian composer and broadcaster Andrew Ford has this to say:
Most of those who like to believe that music is an international language know, in fact, that it is nothing of the sort. They are reminded of this every day, because, while wishing music to be pleasant, predictable and reassuring—healing, even—or morally uplifting and inspiring, or at the very least something they can follow and recognise as music, they are always running up against sounds that confound their expectations. Most people can name at least some music that baffles them entirely. Finding themselves in such a situation, some will take offence, going so far as to deny, and vigorously, that what they are listening to is music at all. ‘You call that music? That’s not music.’
There is no reason why one person should not appreciate all types of music equally, but there is also no very good reason why this should be a common achievement. Most of all, an appreciation of music depends upon experience. If one hears a lot of a particular sort of music, one will very likely come to appreciate it (liking it is another matter). But if one is deprived of the opportunity to listen to it in the first place, then obviously there is no reason why one would appreciate it at all.
While music may not be the international language many of us would dream it of being, the notion of keeping and open mind and giving new or unfamiliar things a try, is something any foodie, or traveller, or avid reader encounters as part of their adventures.
Why should music be any different?
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I’m a longtime fan of Toronto composer Juliet Palmer, who is adept at organizing the sounds that surround us into music.
In case you haven’t seen this, here is the Bravo! Short version of the public bath house performance piece, Slip, created by Urban Vessel, a collective of which she is an essential member. This was directed by Chelsea McMullan and choreographed by Yvonne Ng:
John Terauds
- Classical Music 101: What Does A Conductor Do? - June 17, 2019
- Classical Music 101 | What Does Period Instrument Mean? - May 6, 2019
- CLASSICAL MUSIC 101 | What Does It Mean To Be In Tune? - April 23, 2019
