Much can be said about evolution. Darwin had his revolutionary views and even though he was wrong, he was still able to voice his opinion. In the same vein, I will present my hypothesis as to the evolution and decline of music as we know it today. It is my hope that my thoughts on the history of music will also, in time, be proven incorrect.
All living forms tend to follow the same path, i.e., birth, development, increased knowledge and productivity, maturity, lessening of productivity, decline, and eventual death. So do non-living things follow the same pattern, i.e., creation, knowledge, industrialization, freedom of expression, religions, and in this case- music. To illustrate my point, I have listed the similarity between the life span of a man and the possible life span of music as we know it.
Class handout- The Lifespan of Man and Music
After reading my comparisons, you might be asking why I think music is on its death bed and my response is this- “In the past decade, nothing new has developed in music. Our musical history is filled with great periods of time which produced immense expansions in music. During some of these periods we had the development and expansion of Jazz. Tremendous developments were reported during the Classical period. The extension of popular music was compounded with Rock and Roll. Even within Rock and Roll were gigantic subcultures such as Surf, Grunge, metal, post Hip Hop, Funk and the list went on for decades. But my question is this- what new forms have been introduced in the past ten years? Before you start to bring up names like Susan Boyle’s and Britney Spears’ comeback, please notice that I am searching for new developments in music not remakes of old styles. New developments in music would be similar to Arnold Schoenberg’s concept of 12 tone compositions or Miles Davis attempt to establish Doo Bop music. It bothers me that nothing new has surfaced in the past ten years and if this is true, we may be living through the declining years of music.
I found this quote very interesting which was posted in an article written by Bill Wyman entitled Current Trends in Rock Criticism: A Seminar
“Here’s another example: a year or so ago Spin reviewed a demo tape by the California band Pavement, concluding with a line to the effect that the band was “inventing rock and roll again.” Pavement is the latest indie guitar band, with a nice off-kilter sensibility and the ability to pull off an occasional songwriting coup, but it’s not inventing anything;” That last statement “it’s not inventing anything” is what our culture is producing. If Pavement in the authors opinion is “the latest indie guitar band” and it has been described as “it’s not inventing anything”, there might be more truth to what I am suggesting than many might think.
After continuing my quest to find something new in music, I stumbled over such expletives as algorithmic processesalgorithmic processes, electroacoustic composition, synthetic-driven electronic dance music, which are the type of titles used to get government grant money but when broken down to street language, they still describe things already in place. After several more pages of claims touting “the newest advancement in music” I finally closed my Internet Explorer and decided to finish this post in despair.
In closing, I would like to give credit to one of my grandsons for getting me started on this search. My wife and I are truly blessed with the most wonderful family anyone could ever possess and it was during one of my enjoyable conversations with one grandchild that the question of what is new in music came up. He and I spent a delightful afternoon sharing our thoughts on this topic and by evening, I had decided to write this post. To my wonderful grandson, thank you and now it is time to retire for the evening.
Good night.
“Darwin had his revolutionary views and even though he was wrong,….”
Had no idea you were one of those.
Yes I am and also is an ever expanding number of scientists who originally thought Darwin was correct. Now that we have had enough time to step back and scientifically prove or disprove his theory, more and more are realizing the earths first life forms originated in a very short period of time (short on a scale of world history). It is also a fact that man is unique unto himself and could not have evolved from an ape.
I respect your beliefs on this subject and thank you for asking mine.
HI Mr. Bruce Chidester. I find this post (which I stumbled across while researching for my essay) very intriguing. You have a very interesting hypothesis about where music has been and is coming to, even if it is not totally serious! 😀 And simply to share a thought on your post, I personally think that the seeming decline of music is only partly explained here. I propose that while it is true that there have been no new developments in music in the latter part of this century, it is not because “things just die after a while”. Maybe they do, but I think the reason for the lack of the creation of new music styles is the degeneration of the human mind and soul itself. After all, music is spiritual. Music did not live on its own, therefore it will not die on its own. Man is behind it… Hmm… just thinking out loud… 🙂 Thank you for your post! – Mishalle
Dear Mishalle,
Thank you for your comments and I will try to address each point.
