Ian Crisp responds to Dave Lampson:

>>Like I said before: music is anything someone listens to as music.
>
>What is needed in order to use Dave's definition to establish that some
>sound is not-music?  We have to demonstrate that no-one listens to it
>as music;

It appears that my good friend Ian and I will continue to be on different
wavelengths concerning this issue.  What I like about Dave's definition,
beyond my total agreement with it, is that each individual is in charge of
deciding for him/herself what constitutes music.  It is an internal process
as it should be.  Therefore, there can be no need or point in demonstrating
anything to anyone.  If I consider some sound or grouping of sounds
(purposeful or random) as music, and Ian does not, that's entirely fine.
I'll still like him and respect his personal views.

Some definitions of music in particular dictionaries have been provided
by list members as some kind of "proof" of the "real" definition.  I can't
go along with any of this.  First, definitions in dictionaries generally
reflect how a society usually employs particular words.  There's no law
against my using a particular word differently, although there could
be quite a communication problem that develops as a result.  Second,
dictionary definitions can't possibly keep up with the changes in word
usage over time.

I get the feeling that Ian wants good communication and thinks that it's
best for "all" to be singing from the same sheet of music.  That might be
best, but it isn't reality as this list traffic clearly reveals.  We have
list members who feel that Rap is not music, or Serial compositions are
not music, and on and on.  I think that in "real life" there can be no
prevailing definition that even a majority of us will subscribe to.

My wife loves to listen to birds; she considers their sounds to be music.
I just hear it as a bunch of sounds, some of them rather pleasant.  And we
leave it at that.  I respect my wife's opinion; if she feels it's music,
that's all there is to it.  I certainly can't prove to her that it isn't
music, and I have no interest in making such an attempt.  It would only be
a waste of time that would result in bad feelings between spouses who love
one another but are engaged in a trivial debate.  And I do consider it
trivial because, when the debating among folks is concluded, everyone
will continue to listen to what they think is the best music around.

Don Satz
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