Since the nineteenth century traditional Western instruments have changed little, but here are a few recent creations that have made their way into mainstream classical music. Two of these you probably know about: the saxophone and the sousaphone both are 20th century invention. The saxophone is, of course the pioneering instrument in jazz and major orchestras also have an auditioned seat for a saxophone player. The sousaphone is a standard instrument in most marching band or military band music,(I am personally hoping that another "phone" might one day have claim to a seat in the orchestra, the iPhone... perhaps it already is with the number of times a cell phone can go off during rehearsal! :). The electric guitar also, aside from being almost the driving instrument of popular music, is beginning to make it's debut even in the symphony orchestra. There are also those that are more obscure. I think of the theremin, an electronic instrument that changes pitch in response to hand gestures, used in Messiaen's Turangalila symphony.
Here's what we're coming up with today, and who says that any of these cannot become mainstream like a flute or a trumpet is considered to be?
10 Interesting Instruments
Believe it or not, Messiaen invented one of these that I think has great potential, the "geophone".
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
A Misremembered Phrase
"Wither music?" -- someone
I don't know who said that. I ran across the phrase sometime in my undergrad. It has stuck with me. I would like to think, actually, that I made it up. Perhaps I "misremembered" something that someone had said, or something I read. If that's the case, then sure I'll take full credit! But, I can't say it is. If anyone does know who said it, please enlighten me.
So my answer to the big question, "whither music?" is...
Ah, music. Yes...
That's right. Music is awesome. Every post on this blog will be meant as a response to the question, and a vehicle for me to share my thoughts on the subject broader than a Wagnerian soprano. This is a blog for anyone. I hope you fall under that category, (not the Wagnerian soprano, but "anyone") because it would be fabulous to have a few readers! I warmly welcome comments and perhaps even ongoing discussion about whatever musical topic. Or maybe just ask a question and I'll attempt to answer it in a blog post sometime. I hope both I, and the reader will learn a thing for two!
The inspiration for this blog began with Wikipedia, actually. I wanted to learn how to Wiki and so I began to edit articles. It didn't take long to discover how easy it was for my personal bias on all things music to creep into my writing which in fact should be more objective and research-based. Because I do not have time to do extensive research on things upon which I already have a strong grasp it did not sound appealing to me, to say the very least. It was like proving that the red, tasty, fist-sized fruit in my hand was indeed an apple by providing the link to the apple tree. Perhaps my musical personality is more akin to performer, or composer than musicologist.
So, this blog is where I can write my own musical thoughts--however original they are or are not. I will give credit where it's due of course, (just like I did for the name of this blog... I'm setting a great example :), but I have many ideas of my own I am itching to share. Hope you enjoy this blog!
I don't know who said that. I ran across the phrase sometime in my undergrad. It has stuck with me. I would like to think, actually, that I made it up. Perhaps I "misremembered" something that someone had said, or something I read. If that's the case, then sure I'll take full credit! But, I can't say it is. If anyone does know who said it, please enlighten me.
So my answer to the big question, "whither music?" is...
Ah, music. Yes...
That's right. Music is awesome. Every post on this blog will be meant as a response to the question, and a vehicle for me to share my thoughts on the subject broader than a Wagnerian soprano. This is a blog for anyone. I hope you fall under that category, (not the Wagnerian soprano, but "anyone") because it would be fabulous to have a few readers! I warmly welcome comments and perhaps even ongoing discussion about whatever musical topic. Or maybe just ask a question and I'll attempt to answer it in a blog post sometime. I hope both I, and the reader will learn a thing for two!
The inspiration for this blog began with Wikipedia, actually. I wanted to learn how to Wiki and so I began to edit articles. It didn't take long to discover how easy it was for my personal bias on all things music to creep into my writing which in fact should be more objective and research-based. Because I do not have time to do extensive research on things upon which I already have a strong grasp it did not sound appealing to me, to say the very least. It was like proving that the red, tasty, fist-sized fruit in my hand was indeed an apple by providing the link to the apple tree. Perhaps my musical personality is more akin to performer, or composer than musicologist.
So, this blog is where I can write my own musical thoughts--however original they are or are not. I will give credit where it's due of course, (just like I did for the name of this blog... I'm setting a great example :), but I have many ideas of my own I am itching to share. Hope you enjoy this blog!
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