What Is Music?

Question 1

How might people differ in terms of how they define music?

Answer 1

Definition of music varies between cultures.

Western = playing cello, singing, other instruments etc. identified as music

Non-Westerns = playing unique percussion instruments identified as music

Question 2

Why might football chants not be considered music?

Answer 2

Performing music is not their primary activity. Their primary activity is supporting their football team. There is ambiguity.

Question 3

Is there ambiguity regarding what people consider to be music?

Answer 3

Yes

Question 4

What are examples of ambiguity regarding what people consider to be music?

Answer 4

Football chants/singing

Songbirds

Drilling

Question 5

What is an argument for birds making music?

Answer 5

Birds sing because they like the sound of their own voices

French composer (Messiaen) listened to birds and recorded them and their birdsong. Turned these sounds into music/piano transcription. Lots of his music features sections which are based on specific birds. Some might consider this more musical than the birdsong.

Question 6

What is an argument against birds making music?

Answer 6

Is the bird intentionally making music or is music intrinsically a human activity? Issue of AGENCY

Communicative function of music (but is this more or less musical than singing for the fun of it?)

Does making music have to be in a specific context?

Question 7

What is an argument against a drill making music?

Answer 7

Drill sound is just an outcome of the drilling activity. Drilling is an incidental feature of construction.

Not part of any performance. Necessary for the work.

The sound of a drill being used to perform a functional activity is not generally considered music.

Question 8

What is an argument for a drill making music?

Answer 8

A drill can be used in a musical context. Previously used as part of a scripted/planned musical performance, along with other instruments/power tools in an instrumental capacity such as cement mixers and megaphones. Piano too - indicates a musical performance of some sort.

Question 9

Who was the French composer who used birdsong to create some of his music?

Answer 9

Olivier Messiaen

Question 10

Is music being ‘pleasant’ a defining quality of music?

Answer 10

No, not necessarily

Question 11

What is the silent performance called?

Answer 11

4 minutes 33 seconds - John Cage (American composer)

Question 12

Does the silent performance have a score?

Answer 12

Yes

Question 13

How many movements are there in 4 minutes and 33 seconds?

Answer 13

3 movements

Question 14

What is the point of 4’33” seconds?

Answer 14

Supposed to listen to the ambient sound that goes on when no music is being performed

Sounds going on outside the theatre, hum of air con or heating, bar noise, rustling, coughing, lots of sounds going on

Question 15

Who argued that 4’33” is NOT considered music?

Answer 15

Julian Dodd

Question 16

Why did Dodd argue that 4’33” is not music?

Answer 16

Classification issue. The piece has been inappropriately labelled or categorised

It is conceptual art, rather than music (should be performed in a museum setting, not a conventional musical auditorium)

The sounds are ambient noise that are not designed by the composer. Ambient sound has nothing to do with John Cage nor the musicians - they are not responsible for the ambient noise. Not deliberately designed by the composer - issue of AGENCY

Question 17

What is an argument FOR 4’33” being considered music?

Answer 17

4’33” is designed to be performed in a musical setting. It has a score and it is constructed as a ‘work’.

Question 18

What is a counterargument to Dodd’s argument that 4’33” is not music?

Answer 18

Dodd ignores the context of the piece.

4’33” would not work outside of the musical context.

The audience wouldn’t necessarily purposefully listen to ambient sound in different contexts.