Stephen Davies seems to define music just as we define philosophy as the the question of "why." There isn't really a distinct definition to define it, as we had the trouble trying to do so ourselves in class. Levitin defines music with a series of concepts (i.e: meter, key, etc.) that formulates into what we know as music. It's interesting that Davies uses many references and definitions of music to determine if Cage and his 4'33" piece could actually be considered as such music. And it's also hard to challenge the piece when some audiences believe that music was only in certain periods. Davies though, seems to head more towards the fact that it's merely an art exhibit. The problem is that the audience doesn't realize that they are apart of the performance themselves, and they actually control what happens in the silences throughout the piece. I can't say that interpretation isn't also an aspect to the piece.. but that can be with art or music.
Levitin would challenge this piece, because with the concepts that create our world of music.. and how we interact with it because of these concepts. In 4'33", you hear the silences, and the sounds that interact with the music around us. Then again, if you go to a concert, you hear them also. But it just doesn't cut it; Cage and his work is more of an artwork that should be displayed in a museum or art gallery. It just doesn't work.
No comments:
Post a Comment