The Well Tempered Listener

["Bob & Judy Williams" <prospero@netins.net>]

I spend much time in the study of James Joyce. From this study 
certain useful ideas have emerged and I often test their general 
validity by applying them to other areas.

One very useful idea is that of art historian Lawrence Gowing who, in 
his study of Vermeer, declared that real world, every day decisions 
were more important than artistic ones.

The listener to music often confronts another listener in 
acrimonious and useless discussions of the " this is good, that is 
bad" sort. The terms of the discussion, although seldom intelligent, 
are always based upon artistic consideration.

What considerations - of the practical, every day sort - are 
appropriate? First of all, are initial reaction to music is visceral. 
Love of pleasure makes us seek more of the same. The pursuit of 
musical pleasure immediately becomes complex as we assign notions of 
superiority and inferiority. We begin a process of selection and this 
process is rooted in our relationship to society. Solidarity with, or 
alienation from, society dictates affirmation of the canon or 
espousal of the radically new.

Some become arrested at this stage. Melody good, dedecaphony bad or 
the opposite is the litmus test of self-willed simplicity in regard 
to the extremely complex.

Progress consists in making new choices and re-evaluating old ones 
constantly. In the art of listening we will reject equally the 
decisions of the group as well as the affectations of singularity.

The initial response, for meaningful growth, however complex becomes 
our experience, remains the visceral one.

Bob Williams prospero@netins.net