It is a shame that composers have camps where they pick and choose what is deemed as intellectual progress or cheap artistic imitation. I for one hold no grudge to any person who pursues music of any style, so long as they do it with creativity, effort, and passion. We now know from brain specialists that music is mere conditioning. There is no direction of "musical progress." That is just elitist hogwash. I feel terrible Milton as well as other categories of composers suffer indignities.
I must say I agree entirely with the gap between public and artist, but why oh why does everyone assume this to be a 20th/21st century phenomenon? I daresay most people who enjoy Bach, or even Tchaikovsky, *understand* their music no better than the so-called moderns. And such technical understanding is truly unnecessary -though connoisseur and critic alike seem to assume the contrary. Not even popular music is musically understood by most people today. So just listen and enjoy, I say.
@MrChirpsky A lot of it has to do with recordings. Classical-era aristocrats and middle-class were familiar with music by buying the sheet music, playing it on their own instruments, and going to concerts to see professionals. So I think understanding of the music was more profound and meaningful, because their familiarity was based on active engagement with the music, as opposed to the relatively passive experience of listening.
I appreciate all that happened in XXth Century music. I can also report being damaged artistically by highly intellectual personalities who were dismissive of anyone who wished to write anything that sounded "traditional." The result has been a polite public tolerance for almost anything, classically. Some/many listeners are made to feel foolish for not understanding extraordinarily complex works (so they keep quiet). That tacit dishonesty continues to hurt new music.
Thanks for your comment. The original article ("Who Cares If You Listen") is a great piece - if you can find it, it's worth reading. It's sarcastic and funny and he makes some great points about the conflict between "advanced music" (like his) and the popular culture.
It is a shame that composers have camps where they pick and choose what is deemed as intellectual progress or cheap artistic imitation. I for one hold no grudge to any person who pursues music of any style, so long as they do it with creativity, effort, and passion. We now know from brain specialists that music is mere conditioning. There is no direction of "musical progress." That is just elitist hogwash. I feel terrible Milton as well as other categories of composers suffer indignities.
MrGoodClass 6 months ago
This guy should just read Morgan Freeman's AFI Life Achievement Award speech. Freeman's voice can't match the awesomeness of Babbitt's.
YourFaceWillDie468 9 months ago
He speaks as if a complex article in the process of writing down. I cannot do it even by using my mother tongue.
trees1 1 year ago
I must say I agree entirely with the gap between public and artist, but why oh why does everyone assume this to be a 20th/21st century phenomenon? I daresay most people who enjoy Bach, or even Tchaikovsky, *understand* their music no better than the so-called moderns. And such technical understanding is truly unnecessary -though connoisseur and critic alike seem to assume the contrary. Not even popular music is musically understood by most people today. So just listen and enjoy, I say.
MrChirpsky 1 year ago
@MrChirpsky A lot of it has to do with recordings. Classical-era aristocrats and middle-class were familiar with music by buying the sheet music, playing it on their own instruments, and going to concerts to see professionals. So I think understanding of the music was more profound and meaningful, because their familiarity was based on active engagement with the music, as opposed to the relatively passive experience of listening.
unclesamandy 1 year ago
I appreciate all that happened in XXth Century music. I can also report being damaged artistically by highly intellectual personalities who were dismissive of anyone who wished to write anything that sounded "traditional." The result has been a polite public tolerance for almost anything, classically. Some/many listeners are made to feel foolish for not understanding extraordinarily complex works (so they keep quiet). That tacit dishonesty continues to hurt new music.
wagerfilmART 2 years ago
When did he give this talk?
composerdoh 2 years ago
As far as I know he made it specifically for this particular CD.
NewMusicXX 2 years ago
this is actually one of his essays
flammesombres 2 years ago
Ah, Milton! I love your voice. It is music in itself, my dear, dear friend.
etta1225 2 years ago
Excellent! Thanks!
somor98 3 years ago
So that's where that phrase "Who cares.." came from!! Wow
GreggaryPeccary 3 years ago
Thanks for your comment. The original article ("Who Cares If You Listen") is a great piece - if you can find it, it's worth reading. It's sarcastic and funny and he makes some great points about the conflict between "advanced music" (like his) and the popular culture.
NewMusicXX 3 years ago