Your Own Classical Evolution

[Mirror Image]

Well, do you listen to modern jazz? I have lots of cd's and really listened to them with lots of honesty. But there's a point when you loose interest. I only try to figure out why.

Henk

I listen to jazz from all periods and found lots to enjoy in it all. Next question.

[karlhenning]

I improvise a lot. Sometimes I will workout a solo, but most of the time I like to play totally off the cuff or on the edge if you will.   I never felt more freer when I improvise.

It's funny . . . I feel that I can hardly improvise at all on my clarinet.  When composing, though, mot of the time I feel that I am liberally improvising.  i don't know if it's the right terminology, though, to claim to be improvising with pen & paper : )

[Scarpia]

Well, do you listen to modern jazz? I have lots of cd's and really listened to them with lots of honesty. But there's a point when you loose interest. I only try to figure out why.

You interest in Jazz decreased, therefore Jazz is defective?  Blaming others for own weakness is not a successful life strategy. 

[karlhenning]

I listen to jazz from all periods and found lots to enjoy in it all. Next question.

If anything, my own listening trends to a preference for modern jazz. (Just a parenthesis, really.)

[Mirror Image]

It's funny . . . I feel that I can hardly improvise at all on my clarinet.  When composing, though, mot of the time I feel that I am liberally improvising.  i don't know if it's the right terminology, though, to claim to be improvising with pen & paper : )

Well I look at composing as instant improvising because you're writing your musical thoughts down in a very flowing way. One idea comes to you, then another idea comes to you, essentially this is improvising.

Live, on-the-spot improvisation, though, is a different animal altogether as you can't really stop and think so much, you just have to roll with the punches. In this situation, you're going to make mistakes, whereas, in composition, you can go back later and correct mistakes or ideas through revision.

[Henk]

You interest in Jazz decreased, therefore Jazz is defective?  Blaming others for own weakness is not a successful life strategy.

I already expected such reaction.

Mirror Image began to doubt my honesty, by presupposing the honesty of jazz.

I have given my reasons for not liking jazz. If someone feels attacked, that's not my problem.

Henk

[Mirror Image]

I already expected such reaction.

Mirror Image began to doubt my honesty, by presupposing the honesty of jazz.

I have given my reasons for not liking jazz. If someone feels attacked, that's not my problem.

Henk

Look, you liking or not liking jazz isn't the problem, the problem is you said that jazz wasn't music and then continued to make ridiculous claims about how jazz musicians aren't creative and how they don't know their instruments well.

You're putting down a whole genre of music based on some crazy, pre-conceived notions that aren't true at all.

[Scarpia]

I have given my reasons for not liking jazz. If someone feels attacked, that's not my problem.

I don't feel attacked.  I am concerned for you and for the people who come in contact with you.

[Mirror Image]

I don't feel attacked.  I am concerned for you and for the people who come in contact with you.

ROFL.....

[Henk]

I don't feel attacked.  I am concerned for you and for the people who come in contact with you.

Well, maybe I should avoid talking in a negative, confronting way. That's something to reflect about.

Anyway, this are things that keep me busy, should I keep it solemnly to myself?

Henk

[karlhenning]

Well I look at composing as instant improvising because you're writing your musical thoughts down in a very flowing way. One idea comes to you, then another idea comes to you, essentially this is improvising.

Live, on-the-spot improvisation, though, is a different animal altogether as you can't really stop and think so much, you just have to roll with the punches. In this situation, you're going to make mistakes, whereas, in composition, you can go back later and correct mistakes or ideas through revision.

Yes, just so. And while there are certainly composers who improvise as performers . . . maybe it's partly my own temperament as a composer which "interferes" with my ability to improvise as a performer.

[Brahmsian]

You call that progression? From Brahms on it went wrong with you, except the step Early Music .

Henk

I hope that was an attempt at a joke.

[karlhenning]

I think so . . . anyway, there's a smiley, so . . . .

[Philoctetes]

Well, do you listen to modern jazz? I have lots of cd's and really listened to them with lots of honesty. But there's a point when you loose interest. I only try to figure out why.

Henk

You simply misspoke in your post. You mean 'you' as in the singular you, not in the 'you' that is applicable to all of us. It's a common mistake.

[Henk]

I hope that was an attempt at a joke.

I just wish people experience the true beauty of music, of art in general and of life (if one can speak of beauty here).

I know people can only discover it by themselves, as I have to discover yet a lot.

Henk

[Brahmsian]

Henk, you are certainly entitled to your negative opinions regarding Wagner and late-Romantic composers.

We all know how much you loathe them, as you make sure you mention it pretty much anytime Wagner's name comes up.

We get you do not like a lot of the music of that era, and really, no one has a problem with that.

However, everyone here knows the reasons for you not liking the music are completely delusional.  I even think you are aware of this.

[Henk]

Well, taste develops. I find it hard to discard some music, but when I find reasons it's less hard. There's obvious an interference between reasons and taste (in a way that reason supports feeling about some music rather then taste), but I don't discard music only on the ground of reasons, but always on taste.

Therefor I want to listen to Wagner again. Do I really don't like it?

[Philoctetes]

<...>  There's obvious an interference between reasons and taste (in a way that reason supports feeling about some music rather then taste) <...>

This makes absolutely no sense, whatsoever.

[Henk]

This makes absolutely no sense, whatsoever.

Well, let me explain.

You have some feeling about music, somewhat hidden so it doesn't affect taste. When some reason supports feeling, the feeling begins to affect taste.

[Scarpia]

Well, taste develops. I find it hard to discard some music, but when I find reasons it's less hard. There's obvious an interference between reasons and taste (in a way that reason supports feeling about some music rather then taste), but I don't discard music only on the ground of reasons, but always on taste.

Then what point is there in inventing imaginary reasons why music is inferior, just because you don't like it?  Why not accept, "this music has clearly recognized merit, although it does not appeal to me."  That would make too much sense?