[Dixielandjazz] Music is ?

[Edgerton, Paul A]

Paul> "Since music is the result of human effort and not random
occurrence, it is art."

Steve> "Human effort? Maybe not. What about bird songs, or frog mating
calls, especially the peepers here in the Eastern USA or many other such
songs. Aren't they "music", but not art? (since art is usually defined
as that which is produced by humans, as opposed to by nature) Why
shouldn't other animals be able to produce music? Especially now since
we are beginning to realize that other animals besides humans can
think."

    Would you call a carnival barker's cry art?  I wouldn't.  I think a
    birdsong is a form of communication -- another kind of organized
    noise -- but not really music.  

Steve> "What makes us so special, other than ego? :-) VBG."

    We may share a lot with animals, be we didn't come to dominate the
    earth simply on the basis of our opposable thumbs.  Maybe it *is*
    our ego that deserves the credit.



Paul> "Art is motivated by intention and powered by craftsmanship. You
need both intention and craftsmanship to produce good art."

Steve> "And also to produce bad art, no?"

    Is beauty inherent in an artifact?  I see art as an enduring means
    of engaging the consciousness of another individual.  One's
    reaction to a particular piece probably depends more on yourself
    than on the artwork itself -- or even the artist.


Steve> "Is there not some mysterious hum that occurs deep in the earth.
Is this music? (or the devil playing a washboard) Also, at our ongoing
gig in the Showboat Casino the slot machine rooms emit a droning hum
that is exactly a middle C. Apparently some marketing guru (or devil's
disciple) feels that this hum evokes a betting response in humans. (We
play a lot of tunes in C when we pass the slots areas)

    Are you suggesting that perceivable vibrations equate to music?
    No.  The power grid in our country vibrates at 60Hz, which is
    pretty close to a C.  In Europe, it's 50Hz.  But this isn't music.
    The wind whistling around a loose bit weather stripping on a car
    isn't either.  There's no artistic intention, is there? 

    Music is organized noise, but not all organized is music.

-- Paul Edgerton