Re: [Harp-L] What music does to me

["Planet Harmonica" <lists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

<< Ben, It is an interesting concept that got me thinking about related issues. 
What music does to me when...
1. I play it. It's cheaper than therapy and won't mess up my life like drugs 
or alcohol.
1a. I play it alone. Total freedom.
1b. I play in the company of others. Expression and communication that won't 
turn unpleasant (except for pressure that I put on myself).>>

Yeah, as you figured out the reflexion so far was focused on what it does to me as a "passive" listener.

<< 2. someone else is playing. Depends upon the music. Your body analogy kicks 
in, but I probably will not adopt it exactly as you describe it, for reasons 
of my own.>>

Well that's exactly what I want to dig in. Obviously, it's a subjective RATING, since the same music will not do the same thing to all people. But what I'm trying to figure is, is it a objective SCALE ?

<< Heresy #1: As much as I love the sound of the harp, more is not always 
better. As much as we'd like to be out front, some of the most pleasing harp 
is when it is played as a tasteful side instrument.>>

That to me is no heresy, it'd be closer to a fundamental truth. 

<< Heresy #2: Virtuosity may not make better music. Show-off super riffs and 
such that display the players skill often become noise to my unsophisticated 
ear. I can't follow it, and it pulls me out of the music.>>

That first sentence is also a no-brainer to me. Especially since
a. virtuosity is also a relative notion. Most jazz musicians wouldn't describe Richie Blackmore as a virtuoso, most rock musicians would...
b. virtuosity may or may not be in the service of the music.

However, you seem to consider in the second part of your sentence that virtuosity is not good music because it displeases you ("I can't follow it, and it pulls me out of the music") which I would dispute since it seems to me our personal appreciation does not make music good or bad. A simple example : I really dislike Coltrane, and I really dislike Sonny Terry. But they're not bad music. I can recognise many ways how they are good music. But on my personal body analogy, overall, they'd rate 0 everywhere because they do nothing to me. 

<< Non-heresy: A good harp solo can be a glimpse of heaven. In the right lips 
it is as expressive as any instrument can be.>>

Well, I don't know if you've listened to the podcast on my blog, but the first tune should please you !

Ben FELTEN
http://harmonica.typepad.com