Hi Greg,
I sympathize with your frustration about the general level of music
appreciation. However, I am not sure that our union or our
government can make people listen to proscribed genres.
Not so long ago, the music that you and I love that is commonly referred to
as "jazz" was vilified as not being "real music", that it
lacked a certain level of art and had vulgar sexual overtones. Going back
further, Beethoven's stretching of the harmonic conventions of his time were
originally reviled. Ditto Stravinsky. We could both go on citing
examples.
Rap seems to me to be a devolved style, and the language often
offensive. That being said, there is still a creative process going on,
what with the lyrics and the choice of other recordings to sample and
re-mix. Most of these recordings are not made by people with much
education, but they do the best they can with what they have. Is there a
counterpart to Louis Armstrong in that scene? I don't know.
As far as acceptance by the mass media, it is too bad that most musicians
don't see the money from their work in a lifetime that the latest pop
sensations generate in a year, but when has acceptance by mass media ever
been a criteria for what is good and lasting? I don't see that as ever
changing, and no point in spending the energy railing against it.
Music will keep changing for better or for worse. Some music has
stood the test of time and much has been forgotten. All that I see
for myself to do is keep going into the schools when I have the
opportunity and playing for the students something that they would not
ordinarily hear on the radio/TV/computer. Early education is key, in my opinion.
Also, there is no slack for off nights in the clubs and concert halls
anymore. Adults need to feel that they have gotten a good musical
experience for their money. Therefore the performers need to keep
their chops and energy up, especially since we are competing with a lot of
polished recorded performances. I have no argument to put up against
those who say musicians have recorded themselves out of live business.
Thanks for your thoughtful essay in spite of what I might disagree
with.
Dale
As Fred said would be glad to
hear from you.
Greg Henry Waters Artist of
Music and Raja Yoga
http://www.greghenrywaters.com
http://www.greghenrywaters.com/yoga/