Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site olivej.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!hao!hplabs!oliveb!olivea!olivej!greg From: greg@olivej.UUCP (Greg Paley) Newsgroups: net.music.classical Subject: Re: A real musical elitist Message-ID: <202@olivej.UUCP> Date: Mon, 20-Aug-84 12:17:24 EDT Article-I.D.: olivej.202 Posted: Mon Aug 20 12:17:24 1984 Date-Received: Wed, 22-Aug-84 05:29:30 EDT References: <3389@decwrl.UUCP> Organization: Olivetti ATC, Cupertino, Ca Lines: 32 How one reacts to Babbit's assertions will depend, among other things, on whether he views music as an art or a science. If music is viewed purely as a science, then the argument that it has, in line with mathematics, physics, etc. evolved to an advanced state where the layman is out of line in thinking he should be able to grasp it is plausible. If it is viewed as an art with communication of an idea as a goal, this doesn't make sense. What I find offensive is the idea that, with regard to contemporary music, the only valid alternatives are to like it and praise it or else be silent and presume that if you didn't like it, it can only be because you're too ignorant. It's rather like the pope declaring himself infallible. This is actually just a variant of the same snobbishness and elitism that have caused people to avoid "classical" music in general. There are enough people who will succumb to this kind of intimidation and will ignore their own perceptions and feelings if they don't agree with what they've been told they're supposed to perceive and feel. These are the types you see sleeping at the symphony or opera but will turn their noses up at anyone who criticizes it as being boring. They've long accepted the fact that great music bores them and have gone on to assume that therefore any music that bores them must be great. - Greg Paley