Consider the difference between sending a disc space with music by Bach, and send one with music by Cage. Now consider the significance of a Cage piece, for us, that meaning is clear from the location of the music for this author within a broad cultural context, and then see it as an uprising against certain kinds of traditions. Then, if we wish to convey this meaning, we have to send into space not only the notes of the piece, but precede them by a detailed history of Western culture. It is reasonable to argue, then, a disc with music by John Cage, by itself, has no intrinsic meaning.
Yet, a listener enough versed in Western and Eastern cultures, particularly of the currents produced during the last decades in Western music, would draw meaning from that album, but this listener is equivalent to a jukebox, and the recorded piece a couple of buttons, the meaning is already contained within the listener, from the beginning, the music is nothing more a trigger of significance. And this "jukebox", unlike pure intelligence, is by no means universal, is attached either directly to the Earthling, depends on peculiar series of events in our planet over long periods. Wait for the music of John Cage is understood by another civilization, is like expecting our favorite song is included on a jukebox of the moon, and that we can hear by pressing the same buttons as if we were in a bar in Buenos Aires.
However, to appreciate Bach requires less cultural documentation. This can sound very paradoxical existence in such a complex and systematic Bach, and so few intellectuals in Cage. But here a curious reversal records. Loves intelligence models, and rebels against the randomness. For most people, the randomness of Cage's music requires much explanation, and even after having received them, they suspect they have not gotten the message. As compared to nearly all Bach's words are superfluous. From this point of view, the music of Bach is more self-contained than Cage. Still, we do not know to what extent the human condition is manifested by Bach.
To illustrate, let's remember that music has three main structural dimensions (melody, harmony, rhythm), each of which, in turn, can again divided into different levels and covering all aspects. In each of these dimensions there is a degree of complexity that our intellect is capable of handling without hesitation, of course, a composer takes them into consideration, rather unconsciously, when developing a piece. These "medium complexity levels" that cut across different dimensions are highly dependent, is most likely, the conditions of our evolution as a species, other intelligent species may have developed their music giving it totally different levels of complexity to manipulate, present along these many dimensions. Thus, it is conceivable that Bach has to be accompanied by a wealth of information about the human species, information that, quite simply, could not be inferred from musical structure alone.
However, to appreciate Bach requires less cultural documentation. This can sound very paradoxical existence in such a complex and systematic Bach, and so few intellectuals in Cage. But here a curious reversal records. Loves intelligence models, and rebels against the randomness. For most people, the randomness of Cage's music requires much explanation, and even after having received them, they suspect they have not gotten the message. As compared to nearly all Bach's words are superfluous. From this point of view, the music of Bach is more self-contained than Cage. Still, we do not know to what extent the human condition is manifested by Bach.
To illustrate, let's remember that music has three main structural dimensions (melody, harmony, rhythm), each of which, in turn, can again divided into different levels and covering all aspects. In each of these dimensions there is a degree of complexity that our intellect is capable of handling without hesitation, of course, a composer takes them into consideration, rather unconsciously, when developing a piece. These "medium complexity levels" that cut across different dimensions are highly dependent, is most likely, the conditions of our evolution as a species, other intelligent species may have developed their music giving it totally different levels of complexity to manipulate, present along these many dimensions. Thus, it is conceivable that Bach has to be accompanied by a wealth of information about the human species, information that, quite simply, could not be inferred from musical structure alone.
Godello, Escher, Bach An Eternal
and graceful Loop. Douglas Hofstadter
Photos: G. M
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