Composers Forum is a daily web log that allows invited contemporary composers to share their thoughts and ideas on any topic that interests them--from the ethereal, like how new music gets created, music history, theory, performance, other composers, alive or dead, to the mundane, like getting works played and recorded and the joys of teaching. If you're a professional composer and would like to participate, send us an e-mail.
Record companies, artists and publicists are invited to submit CDs to be considered for review. Send to: Jerry Bowles, Editor, Sequenza 21, 340 W. 57th Street, 12B, New York, NY 10019
Today's top link over at ArtsJournal is an extremely insightful personal statement of purpose by Matthew Collings, a British visual artist who is also a critic ("My Life as a Sitting Duck", The Times of London, June 14, 2006).
Aside from the fact that it's by someone in a parallel universe with whom I obviously identify, Collings's arguments resonate very deeply with many of the recent discussions we've been having both here at Sequenza21 and on NewMusicBox as well as the ongoing debates I've had for years both with other composers and with members of the Music Critics Association of North America (MCANA) and the Jazz Journalists Association (JJA).
I particularly found these two schizoid realizations very telling despite their being almost diametrically opposed to my own experience and personal philosophy:
"I have that mindset but I want to criticise it. I’m part of a scene that I often find insipid"
"It was only when the critical aspect was taken away from my art practice that I was able to become an artist."
I forwarded the article to a few friends this morning and my inbox runneth over and then Jerry B. invited me to share it here as well. Thoughts?
posted by Frank J. Oteri
12:36 PM