1. I find this post (which I stumbled across while researching for my essay) very intriguing.
When you have completed your essay, please send me a copy for I find your interest in this topic
interesting also.
2. You have a very interesting hypothesis about where music has been and is coming to, even if it is not totally serious!
Many times it is more effective to use humor to stress important issues. A good example would be the humor of Will Rogers.
3. ….there have been no new developments in music in the latter part of this century, it is not because “things just die after a while”…..I think the reason for the lack of the creation of new music styles is the degeneration of the human mind and soul itself.
This statement is not what I am usually asked to address. Most of the questions I receive are “what kind of valve oil do you use?” You have brought up a very thought provoking issue here and I will give you my side of the implication after reading your essay.
4. After all, music is spiritual.
I agree that music is an expression of the spirit and soul, both for good as well as the dark side.
5. Music did not live on its own, therefore it will not die on its own. Man is behind it.
Again, I will address this statement after reading your essay for this has so many possible influences and directions to follow; I would like to hear your thoughts more completely on the subject.
Thanks for “stumbling in” and don’t forget to E–Mail me your final essay for I would find it very interesting.
Hello Mr. Chidester, I have to admit now I find your interest in my interest interesting. 😀
1. When you have completed your essay, please send me a copy for I find your interest in this topic
interesting also.
Ah! I would be glad to send it to you when it is finished, but really, it isn’t very much. It is only a thousand-word essay (I am only in my second semester) on the subject of Music periods, and I only came to find this post because I (very easily) get distracted when reading about music, and one thing leads to another, etc… 🙁 I do think my opinions will “leak” in any piece of writing I may do, though, whatever subject it may be about, so perhaps you would still find it profitable. ?
2. Many times it is more effective to use humor to stress important issues. A good example would be the humor of Will Rogers.
Mm…
3. This statement is not what I am usually asked to address. Most of the questions I receive are “what kind of valve oil do you use?” You have brought up a very thought provoking issue here and I will give you my side of the implication after reading your essay.
Thank you, I would appreciate that…
4. I agree that music is an expression of the spirit and soul, both for good as well as the dark side.
Definitely. And I believe that this has many implications also.
5. Again, I will address this statement after reading your essay for this has so many possible influences and directions to follow; I would like to hear your thoughts more completely on the subject.
Thank you, I would enjoy correspondence with you on the subject, as it is the same here. 😀 My E-mail address is mishisan_guild11@hotmail.com; I will remember to send the essay to you if you are still interested, if you would like to send your E-mail address (if you want) to that address (I couldn’t find any contact details on this site?), unless you would prefer to correspond here.
Thanks for “stumbling in” and don’t forget to E–Mail me your final essay for I would find it very interesting.
My pleasure, I’m glad I found it! And I feel a little pleased that my comment has been taken seriously. 😀 – Mishalle
Hello Mr. Chidester, I have completed the essay. May I please have your email address so that I can send it to you? That is, if you still would like to read it… Mishalle
Please do for I would love to hear your opinion on our subject!
brucechidester@uni.edu
Ahem: “Miles Davis’ attempt to establish Doo Bop music”?
Miles Davis actually did much to establish BeBop music, and that would be the same boring stuff that Wynton Marsalis and his associates unfortunately continue to re-hash ad infinitum because they consider it to be the very pinnacle of jazz development as an artform. Miles also had nothing (or very little) to do with Doo-Wop (popular) music of the ’50’s.
Regarding the death of music: Others have said that each succeeding generation rebels against the musical generation that came before. The fact that the author seems to consider the current music to be nothing more than a rehash of previous styles might also point to the (obvious) generation gap between the author and today’s younger generation. Today’s music does not sound like a rehash of yesterday’s rock styles, but in some cases actually is fresh and new. I do not know how one could compare today’s popular music to disco or 50’s rock and not notice the huge difference in sound, instrumentation, changing of percussion instruments, etc. Past generations have also mourned “the death of music as we know it”, especially in the church. Yet music lives on.
