Re: [Harp-L] musical elitism (was timbre etc...)

["Bob Laughlin" <rlaughlin@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I really believe in the same way. I make every attempt to appreciate each
musical form for what it is, and for what it does best. To me, some forms
are like a cup of strong espresso, while others are like a glass of fine
wine. Maybe some others are like something I've never had. I like discovery,
musical and otherwise.

What I don't like are pieces of music that are overly "produced",
commercialized past all sense of perspective, unrecognizable from their
original form, due to the fancy and expensive "packaging". Things like this
at times seem to have lost their "heart". I don't know if I articulated this
well, but you may know what I mean. For instance, some so-called "country"
fits this description. Nothing "country" about it, except the name, and a
faint shadow of its former self, when the moolah machine hadn't yet gotten
aholt of it.

My parents sang opera professionally back in the thirties and forties. I
fairly despised opera back then, as a youth. I just thought of it as some
pompous and boring stuff. Just a kind of "showing off". I didn't listen for
the amazing vocal ranges, the excellent tonal control, the moments of
humanly tender emotion. I was too young, too inexperienced. In a way, I was
just missing the "blues" aspect which I so appreciate today, after a life of
painful experience. That's also what I've learned to like about country,
which I had no room for at one time. I've even learned to appreciate some
rap "pieces" for their poignant human insights.

Now, when I hear a great operatic aria performed well, I'm so enthralled
that I surely wish I'd been paying more attention "back then". Sadly, my own
sister, who also grew up listening to the great classical pieces, eventually
working in "the business" as a concert manager for thirty-some
years,,,well,,she recently told me that she really just "doesn't care" any
more, after having seen, known, and lived in the realm of great
performances, classical and jazz, from the world's most well-known and
talented performers, soloists, conductors, and orchestral performers
included. She's been jaded from having been too close to the business side
of music. She's been knighted by the French government for her work in the
arts, but can't stand orchestral musicians, for their whining and
complaining about "the money". I called her recently to help me identify a
classical piece that was floating around in my head, and she simply said,
"Bob,,I just don't care anymore,,I retired", almost as if she was gloating
about having left music behind. Now, she just spends a lot of time with her
new puppy. Maybe after some time, she'll come back from her numbness, having
seemingly lost the feeling in her musical nervous system from having banged
on it too much for too long.

Personally, I hope I'm always discovering something new about music, and
learning how to play better harp,,practicing my "groove", deepening my tone,
controlling my vibrato. At the same time, I do a lot of listening, always
hoping to hear something exciting, stirring, moving. I don't personally care
what you call it, how it's categorized, named, cubby-holed. It's just good
music,,or not.

Bob, the Huntington Beach harper

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Will Vogtman" <will_vogtman@xxxxxxxxx>
To: "Jonathan Ross" <jross38@xxxxxxxxxxx>; <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2007 5:47 AM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] musical elitism (was timbre etc...)


> In all improvisational forms, the music is just a dance within a given set
of rules.  Each set of rules comes with its own set of problems to solve.
>
>
>   As for elitism, each music has its own elitists.  There are blues
players that calim jazz has no feeling.  There are pop singers whose sole
purpose is to communicate to the masses--they might think that so few people
understand jazz and blues that there is no point in performing it.  There
are rap artists that may think a melody could get in the way of their
message.
>
>   There are classical artists that think jazz, blues, pop, country, and
other forms of improvisational "folk" music are lower forms.
>
>   Some people are in awe of musicians that can read anything set in front
of them.  Some are in awe of people who don't need a chart and just play by
ear.
>
>   I really try to repsct all music even if I don't like it.  I don't
always live up to those words, but I try.
>
>
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