Karl replies to me ...

>>I am not sure what you [Karl] mean by "I find it odd that those outside a
>>discipline would attempt to define that discipline."
>>
>>I [Bill] assume you mean the discipline of music, but what do you mean by
>>"outside the discipline"?
>
>Outside the discipline...I [Karl] believe it is up to the artist to
>decide what is art.  How many on this list write music? It goes back to my
>fundamental notion that music theory (and definitions) follow practice.
>It follows, in my mind, that those who practice, define.

I sure agree with that.  That why I try to post things that Chopin and
Beethoven said about music as authorities.  Being self-taught in music
composition, I have no thoughts from college professors of music in my
head.  Everything I know (or don't know) has come from reading the writings
of, and studying the compositions of, the great masters.

I am reminded of the joke about a college lecture "Its the ideas of the
professor passing from the professor's notes to the notes of the student
without going through the minds of either one."

BTW my music composition software told me to thank you and sends its
regards.  It can't do e-mail, yet:-)

Bill Pirkle