DoubleReed comments on Making History Available - Less Wrong

49 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 31 August 2007 07:52PM

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Comment author: komponisto 13 November 2011 03:42:35AM 1 point [-]

Serialism really gives modern music a bad name.

I beg your pardon...!

There's nothing "bad" about serial music. (Individual works may of course vary in quality.) Not all music needs to be "accessible". You're right to point out that some modern music is, but it's okay if also some isn't. One just cannot expect everyone to be able to keep up indefinitely with increasing musical complexity.

Not even Beethoven is accessible to everybody, it seems.

Comment author: DoubleReed 13 November 2011 04:13:19AM 0 points [-]

One just cannot expect everyone to be able to keep up indefinitely with increasing musical complexity.

I like to point out this line in particular, and then point to minimalist (and post-minimalist) composers.

Music doesn't have to get necessarily more complex. Composers, like any large group of people, don't agree on anything.

Comment author: komponisto 13 November 2011 04:39:20AM 0 points [-]

Well wait a minute: you were the one who pointed specifically to serialism as the culprit for the "inaccessible" reputation of "modern music". If you consider minimalists inaccessible also, why didn't you include them in the blame?

Comment author: DoubleReed 13 November 2011 04:44:41AM -1 points [-]

No, I don't think minimalists are inaccessible. You suggested that there is "increasing musical complexity," and I was merely pointing out there doesn't necessarily have to be "increasing musical complexity."

Comment author: komponisto 13 November 2011 04:55:07AM *  1 point [-]

I cited increasing musical complexity as the reason why serial music is considered "inaccessible". I didn't say anything about non-"inaccessible" music.