Music and culture

Some people identify with a particular musical style or historical period of music to the point of elevating their own personal preferences to the level of general aesthetic principles. They may become extremely uncomfortable if forced by circumstances to listen to music identified with another historical period or subculture. Still other people have new musical and cultural experiences with little or no stress, just as some people learn new instruments or languages quickly, seemingly without effort. Their musical and cultural tastes are flexible and open ended.

Culture is always in a continuous state of development, and intellectual ferment, just as living languages are continuously evolving, with new words and usages being added and others dropped whenever dictionaries are revised. Culture is the cumulative expression of the values in the hearts and minds of the world’s people and music is an important part of that. Most musical languages are also evolving in a more or less continuous manner and reflect the culture as a whole. The social experiences of music listening and music making are very important, and the music may depend on them for its very existence. The aesthetic experience and the perception of beauty in music are more important to me than the cultural context, and do not depend on them for its appreciation. That is why any music can be appreciated which may have been created long ago or far away.

Some of my ideals for intellectual ferment and cultural development are: deep curiosity, a fascination with sound and process, tolerance for other ideas, and compassion for struggling humanity. The value of any particular piece of music is not necessarily tied to the cultural or historical context of its origin and may transcend its context if well enough made. I try to put the music first.