Better Telemann than Bach
People laugh at the old Leipzig City Council for preferring to hire Telemann instead of Bach for Thomascantor. But they weren't wrong.
Before you decide that I've gone off my rocker, let me say that, yes, Bach was an indescribably greater composer than Telemann was. But "greater" does not mean "better for all purposes." It's part of the Romantic cultural baggage, that we must always listen to the greatest, most imposing music, or we're betraying Art somehow. But yes, when I'm driving home from work, I'd rather hear Telemann than Bach. It's lighter and cheerier, more elegant, but there's still quite a bit of sophistication there. And I'd rather read L. Neil Smith than Finnegan's Wake.
Heck, I even play POLKA MUSIC. There is no way that stuff can be defended on musical grounds. Three chords, regular phrases, tunes pretty much alike, ridiculous lyrics. But it's happy, makes your toes tap, sends beer down well. And in these troubled times, anything that sends beer down (within reason) is a good thing.
Given the constraints of the new music world, where the first performance is often the last, I try to write in such a way that people can substantially "get" the piece on first hearing. But if there's nothing new to "get" on the second or thousandth hearing, then I'm not a very good composer.
If you want to check out how well (or not) I've succeeded, show up Monday night at 8 at Cleveland State's Drinko Hall, in the Music and Communications Building.
Comments
Posted by: jeffrey smith
Posted on: September 22, 2006 01:08 PM
Don't tell me you've actually read Finnegan's Wake!
Even I've never waded that far into that tome.
Posted by:
Posted on: September 22, 2006 01:30 PM
Heard your name mentioned on the WCLV advert for the concert event. Break a leg!