What is music? (punk, rock, quote, Piano)

chumb · 06-20-2007, 11:53 AM

Since Wikipedia always seems to get referenced sooner or later when it comes to online discussions, let me open this one with Wikipedia's definition of music:

Music is an art form consisting of sound and silence expressed through time. Elements of sound as used in music are pitch (including melody and harmony), rhythm (including tempo and meter), and sonic qualities of timbre, articulation, dynamics, and texture.

Basically, the reason I ask this question is because I seem to have been getting into a lot of arguments about it lately (with people in real life, gasp!) Basically, what I want to know is how far can a musician stray from the conventional idioms associated with music before what he has created stops being music. Is music, for instance, that relies solely on texture and dynamics and neglects tempo and pitch, still music? This ranges from free improv like AMM to drone like Boris (dronevil) and Sunn 0))) to noise. And then, of course, we have something like Cage's infamous piece, 4'33", which consists of a pianist sitting in front of his piano for 4 and a half minutes without playing anything.

So what do you think? Are chords necessary to make music, is melody, harmony? Can silence be music? Is it even possible to define music?

Moon Pix · 06-20-2007, 12:10 PM

I think you can call just about anything music but that doesnt make it realised or fully formed. In my opinion the truest form of music is one that includes all of these elements.

chumb · 06-20-2007, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moon Pix

I think you can call just about anything music but that doesnt make it realised or fully formed. In my opinion the truest form of music is one that includes all of these elements.

In my opinion minimalist music or drone or whatever can often be just as powerful (if not more so) than more traditional "fully formed" music, simply because it deconstructs music to its barest elements. I've always approached noise music as the logical conclusion of punk rock, in that it takes the most cathartic and visceral part of punk or just rock n' roll in general, the distortion and feedback, and strips everything else away. I don't really feel like there is any "true" form of music, different forms of music simply seek to evoke different responses.

Moon Pix · 06-20-2007, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chumb

I don't really feel like there is any "true" form of music, different forms of music simply seek to evoke different responses.

I should probably have said the most musical form of music. Its probably more accurate to say that.

swim · 06-20-2007, 12:13 PM

In my mind music is sound that conveys or induces a thought or feeling.

Laces Out Dan! · 06-20-2007, 01:32 PM

Thats a really good definition ^

boo boo · 06-20-2007, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _LesPaul43_

Thats a really good definition ^

To bad shes completely wrong in my opinion.

Music is organised sound. Thats it, its a very un-romantic, aloof definition. But thats what it is. It has nothing to do with emotions or "feeling".

Inuzuka Skysword · 06-20-2007, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boo boo

Music is organised sound.

My physics book says the exact same thing lol.

swim · 06-20-2007, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boo boo

To bad shes completely wrong in my opinion.

Music is organised sound. Thats it, its a very un-romantic, aloof definition. But thats what it is. It has nothing to do with emotions or "feeling".

I was just saying that with no meaning on the end of the person who writes it or anyone who hears it then it's just meaningless noise.

boo boo · 06-20-2007, 09:31 PM

Music is noise. And its only purpose is to please the ears, other than that there is no meaning, everyones ears are different.

There is no right or wrong kind of music, one persons trash may be another persons treasure.

06-20-2007, 11:53 AM	#1 (permalink)
chumb awamba Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 133	What is music? Since Wikipedia always seems to get referenced sooner or later when it comes to online discussions, let me open this one with Wikipedia's definition of music: Music is an art form consisting of sound and silence expressed through time. Elements of sound as used in music are pitch (including melody and harmony), rhythm (including tempo and meter), and sonic qualities of timbre, articulation, dynamics, and texture. Basically, the reason I ask this question is because I seem to have been getting into a lot of arguments about it lately (with people in real life, gasp!) Basically, what I want to know is how far can a musician stray from the conventional idioms associated with music before what he has created stops being music. Is music, for instance, that relies solely on texture and dynamics and neglects tempo and pitch, still music? This ranges from free improv like AMM to drone like Boris (dronevil) and Sunn 0))) to noise. And then, of course, we have something like Cage's infamous piece, 4'33", which consists of a pianist sitting in front of his piano for 4 and a half minutes without playing anything. So what do you think? Are chords necessary to make music, is melody, harmony? Can silence be music? Is it even possible to define music? __________________ ... I begged her, shoot me in the head She took my gun and shot my leg instead

06-20-2007, 12:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
Moon Pix In a very sad sad zoo Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: "Out on tour with Smashing Pumpkins, nature kids, they don't have no function" Posts: 363	I think you can call just about anything music but that doesnt make it realised or fully formed. In my opinion the truest form of music is one that includes all of these elements. __________________ There’s a dream that I see, I pray it can be Look 'cross the land, shake this land - "Maybe Not", C. Marshall

06-20-2007, 12:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
swim dontcareaboutyou Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 5,145	In my mind music is sound that conveys or induces a thought or feeling. __________________ http://nakednaps.bandcamp.com/

06-20-2007, 01:32 PM	#6 (permalink)
Laces Out Dan! I love Puck Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: British Columbia Posts: 4,594	Thats a really good definition ^ __________________ We are entirely smooth, We admit to the truth, We are the best at what we do.