Steven Schwartz writes:

>I lean to the proposition that organization makes music.
>Random "noise" can be part of that music, so long as it is organized (even
>loosely organized) into the work's context.  In other words, a "dial tone"
>normally encountered isn't music.  The dial tone in Steely Dan's "Rikki
>Don't Lose That Number" is.

I don't remember hearing that dial tone, but it's been a while (great song,
anyway).  Anyhow, that's a different meaning of "random".  A sound may be
random in terms of pitch or duration, but in this case it has clearly been
"organized", put into the mix intentionally by Messrs.  Becker and Fagen.
That's fundamentally different from what Cage was doing, which was taking
advantage of true randomness - i.e.  unpredictability, even unto the types
of sounds that might arise.

One more question: If a tape recorder plays 4'33" in a forest and there is
no one there to hear it, is it still music?

>>Here's a question: Are the rests in
>>Beethoven's Fifth Symphony placed there for the purpose of letting the
>>audience hear the coughing and snuff-box-rattling in the concert hall?
>
>Why don't you ask Beethoven?

I would, but he's too busy decomposing.

 - seb