You want advancements? You’re forgetting about Don Ellis’ quarter tone trumpets and complex harmonic and rhythmic structures? Sadly he died far too young.
Great, your back!
“Ahem: “Miles Davis’ attempt to establish Doo Bop music”?
My choice of words were meant to say that Miles DID establish Doo Bop, but unfortunately he died too early in its development to help it flourish into a great style of Jazz/Pop music. It seemed to have been hijacked by the less gifted.
“Miles Davis actually did much to establish BeBop music…….”
Along with Diz, Bird, Monk and a few other giants of our time.
…”they consider it (BeBop) to be the very pinnacle of jazz development as an artform.”
If you consider improvisation as the most important element in Jazz, they may be correct in their opinion. In no other period of jazz has the art of improvisation been more highly developed.
“Miles also had nothing (or very little) to do with Doo-Wop (popular) music of the ’50′s.”
No he didn’t for his level of musicianship could not and would not stoop that low.
“The fact that the author seems to consider the current music to be nothing more than a rehash of previous styles might also point to the (obvious) generation gap between the author and today’s younger generation.”
Could be. And I might point out a gap of two generations.
“Today’s music does not sound like a rehash of yesterday’s rock styles…….”
I was not limiting my observation to only rock music. My comparisons of new and old styles as you read from my post, referred to the lack of progress in the past “ten years” in all musical styles.
“I do not know how one could compare today’s popular music to disco or 50′s rock and not notice the huge difference in sound, instrumentation, changing of percussion instruments, etc.”
I couldn’t agree more but again, I am comparing the change in musical styles which have taken place in the past ten years.
“Past generations have also mourned “the death of music as we know it”, especially in the church. Yet music lives on.”
As it should, but wouldn’t it be nice to hear something new?
“You want advancements? You’re forgetting about Don Ellis’ quarter tone trumpets and complex harmonic and rhythmic structures? Sadly he died far too young.”
I have not forgotten Don, or Glenn Stewart who played lead for Don. I had the great honor of visiting with both men in Denver at one of the International Trumpet Guild conferences and we had a wonderful conversation about the instrument you mentioned. But again I remind you that that was many years ago (over 40 years ago) and my attention has been drawn to the past ten years. As far as new harmonies and rhythmic patterns, Don borrowed both elements from the Eastern culture, he didn’t create them. When using the past ten years as a guide, we can’t even use Dave Monette as a new innovator for I knew of his work more than twenty years ago.
I understand your points of disagreement but I stand firm in my original statement. “Nothing new has developed in the past ten years.”
I would love to continue this discussion and if anyone would like to offer an example of new direction in the field of musical composition and/or popular trends, I would love to continue our discussion.
I do believe we are seeing a “re-invention” of popular music only to the degree that so many of today’s practitioners appear to be rather lacking in traditional musical theory–and some of their melodic and harmonic choices certainly reflect that. Rather than learn the theory, some simply construct what they are able to perform, without worrying if it is in tune or “fits” correctly into traditional harmony. I don’t care for some of it myself, but it is indeed new and different.
I agree with your observations on the “new” trends in music composition. In past musical history we have seen many great composers show us new ways of looking at the old music, but in the classical area, the new composers first learned the traditional concepts from their teachers before they began to lead in new directions. Unfortunately, as you have stated, many of the newer composers decided to throw out the baby with the bath water.
Thank you so much for leaving your comments on this trend and if we all keep fighting for higher quality, some day we may see a difference.
The very best to you and yours.
Keep in mind that with the birth of jazz and rock’n’roll, and composers like John Cage, we’ve seen musical innovation that was historically unprecedented. Going back to a normal pace would surely seem like a standstill by comparison! How quickly was music evolving in the middle of the Baroque period, in the middle of the Classical period?
That said, hip-hop has certainly changed a lot since the days of Public Enemy. Not that I’m much of a fan. But I have become a fan of neue härte, from Germany, and folk metal, which is big in Europe and basically non-existent in the United States. Bands like Rammstein, Eisbrecher, Schandmaul, and Subway to Sally don’t make the same kinds of music that Americans do.