source file: mills2.txt Date: Thu, 9 Jan 1997 18:30:51 -0800 Subject: Improvisation and thoughts From: "Jo A. Hainline" Niel's comments a few weeks ago got me thinking a little about music performance. Although I agree with the idea that microtonal musicians need to master their "axes" if we are to make any real contribution to the music of our day, I am not so ready to e mbrace his thoughts on improvisation. Although improvisation may be a skill helpful to the mastery of a particular musical instrument I am not convinced that in itself it adds anything to ultimate musical expierence. Nor do I feel that improvisational s kill leads to more creative musical expression. In fact it much more readily falls into the realm of noodling than much of the so-called Western classical repertoire. I suppose it ultimately boils down to a discussion of why we make music in the first place. On the surface I suppose it is a livilhood, but this is only because at some point it fulfills or has fulfilled some deeper need. Whether enhancing religious or political ceremonies, ancient or modern, music has and does affect the spiritual nature of humanity. I believe this effect can lead either towards that which unifies, enlightens, liberates and enobles life, in a word, "the Good," or can disintegrate (which some may also describe as liberation), enthrall and bind, leading to chaos and Death, in a word, "Evil." These words have overtones which some may find disagreeable, but the effect cannot be described in simpler terms. Musicians do potentially wield great power and inevitably follow one of two paths. Mostly though, we are unconscious, perhaps numbed by the acoustical pollution our Western civilization creates. I do not believe there is a single place in the United States, or Europe for that matter, were it is possible to experience silence. I am sure there are very few who are aware of the effect that airplane and automobile noise has, and when one can escape from that, the hum of the refridgerator or computer or the electric lights, even on the tops of mountains the "inaudible" electromagnetic radio and TV and short wave radiation impinges upon our psyches--these things affect our music--we can't get away from these things!--HOW CAN WE EXPERIENCE THE SILENCE FROM WHICH SPRINGS THE MUSIC OF THE SOUL!!! It is almost impossible nowadays to even imagine, let alone experience, the impact of Beethoven's music during his time--it has driven our civilization for centuries, for better and worse. It is not merely a new scale we need--they are as prevalent as christian sects--nor mastering a musical instrument; technicians abound--witness: 300 applications for 2nd bassoon position in San Franscisco Symphony not too long ago. Music is a musician's quest for truth--no more, no less. As that expression of truth is able to liberate his soul, so does his music enlighten and move the world. Cheers to all in the forthcoming year! Bruce Kanzelmeyer Received: from ns.ezh.nl [137.174.112.59] by vbv40.ezh.nl with SMTP-OpenVMS via TCP/IP; Fri, 10 Jan 1997 05:39 +0100 Received: by ns.ezh.nl; (5.65v3.2/1.3/10May95) id AA15668; Fri, 10 Jan 1997 05:42:28 +0100 Received: from eartha.mills.edu by ns (smtpxd); id XA15679 Received: from by eartha.mills.edu via SMTP (940816.SGI.8.6.9/930416.SGI) for id UAA29117; Thu, 9 Jan 1997 20:42:25 -0800 Date: Thu, 9 Jan 1997 20:42:25 -0800 Message-Id: Errors-To: madole@mills.edu Reply-To: tuning@eartha.mills.edu Originator: tuning@eartha.mills.edu Sender: tuning@eartha.mills.edu