Contemporary Classical

New Music Criticism on the Mean Streets of the Intertubes

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdkGaNQVOFs&feature=related[/youtube]

I was checking out video performances of Christopher Rouse compositions, when I came across the lively exchange excerpted below from the comments section of the above performance of Ogoun Badagris.

I love reading this kind of discussion about new music. Strip away all the jargon and citations, add some internet acronyms and sarcasm, and a lot of the back-and-forth on musical aesthetic issues in scholarly journals boils down to pretty much what these gentlemen are discussing below:

• TheKingBolden
5 months ago
What a useless piece. I’m sure the composer thinks he’s conveying something deep and spiritual, lol.

• bdowns2
5 months ago
@TheKingBolden
Why do you think the composer would think that? Can’t a piece be fun or ephemeral and still be of value? Is “deep and spiritual” the quality that each piece must express (or arouse, or emulate….).

• TheKingBolden
5 months ago
When you know something about the title of the piece, you will begin to get my point. Regarding your question as to whether or not “deep and spiritual” are necessary qualities, it seems like an individual choice.

• jfloyd1879
5 months ago
TheKingBolden, your name should be the King Douchebag. This piece is badass, and you probably think its lame because you dont have the chops to play it. There doesn’t have to be a reason or meaning behind every piece of music, just enjoy it and quit being a buzzkill

• perryma44
4 months ago
@TheKingBolden actualy if you would do research before acting like you know what your talking about, you would know that this piece is about sacrificing a virgin. It is broken into 5 parts of a story and every instrument plays a role. So stfu before you try to talk shit about Rouse

• macoup1
4 months ago
Actually KingBolden do you really know what this piece is about? If you really did you would know that the music is a representation of a ritual in which a virgin is sacrificed. Nice try