The descriptions in this piece are pure poetry, a pleasure to read.
I loved both pieces, and I've saved them for later. I've found the best way to digest these pieces is to listen without distraction, then read through your description and re-listen.
It ends up leaving a considerably greater impact on me.
I must say, I've been going deeper and deeper into classical ever since reading your description of the impossibility of separating pop music from the pop musician.
It got me thinking about different genres of music, why I listen to them, what I get out of them, the feelings associated with each.
For bluesy, guitar-driven music, I'm listening almost entirely to the guitar and how the player dances around the 3 chords, the notes they choose, the phrasing, and I get completely lost in it, most of the time I don't even know what the song is about (typically "my baby left me and now I'm sad" etc.).
On the other hand rap/hip hop for example, is probably the most difficult genre to separate the musician from the music, as so much of what is being said is a reflection of the person saying it. I think the appeal of much of the music is almost putting yourself in the position of the rapper, the words being burned into your subconscious as if you're the one saying them.
I could go on and on, but I've been consciously thinking about music a lot more of late, and I have only you to thank for it!
I think having the ability to play an instrument or sing will significantly change your perception of music. When I was a kid, I envisioned myself playing a piece (similar to your example about the rapper) but when I finally played said piece, I stopped visualizing and began noticing the layers, the process, comparing them to my own performance.
It definitely allows you to appreciate pieces on a different level. I never understood the appeal of the blues until I learned to play it and I realized just how good the old masters really were.
I've been thoroughly enjoying your writing over on the Lindy Newsletter as well - it's been an excellent addition to the usual writing over there. At this stage, most of the music I'm listening to is at least 100 years old, and the books I'm reading are about the same, and I've never had such an appreciation for Art on a day to day basis.
That being said, and it is something you've touched on before, it's hard not to be a little disappointed in the current state of Art, isn't it? Seems like we've been on a downward trend for quite some time.
The descriptions in this piece are pure poetry, a pleasure to read.
I loved both pieces, and I've saved them for later. I've found the best way to digest these pieces is to listen without distraction, then read through your description and re-listen.
It ends up leaving a considerably greater impact on me.
I must say, I've been going deeper and deeper into classical ever since reading your description of the impossibility of separating pop music from the pop musician.
It got me thinking about different genres of music, why I listen to them, what I get out of them, the feelings associated with each.
For bluesy, guitar-driven music, I'm listening almost entirely to the guitar and how the player dances around the 3 chords, the notes they choose, the phrasing, and I get completely lost in it, most of the time I don't even know what the song is about (typically "my baby left me and now I'm sad" etc.).
On the other hand rap/hip hop for example, is probably the most difficult genre to separate the musician from the music, as so much of what is being said is a reflection of the person saying it. I think the appeal of much of the music is almost putting yourself in the position of the rapper, the words being burned into your subconscious as if you're the one saying them.
I could go on and on, but I've been consciously thinking about music a lot more of late, and I have only you to thank for it!
Thank you Conor.
I think having the ability to play an instrument or sing will significantly change your perception of music. When I was a kid, I envisioned myself playing a piece (similar to your example about the rapper) but when I finally played said piece, I stopped visualizing and began noticing the layers, the process, comparing them to my own performance.
It definitely allows you to appreciate pieces on a different level. I never understood the appeal of the blues until I learned to play it and I realized just how good the old masters really were.
I've been thoroughly enjoying your writing over on the Lindy Newsletter as well - it's been an excellent addition to the usual writing over there. At this stage, most of the music I'm listening to is at least 100 years old, and the books I'm reading are about the same, and I've never had such an appreciation for Art on a day to day basis.
That being said, and it is something you've touched on before, it's hard not to be a little disappointed in the current state of Art, isn't it? Seems like we've been on a downward trend for quite some time.