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Sun, 10 Aug 2003 18:43:58 -0400 |
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I have been wondering what makes some composers, such as Bruch, on a
lower tier as compared to many of his contemporaries such as Mahler,
Tchaikovsky and Brahms. That is, why is it when I listen to Bruch or
Hovhaness does nothing stick with me, where is the swing? I am re-reading
Music, the Brain and Ecstasy and came across this passage.
"A tonal center is established in the listener's mind and becomes
associated with harmonic normalcy. This center becomes the
anchor point from which all tones and intervals and chords are
measured and compared. Adept composers tease the listener with
the tonal center, pulling away from it and then promising again
and again to return but always holding back. Only after lengthy
expeditions in other harmonic realms that orbit lesser tonal
centers, is the listner granted release from his agony. Lesser
composers make quick, perfunctory returns to tonal centers or
travel so far from them that the listener hardly recognizes them
when finally brought home."
This seems to me to be at least part of the answer to my question.
Listening to Bruch is eventually not involving because of the predictability
due to the relationship with the tonal center. He fears to travel far
from it. Mahler, on the other hand, has no such fear and takes us on a
more interesting journey.
Thoughts?
Bob Stumpf
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