From: chapman@u.washington.edu (Bruce L. Chapman)
Newsgroups: rec.music.makers.synth
Subject: Re: Defending the Slugs (long)
Date: 27 Jan 93 01:34:33 GMT
Article-I.D.: shelley.1k4or9INNqh7
Organization: University of Washington
NNTP-Posting-Host: 128.95.35.14

In article <1k2qpcINNbl4@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu> bt979@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Jeff  
Preston) writes:
> 
>   Would I be correct in assuming that those who are upset about the
> so-called "slugs" are actually upset *only* at the slugs who are
> commercially successful?  This I could see, but for anyone to 

Nope, not in my case, anyway. My concerns are more related to "The Devout  
Despairing of the Heathens" than "Sour Grapes." I'm just as upset with the  
Kareoke King who brags to his friends that "he's a singer, too" as the Cyborg  
Lounge Act with the sequenced orchestra backup (and, of course, the Milli  
Vanillis of the big time world).

> automatically assume that everyone should share the same goals
> musically and/or stop playing their instrument is, well, one of
> the sillier things I've heard in this lifetime. To berate someone
> who says he hasn't the time to devote to becoming The Ideal Musician
> (whatever that may be), but enjoys playing nonetheless is absurd. 
> I've heard non-musicians remark at what a waste it is for me to
> spend thousands of dollars of musical gear and not try to make music
> which is popular enough to enable me to get a return on my investment;
> they also fail to see the point, but from the opposite end of the
> spectrum. To me it sounds like both camps are trying to say "this
> is the only valid use for music," which again, is absurd. There are
> more reasons for making and listening to music than you can possibly
> name. Agreed?
> 
>   Jeff
> 

Agreed. There are a whole lot of reasons for making music, a whole lot of ways  
of approaching music, and a whole lot of definitions for what music is. That's  
what makes it impossible for me to come up with a single definitive position on  
this subject; like I said, I feel strongly both ways.

But there are a few things that are clearly not right in the current situation.  
The ability to complete a paint-by-number picture does not make one an artist,  
and nobody imagines that it does. I would argue that the ability to get a  
nice-sounding tune out of a robot keyboard does not make one a musician, but I  
don't think the general public has yet made that distinction.

Now, between those two extremes there's a whole lot of gray area. Are rap  
artists musicians? How much can you sequence and still keep the essential live  
music experience? If I use an arpeggiator will they lift my Real Musician's  
Certificate? What *is* that white stuff in an Oreo cookie? The existence of  
these (to me) unanswered questions is what makes this sort of discussion  
interesting.

> -- 
> | Jeff Preston - owner and moderator of | "We don't  get  many requests |
> | the  Allan Holdsworth discussion list |  for recent history."  -- Mr. |
> | *** To subscribe, send e-mail to: *** |  Atoz, from the '69 Star Trek |
> | <atavachron@morekypr.morehead-st.edu> |  episode _All Our Yesterdays_ |

Bruce Chapman
Still waiting for the .sig fairy....