sit on the spiral

.forum – week twelve.

It is an interesting polarity between improvised and composed music. Like all good polarities, I am interested in (for some strange reason) comparing it foremost to left and right wing politics. As such, improvised music I would compare straight away to communism, while composed music would be more indicative of dictatorial Fascism. Now, what the hell does that have to do with anything? Well…

Polarity. It is a scheme which seems to control everything; darkness versus light, good versus evil, classical versus jazz. No matter what your philosophical viewpoint is, surely it sits somewhere on a scale, a polarity which caters for all. Perhaps the most intriguing polarity to which I have thus far been introduced is the one that Professor Mark Carroll is oftentimes found spouting. That is, the polarity between Apollo and Dionysus, the head and the heart and between intellect and the senses.

So how does this sit in the war between improvisation and composition? Composed music requires a certain degree of intellectualism, while improvised music could be considered more impulsive and sensual. Stephen Whittington seemed to make mention of composition appearing to ‘win out’ in western culture. I feel that this is just one battle of polarities that continues to define the life of music, to this day. While certain entities can sit entirely on one side of the spectrum, the spectrum continues to exist with many wonderful exponents.

In the current day, post-modern as I later found out, I find it quite amazing that people can still cling so stringently to their particular position on the spectrum. It is obviously still accepted, I mean there are still people making money with dance music and even ‘old-school’ metal is making a return. But to be honest, at the moment I am listening to Gui Boratto’s new techno wonder “Chromophobia,” I have Stravinsky’s “PȨtrouchka” in my car’s CD player, am learning “Laid to Rest” by Lamb of God on guitar and one of Clementi’s Rondos’ on piano. I like dipping my toes into all aspects of argument, and am just genuinely interested in doing way too much. In other words, right now I am sitting a bit like white noise on the spectrum.

Although, it’s entirely possible that I am just a dirty commi.

.sources.

Whittington, Stephen and Harris, David 01.06.07, “Composition versus Improvisation,” Electronic Music Unit, Adelaide University.