On the uses of music:
Each of these pictures demonstrate a use of music. Guess what each picture demonstrates before you click on it, and see if you agree with my caption:
In the beginning I proposed a definition of music as being 'The use of sound to express ideas and feelings'. This page explores that important word 'use'. Music is a utilitarian art. One can find music used for virtually anything, as the above examples demonstrate. Not all of these uses are benign. Let's ask ourselves the questions: "What responsibility should a musician have towards their audience?" and "What responsibility does a musician have in an audience's use of a musician's work?" I ask you to consider this question as part of your investigation of music because you should be made aware of the ethical/moral dimension that artists address as human beings.This is especially important as we are increasingly becoming citizens in a 'world culture', rather than just embedded in our own. When music's powerful expressive force is released on people, you will often disagree with how it is used. It may be your own music, that is so used in a way that you do not approve.
To provoke your thinking about this philosophical dimension of music, I ask you to complete assignment number 7. Share your responses with myself and others. In this way, we can help each other clarify an aspect of music that needs to be addressed if we are going to be fully aware musicians.
To provoke your thinking about this philosophical dimension of music, I ask you to complete assignment number 7. Share your responses with myself and others. In this way, we can help each other clarify an aspect of music that needs to be addressed if we are going to be fully aware musicians.
This video discusses the issue of 'agency' in music. Very interesting talk about the 'point of view' in music. There is a filmic parallel, that would definately be worth investigating.
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Warning! Adult content!
Here a horror movie composer commissioned a luthier to construct a collection of instruments that suggest disturbing ideas and feelings for horror film scores. Like any instrument, skill is required to achieve the most expressive results. |