Obvious
There’s still a reluctance in some music circles to allow anything obvious. Some of the most tedious music by famous and oft-performed composers seems to spend all its time busily hiding its underlying idea. Doing something obvious - a memorable melody, a clear chord progression, a rhythmic groove - makes you vulnerable, because it’s something that the listener can latch onto and criticize and make fun of if it sounds stupid. But it is only the courage to be vulnerable that endears you to an audience, and today’s young composers have that courage more than we did. Why was my generation so afraid to be obvious? Was it a fear imposed on us by our teachers? our peers? or did we do it to ourselves?I blame the Germans. Friggin' Nazis, that's what they are.
I would like to see Gann's words carved in letters as deep as a spear is long on the World Ash Tree -- no, wait; that would be too obvious. Let's embed them in one of those magic eye pictures -- no, now I'm just being silly. Seriously, Gann's lament rings true.
Meanwhile, as I was researching this post, I came across an amazing footnote -- it claims they're bowdlerizing Narnia. Narnia! Madness! Next, they'll be comparing Petra Haden to Bjork, favorably.
Do I sound grumpy? I'm in good company.
Umie the Umlaut says, "ask your doctor about the Fredösphere!"
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home