I figured I let you all enjoy this rather than listening to BS on the Super Bowl half-time show. From Wormwood #137. According to the database, this one is uncollected:
OBSERVATIONS ON MUSIC BY AN ALCOHOLIC (1984)
I have been drunk for thousands of nights
listening to symphony music on the radio;
I doubt that there are many men my age
who have listened to as much of this music
as I -
even those in the profession.
I am not a musicologist
but
I have some observations:
(a) music played in the symphony halls and
on the radio is taken from the same 50 or
60 pieces - which are played over and over
and over again.
(b) there has been other music
written.
(c) the Second Movements of most symphonies are
only good for insomniacs.
(d) chamber music has every right to be energetic
and entertaining, but most of it is less inter-
esting than the Second Movements of the
symphonies.
(e) very few composers know how to END their
symphonies
but
most openings, like romances, have some
early charm.
(f) i prefer a conductor who inserts his personality
(interpretation) rather than the purist who follows
the rote of the master.
(g) of course, there are always some who insert so much
personality that the creator of the piece almost
vanishes.
(h) music is much like love-making but some composers never
climax; others over-climax leaving themselves and us
jaded and worn.
(i) humor is lacking most so-called great
works.
(j) Bach is the hardest to play badly because he
made so few spiritual and technical mistakes,
and it seems to transfer over, even to mediocre
conductors.
(k) almost all works could have been written
shorter.
(l) too much modern music is written form the safe
structure of a university position - one must still
experience life in its rawer forms in order to
write of it well.
(m) music is the most passionate of the art forms;
I wish I had been a musician.
(n) very few writers also know how to END their
works.
This is it.
OBSERVATIONS ON MUSIC BY AN ALCOHOLIC (1984)
I have been drunk for thousands of nights
listening to symphony music on the radio;
I doubt that there are many men my age
who have listened to as much of this music
as I -
even those in the profession.
I am not a musicologist
but
I have some observations:
(a) music played in the symphony halls and
on the radio is taken from the same 50 or
60 pieces - which are played over and over
and over again.
(b) there has been other music
written.
(c) the Second Movements of most symphonies are
only good for insomniacs.
(d) chamber music has every right to be energetic
and entertaining, but most of it is less inter-
esting than the Second Movements of the
symphonies.
(e) very few composers know how to END their
symphonies
but
most openings, like romances, have some
early charm.
(f) i prefer a conductor who inserts his personality
(interpretation) rather than the purist who follows
the rote of the master.
(g) of course, there are always some who insert so much
personality that the creator of the piece almost
vanishes.
(h) music is much like love-making but some composers never
climax; others over-climax leaving themselves and us
jaded and worn.
(i) humor is lacking most so-called great
works.
(j) Bach is the hardest to play badly because he
made so few spiritual and technical mistakes,
and it seems to transfer over, even to mediocre
conductors.
(k) almost all works could have been written
shorter.
(l) too much modern music is written form the safe
structure of a university position - one must still
experience life in its rawer forms in order to
write of it well.
(m) music is the most passionate of the art forms;
I wish I had been a musician.
(n) very few writers also know how to END their
works.
This is it.