Today was rather dull as we tore into the tests to seek the correct answers. We went through every question, elaborating when necessary and spending some time on the essential ambiguity of Music History and Music Theory. But in spite of the gray area of some terms such as Tone Poem or Serialism, there is still much to gain by attempting to categorize composers and definitions historically.
Please read through the article. It is a nice historical overview of the 20th century and musical developments. I am not sure I like his dogma nor his conclusions, but I do appreciate much of the enlightenment and information. What does "tonality with an attitude" mean to you?
http://axess.se/magasin/english.aspx?article=713
So if God likes tonality and atonality and simply looks for our honesty in musical expression and honoring Him in all things, why is all church music tonal?
The Bad Boy of Music, George Antheil, attempted something new and was labeled a radical. Is there anything new in music today? Are we done with musical developments? What will music be in 100 years?
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Not to be rude, but does it really matter why church music is tonal? It is what it is. Maybe church music is that way because tonal music is easier to follow and since the majority of the population is stupid when it comes to music, it makes life easier.
ReplyDeleteWe have lots of interesting things coming about in music today. However, I don't know if they are "new" ideas or not.
Are we done with musical developments? I doubt it.
What will music be in 100 years? Music will consist of more bad singing and bad playing. Yet somehow people will still prefer it over "cultivated" music from the past.
I think it is relevant to say that it is a great milestone that the church has started to add "Praise and Worship" to their repertoire. Yes, it is still tonal, but it could be a major step to having atonal music introduced into church music. I believe that Lady Gaga has started something new. She does pull a lot of old and done music, but she has gone to great lengths to push the limit on popular music. As far as cultivated music goes, I believe that we are too caught up on creating the next prodigy that we don't spend time focusing on our new art. I think for us to have new music we need to take away some of our technology and our busy schedules.
ReplyDeleteTo begin, tonality with an attitude to me is the idea of utilizing moments of tension and release. Most people would say that dissonance would be the right word here, but to my ear I think of it now as tension thatcreates longing for some kind of resolution, even if it is unexpected. Constant 2nds or 7ths make for intersting colors and on top of this idea, when combined with other major or minor chords, the colors become even more intense, not disgusting or displeasing.
ReplyDeleteI think the author makes some valid points, but I do not know if I agree completely with every conclusion that he has made either. I think to a degree that he undermines the opportunity of people taking the chance to develop listening and an ear for something new in music when he says that many of the composers today struggle with their audiences and must incorporate some kind of melodic line in addition to what they want to write to achieve a well-rounded piece.
On the question of tonality in church music, I do not believe that ALL church music is tonal. Especially when considering music from other countries and other cultures. We were all created by the same God and, those of us as Christians, worship the same God in different respects when it comes to music. I blieve that the churches in small-town America, cannot really afford the luxury of doing anything atonal or clashing sounds due to the background of the congregations and the ability to find musicians capable of performing such music in a way which leads people into worshiping God.
As far as new items in music today, I'm sure there is some new development, I am just not aware of it. We are certainly not done with musical development. I think we are caught up in the idea of finding the next "new thing" in music that we do not really understand that finding combinations of older styles and newer styles together could in and of itself create new styles in music. Cultivated musicians are WAY TOO focused on developing the next thing that they miss out on the enjoyment of what is going on and what has gone on in musical development. We also will need to have some new inspiration to develop music into a new realm I believe. Traditionally music has been one of, if not the, last arts to develop or make some shift. I think now that shifts happen so quickly with our advancements in technology that musicians are trying to develop new shifts just as easily, but it's more difficult than that. All artists need some form of inspiration and to develop and cultivate their art with time, not speed.
I think that in 100 years we will still have pop music. Film scores and pop tunes will become a major influence somehow on how cultivated musicians look at music and develop it further. In 100 years I know for certain there will be some new idea that will be cultivated in music and perhaps musicians will still be having the controversies of pop vs. culture and tonal vs. atonal. In a utopian society, in would be interesting to see how all of these combined together and compromised. Like I said though...a utopian ideal.
Church music is tonal because it was written for and by people. Its original purposes were to promote a meditative/contemplative atmosphere and consonant intervals are less jarring on the ear and can simply pass by you. I once fell asleep listening to music, just to be forced awake by an unresolved chord. If I weren't half asleep, I would have quite enjoyed the sound, but it forced my brain to wake up and listen. Which, if you listen to gregorian chant, is the point of the music. Chant is simply supposed to swirl around you, not distract you from the music at hand.
ReplyDeleteI'm also sure that religious music from different cultures (indian) is far less consonant to the western ear, but they believe it to be just as pleasing in worship.
Where music will be in a hundred years is hard to answer, as newer technologies come out. If you look at literature, many people are now too impatient to read the old classics, but at the same time in music, there are now period ensembles that seek to recreate music as it was originally performed. Will this ever catch on with the main populace? Who knows?