Let's talk music, no genre boundaries
This is an offshoot of the jazz thread. I and others found that we could not talk about jazz without discussing other musical genres, as well as the philosophy of music. So, this is a thread in which people can suggest good music of all genres, and spout off your feelings about music itself.
I’m almost positive you’ve heard of him, but for those who haven’t, here’s a taste of John Fahey. I went to several of his concerts in which he was all alone, like here, playing the guitar in what I take to be a classical or at least semi-classical style. It looks like he’s holding the guitar on his right leg like they do playing classical music. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReW9uUYm-DA And here's Jagger singing that same blues tune. |
I wish i could explain the difference between spectacularly genius music and deeply spiritual one... The requiem of Berlioz is pure incredible genius but do not move me spiritually as Christus of Listz or Bruckner motets for example... Monteverdi so genius he is in his sacred music do not move me either and beware i love him to death, i listened his 8th madrigal books one thousand times at least...But there not an ounce of spirituality in this absolute master of expression... Josquin Des Prez and Hildegard de Bingen unlike Monteverdi and my beloved Gesulado are spiritual masters in a way nor Monteverdi neither Gesualdo can be ...
Sorabji is anything save spiritual... Scriabin is almost spiritual in a demonic powerful way... I wish i could put in words what is spiritual music...Why it matter the most...
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Yes; of course, I’ve heard of/heard Fahey. Never caught him live but did catch Leo Kottke in the late ’70’s and still listen to him once in awhile. I actually prefer Bert Jansch to Fahey or Kottke. Having said that, I’d rather listen to Fahey than Jagger for that particular tune. I may be in a minority but I’ve always regarded Beggar’s Banquet as an uneven record. |
I will focus on an example to try to discuss "spiritual" music versus "genius" music. I don't think there will be much argument if I say that Mozart was a genius. Like a great jazz master, he was known to sit at the piano and riff for long periods, many bars of music. His music set up a musical premise, and he was able to take that premise and view it from all sides, right-side up and upsidedown, and always be able to keep his balance in order to resolve that premise, and it delighted his audiences. Yet I have heard Mozart live and have been bored. It seems too glib. Too much intellect. When we get to Mozart's later music, however, it begins to change, with the culmination of his Requiem Mass, which I think is deeply spiritual. His later piano concertos also have a depth that is lacking in his earlier music. So, I think I can say that Mozart went through a spiritual transformation as he got closer to death. And I don't think it was strictly Christian. He began to feel the essence of music. Music can delight our minds or move us on a deeper emotional/spiritual level, or with the greatest masters like Bach it can do both. What do I mean by the essence of music? Why do humans enjoy music? Why did the ancients make music? Instruments have been found over 40,000 years old, and almost certainly older instruments made of wood were destroyed by time. Why would the ancients have taken the time and effort for music when food and shelter were far more important to our survival? There was something inside the earliest humanity that could only have been expressed through music and other arts, and humanity was obsessed with expressing whatever that was. For so many reasons, especially humanity's early obsession with the sky and stars, I belive that humanity felt connected to the univese. And music was a call to all existence that we too belonged. And that to me is spirituality. Most music is ego bound. The musician wants to say, "Look at me! I exist!" And by their dazzling intelligence we recognize these masters. But other musicians who are more deeply spiritual I think are saying, "we--all of humanity--belong." We belong to the world in which we live and take sustenance, and we belong to the entire universe. To me and perhaps you, the feeling of "we belong" is a more potent message than "look at my dazzling intelligence." It can be fun and envigorating to be dazzled by another human intelligence, but it is a much deeper and more satisfying connection to be wise enough to tap into the spiritual message, "We belong." |
I've also heard Kottke and liked him. Today I was playing Jorma Kaukonen. I enjoyed him. Is that the style of guitar that you play? I forgot that "Poor Boy" was on "Beggar's Banquet." I thought of Jagger when I heard the song played on guitar. I am always amazed at what a good Blues singer he is. Of course, he's a great singer in general, IMHO. |
