the only common expression I could apply to 'Music' in general is that it's about a controlled generation of sounds. By whatever means and in any quality.
What's receipted in one situation as pleasant or appealing will most certainly not apply under different conditions.
The internet with it's immense speed of transferring news has changed the role 'Music' once had as a definition of trends or identification.
Something like that was spread together with record releases decades ago, but now either the style or the sound can make it 10 times faster and independently.
Music has a multitude of appearances, as a craftmenship, like Paul does it with his commercials or as an audio tapestry, like Ken recently prefered.
There's the usual dance stuff for checking out a partner or hanging around with friends and the 'stairway to fame', as in casting shows which are not at all related to any creative aspect.
A multitude of modern options, but nevertheless classical performance still remains.
I do like it a lot - it nicely complements improvisation and freedom with a system of discipline (torture ?) and fixed rules.
Just yesterday evening I had the pleasure to attend my favourite violinist H. Hahn with a Polish symphony orchestra conducted by a young Japanese - very international
It was a perfect performance (now I know what acoustic builders are for - the hall had a 'to die for' soundquality) and something like that is really a journey into sound - some concentration required (or the will to just close your eyes and let go).
It was amazing to see how ALL participants, not only the 'star' of the evening, won over the audience. Proved once again the importance of the conductor, who was really good in 'getting the spark over'.
There was not much difference to the emotional part of a rock concert, well - basically, considering the physical condition of the majority of the audience
cheers, Tom
