Mechanical Music for the Masses
By Troy Taylor
I had to write again to address Mr. Brougher's response to the same posting by Mr. Goodman that I wrote about yesterday, as he has made some comments which I believe could not possibly benefit the hobby as a whole.
Music (or any art for that matter) is not something that someone should ever feel is somehow tarnished or desecrated by being accepted by an increasing number of people, and should not affect one's own views of it in a negative way. If the display or operation of mechanical musical instruments or recordings or any means can cause a broader appreciation of a particular style of music, that should make you happy.
The purpose of those machines from the start was to entertain people and allow them to enjoy what they heard. Don't be disappointed or disgusted if a "grunge, metal rocker or rapper" decides to whistle a tune from the past or sing lyrics to a song nearly forgotten that you also happen to enjoy. They are merely sharing a common thread, and this is what is needed for the music (and the instruments that play it) to survive the test of time.
Should we regard the Mona Lisa or Michaelangelo's David statue in lower esteem merely because modern travel has made them more accessible and thus broadened their appeal amongst a greatly diversified audience? Enjoyment of player pianos by everybody would result in increased interest in preservation of old machines and increased production of new ones. I am incredulous that this could be viewed as a means of ruining their appeal amongst people that enjoy them today.
A sure way to kill off a hobby is to imply that only a certain type of person is appropriate to participate, and profess to be happy that its appeal is limited to a base of people whose numbers seem at best to be static, if not declining. Anybody with the means and true desire to preserve a great mechanical instrument of the past should be strongly encouraged to do so. This can only lead to a greater appreciation of the great music of the past that is so enjoyed by me and many other people.
Perhaps it is a consequence of non-exposure to that form of music amongst young musicians today that their work is following its current direction that is distasteful to so many.
Regards,
Troy Taylor
[ That's a well-composed letter, Troy, and you have support in other
[ new letters following. I'm pleased to have the views of all ages here;
[ I hope that all this discussion will result in knowledge of, and
[ consideration of the feelings of other generations. And we all know
[ (because our grandparents told us!) that the "generation gap"
[ is nothing new! :-) -- Robbie
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(Message sent Fri 7 Feb 1997, 23:38:03 GMT, from time zone GMT-0800.) |
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