philosophy of Music

[Ralph Sirvent]

Can there really be a philosophy of music? Music is constantly evolving and changing shape. To say that there is a philosophy of music would mean that we fully understand and can manipulate it to the point that we can do anything with it. Music is somewhat like clay. It can be molded into different shapes. It is also like water. Water cannot be completely controlled but it can be directed into channels and dams. Its force is overwhelming and if we are not careful we will be destroyed by it

Music is like poetry. Once we know its rules, we can create it. Once we know its rules we can bend them but only to a certain limit. Beyond this limit it ceases to be music and becomes noise.

Music requires much thought to create a philosophy for it. Besides, when we appreciate the beauty of a rainbow, why would we want to analyze its colors as a scientist would. Music is an art, not a science. It has been created to enrich the soul. Musicians are interested in analyzing it only in the interests of creating music that is the most beautiful possible. Musicians are not pedantics and if they are then they become music teachers. How long will a musician stay with a music teacher? He will stay with a teacher until he develops his own style of playing. Enough said.

Ralph Sirvent