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Colin
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 Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 3:12 pm Post subject: Anti-Modernism in Music |
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Would anyone here be willing to help me out with the following:
I'm trying to compile a more-or-less comprehensive collection of anti-
modernist quotes relating to music, i.e., any kind of quote that
disparages modernism in music. This could be from any source
(composers, performers, critics, etc.), but I’m particularly looking
for such quotes from American composers.
So, if anyone knows of any nice, pithy zingers, please feel free to
email me. And please feel free to pass this request along to anyone
else you happen to know who might be of help.
Plus, please be sure to include an appropriate reference. I don’t want
to attribute a quote to anyone without being able to back it up with
an appropriate source. |
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Melodious Thunk
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| Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 7:44 pm Post subject: Re: Anti-Modernism in Music |
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On Jul 25, 8:12 am, Colin <colinpoa...@hotmail.com> wrote:
| Quote: | Would anyone here be willing to help me out with the following:
I'm trying to compile a more-or-less comprehensive collection of anti-
modernist quotes relating to music, i.e., any kind of quote that
disparages modernism in music. This could be from any source
(composers, performers, critics, etc.), but I’m particularly looking
for such quotes from American composers.
So, if anyone knows of any nice, pithy zingers, please feel free to
email me. And please feel free to pass this request along to anyone
else you happen to know who might be of help.
Plus, please be sure to include an appropriate reference. I don’t want
to attribute a quote to anyone without being able to back it up with
an appropriate source.
|
David Byrne, not a "classical" composer but very articulate
nonetheless, is a good source for what your looking for. His blog is
journal.davidbyrne.com.
A recent review of a Zimmerman opera included, for example:
"The opera is a classic of 12-tone technique, which means that all 12
notes of the chromatic scale are permissible at any time, and none are
emphasized over and above the others. This type of musical composition
— initially devised by Arnold Schoenberg, then espoused and promoted
by composers in the Second Viennese School, like Alban Berg and Anton
Weberg — avoids being in any particular key, and thus, there is almost
no conventional melody or harmony. To the ear, the notes appear
almost random, though the textures change completely and wonderfully
throughout. How the singers can memorize atonal, seemingly random
sequences of notes is beyond me — it’s an inhuman exercise, a kind of
sadomasochism perpetrated by the composer on the poor singers. Indeed
the opera may contain organizing structures, but for most of us in the
audience, they remained inscrutable." |
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Tom K.
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| Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 8:37 pm Post subject: Re: Anti-Modernism in Music |
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"Colin" <colinpoakes@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:de61339e-51c0-4328-9067-f0f5f2fbbc84@j7g2000prm.googlegroups.com...
Would anyone here be willing to help me out with the following:
I'm trying to compile a more-or-less comprehensive collection of anti-
modernist quotes relating to music, i.e., any kind of quote that
disparages modernism in music. This could be from any source
(composers, performers, critics, etc.), but I’m particularly looking
for such quotes from American composers.
So, if anyone knows of any nice, pithy zingers, please feel free to
email me. And please feel free to pass this request along to anyone
else you happen to know who might be of help.
Plus, please be sure to include an appropriate reference. I don’t want
to attribute a quote to anyone without being able to back it up with
an appropriate source.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
While it may not be exactly what you are looking for, the "Lexicon of
Musical Invective" by Nicolas Slonimsky is a wonderful collection of
misguided criticism of composers from Beethoven on - including many 20th
century masters.
Tom K. |
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Steve Latham
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| Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 10:26 pm Post subject: Re: Anti-Modernism in Music |
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"Colin" <colinpoakes@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:de61339e-51c0-4328-9067-f0f5f2fbbc84@j7g2000prm.googlegroups.com...
Would anyone here be willing to help me out with the following:
I'm trying to compile a more-or-less comprehensive collection of anti-
modernist quotes relating to music, i.e., any kind of quote that
disparages modernism in music. This could be from any source
(composers, performers, critics, etc.), but I’m particularly looking
for such quotes from American composers.
