Greek philosophers and Ancient Indians defined music as tones ordered horizontally as melodies, and vertically as harmonies. Music theory, within this realm, is studied with the presupposition that music is orderly and often pleasant to hear. However, in the 20th century, composers challenged the notion that music had to be pleasant by creating music that explored harsher, darker timbres. The existence of some modern-day music genres such as death metal and grindcore, which enjoy an extensive underground following, indicate that even the harshest sounds can be considered music if the listener is so inclined.
20th century composer John Cage disagreed with the notion that music must consist of pleasant, discernible melodies. Instead, he argued that any sounds we can hear can be music, saying, for example, “There is no noise, only sound,”. According to musicologist Jean-Jacques Nattiez, “the border between music and noise is always culturally defined–which implies that, even within a single society, this border does not always pass through the same place; in short, there is rarely a consensus…. By all accounts there is no single and intercultural universal concept defining what music might be, except that it is “sound through time”.”
The creation, performance, significance, and even the definition of music vary according to culture and social context. Music ranges from strictly organized compositions (and their recreation in performance), through improvisational music to aleatoric forms. Music can be divided into genres and sub-genres, although the dividing lines and relationships between music genres are often subtle, sometimes open to individual interpretation, and occasionally controversial. Within “the arts”, music can be classified as a performing art, a fine art, or an auditory art form.
Peter Rentz is a rusty blade that slashes fads and trends with a laser precision. He’s updated his site. Please see my favorite designer here.
Was browsing around Ghostly’s site today, noticed the word FREE and hit it like a bat out of hell. Then that sent me to adult swim website, which is rocking Black Slabbath. Nice ones all around!
Very odd and unique music video I stumbled across on this morning.
Kind of sad, but I feel like I remember this, but maybe I am just crazy. Happy 4th of July to those of you in motherland, try not to blow anything up, or do try?
While you are checking out our new ZINE2WO release or just digging through our massive design collection on our shop, be sure to rock this latest mix from our very own Michael Cina. Start the summer right, slide this into your scheme.
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Soundtrack of the day here in the Bangkok studio, Mr Off tells us he has some new music for us to jam too. Little did we know it would involve the sexy (and moaning) vibes of Masami Kawahara & The Exotic Sounds. Hot stuff, in many ways…