Shitting on our inheritance (extended rant)

[Cabinfever]

Who give a shit about Bach?

Condemned as usual from your own mouth, but too gauche to care.

[kaden]

..c**t..

I'm probably gonna get slammed for this
but I find it hard to give any credibility
at all to someone who uses the word "c**t"
in the way you have in your post.

It's bad taste and just plain ignorant....

I don't think anyone here is much concerned with your opinion of their credibility.

And I'm pretty sure the word c**t doesn't trigger epilepsy, just in case you had that one queued up next.

[CypherOne]

[respirator]

Yeah, don't mention the female genitalia in vain

[RTaylor]

Music is not just about the Top 40 , MTV etc etc

That sort of "popular" music has always tended to be
"Lowest Common Denominator" and constructed to appeal to
the "masses"....
Expecting "good" music to be available through these channels is
just not logical.....

There have been times {'6os, '80s} when popular music was considerably "better"; more innovative, more energized, etc... Generally, it just starts in the underground.

I don't think anyone believes this to be possible anymore.

Fortunately, the artworld is a constantly changing thing. What wasn't possible yesterday becomes possible today. ...And vice-versa.

[RTaylor]

While you guys are all blathering on about music, others out there are actually creating it. Good on 'em I say.

Some people derive inspiration from "blather". Some folk derive understanding...

[RTaylor]

:} How else will they ever get noticed?

Why should that be their goal? Sounds to me like they were just passing the time of day in teh most annoying way imaginiable.

If no one notices, they don't actually accomplish anything. I don't know if that is their goal or not... Generally, folk that make loud irritating noises in inappropriate spaces are looking for attention.

{"Look at me... I'm loud and obnoxious and think I'm spiffy!"}

[herodotus]

While you guys are all blathering on about music, others out there are actually creating it. Good on 'em I say.

Some people derive inspiration from "blather". Some folk derive understanding...

And some do both, by turns.

[Benedict]

Just read Hero's initial post and nothing else.

Right on Hero. Perspective is wonderful but too often lacking.

[P.T.]

It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.

I care about Bach.

[RTaylor]

It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.

"Same as it ever was"

I care about Bach.

So do I. I care a bit more about more contemporary stuff. I think maybe the future could stand a bit of concern as well.

This internet incorporation phase could stand to get over with a little more quickly.

[BONES]

How about I answer those two questions in the reverse order?

Any order works for me. I'd jus tbe happy if you answered at all.

If no one notices, they don't actually accomplish anything.

So you cannot play music for your own enjoyment? Gimme a break!

[RTaylor]

If no one notices, they don't actually accomplish anything.

So you cannot play music for your own enjoyment? Gimme a break!

I thought this was about loud ringtones in theaters.

[rp314]

On the other hand , another thing that boggles my mind is
the constant whining about popular music being so crap in
the current era....
Music is not just about the Top 40 , MTV etc etc

As a middle aged person I generally try to avoid the silly nostalgic practice of comparing past greats to the Top 40 of the present. However, what complicates things is that history does support the notion that there are times when certain aspects of culture thrive and others when they don't. The most commonly used example is the relative absence of great composers in 19th century England, a century that produced many great composers in Europe and Russia. Yet, in areas such as literature the British were very prolific.

The sad truth is that the generalizations, although unpleasant, are not necessarily wrong and it is possible that our best music is behind us, at least for the near term.

[herodotus]

On the other hand , another thing that boggles my mind is
the constant whining about popular music being so crap in
the current era....
Music is not just about the Top 40 , MTV etc etc

As a middle aged person I generally try to avoid the silly nostalgic practice of comparing past greats to the Top 40 of the present. However, what complicates things is that history does support the notion that there are times when certain aspects of culture thrive and others when they don't. The most commonly used example is the relative absence of great composers in 19th century England, a century that produced many great composers in Europe and Russia. Yet, in areas such as literature the British were very prolific.

The sad truth is that the generalizations, although unpleasant, are not necessarily wrong and it is possible that our best music is behind us, at least for the near term.

While I agree with your perception that the cultures of different eras have different strengths and weaknesses, I would argue that there are fundamental shifts in the historical continuum, and that we are living in one.

I mean, it's like when Gutenberg invented the printing press and thereby fundamentally changed the transmission of information. Books became much more common, and literacy flourished. Literature didn't instantly get better, mind.

In fact it is worth noting that when printed books first came along, they were much less well made and less impressive to look at than the illuminated manuscripts that had hitherto been the only kind of book there was. And yes, there were many doomsayers who thought that the printing press would lower standards, loosen the hold of the church on knowledge, and incite sedition. All of which, of course, proved to be true.

But me, I am glad that the printing press won that battle, just as the force of ever cheapening audio technology will win this one. It is inevitable.

As for the quality of pop music, I think that categories change. There is a great article called The Long Tailthat really says it all much more eloquently than I can. But the gist is that what we call pop music is a much smaller piece of the overall music market than it was. There are all sorts of independent acts that have an audience that, although dwarfed by the popularity of the 'mega-stars' that constitute the subject matter of tabloidville, is nonetheless sizable. Collected together, theses niche-market acts sell more than the mega-stars. But it is all taking place below the very, very crude 'radar' of the recording industries.