So, if anyone knows of any nice, pithy zingers, please feel free to
email me. And please feel free to pass this request along to anyone
else you happen to know who might be of help.
Plus, please be sure to include an appropriate reference. I don’t want
to attribute a quote to anyone without being able to back it up with
an appropriate source.
I can never remember whose book this is Colin, but there's a text - I want
to say it's Persichetti's Composition text but it might be a theory text.
Anyways, it has a collection of "anti-modernism" quotes at the beginning. I
quote that because in each case, the quote is from a different historical
period - for example, the Artusi-Monteverdi rivalry. The point is of course
that there will always be those who claim that "moving ahead" in music is
bad, and yet, the music moves ahead nonetheless. Time after time.
If you're trying to point out that the anti-modernism argument is futile,
then this is right up your alley.
Steve |
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Neil
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| Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 4:22 am Post subject: Re: Anti-Modernism in Music |
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On Jul 25, 8:12�am, Colin <colinpoa...@hotmail.com> wrote:
| Quote: | Would anyone here be willing to help me out with the following:
I'm trying to compile a more-or-less comprehensive collection of anti-
modernist quotes relating to music, i.e., any kind of quote that
disparages modernism in music.
|
Years ago -- about 1964 -- I read a book on modern music -- preceding
the text was a page with 5 to 10 quotes, one from about every century
going back to about 1200, lamenting the state of new music at that
century's time. Hope you can find it while doing your research.
Neil Miller, author of The Piano Lessons Book
Enter in Amazon.com search: Neil Miller Piano Lessons Book |
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David Sherman
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| Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 4:36 am Post subject: Re: Anti-Modernism in Music |
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See what the Council of Trent said about contemporary music in the
1560's. Or what Artusi said about Mnteverdi in around 1605.
Those guys really knew how to sling the ink! |
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Steve Latham
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| Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 2:46 am Post subject: Re: Anti-Modernism in Music |
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"Neil" <nhmiller@aol.com> wrote in message
news:d379b0de-481f-4504-b4eb-145246ceaaf2@a21g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
On Jul 25, 8:12?am, Colin <colinpoa...@hotmail.com> wrote:
| Quote: | Would anyone here be willing to help me out with the following:
I'm trying to compile a more-or-less comprehensive collection of anti-
modernist quotes relating to music, i.e., any kind of quote that
disparages modernism in music.
|
Years ago -- about 1964 -- I read a book on modern music -- preceding
the text was a page with 5 to 10 quotes, one from about every century
going back to about 1200, lamenting the state of new music at that
century's time. Hope you can find it while doing your research.
That's probably the same one I think is Persichetti for some reason.
Steve |
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Joe Roberts
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| Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 7:13 am Post subject: (OT) Re: Anti-Modernism in Music |
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(OT)
"Neil" wrote:
| Quote: | Would anyone here be willing to help me out with the following:
I'm trying to compile a more-or-less comprehensive collection of anti-
modernist quotes relating to music, i.e., any kind of quote that
disparages modernism in music.
|
Not exactly on the point, but touching upon our human nature which affects
our acceptance of tradition or modernism in life (and music).
"Today's generation has lost their appreciation of the path from which they
have come. They do not respect their most sacred traditions. In fact, the
children do not even rise when their elders enter the room."
.... Aristotle
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I apologize that I can't cite a source. Hoping it's helpful.
Joe |
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Steve Latham
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| Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 7:08 am Post subject: Re: (OT) Re: Anti-Modernism in Music |
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"Joe Roberts" <cdex3_at_comcast.net> wrote in message
news:JcSdnW6LybA07yrVnZ2dnUVZ_hCdnZ2d@comcast.com...
I think I've seen the Aristotle comment below at some "proverbs" type sites
if that helps any.
Steve
| Quote: |
"Today's generation has lost their appreciation of the path from which
they
have come. They do not respect their most sacred traditions. In fact,
the
children do not even rise when their elders enter the room."
... Aristotle
- -
I apologize that I can't cite a source. Hoping it's helpful.
Joe
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