Saturday, January 17, 2015

State, Setting, Feeling

Ultimately, no "narrative" is acceptable.


Art, culture, politics, and myriad perspectives both social and personal cannot be tried by their so- called narratives, that is to say, their associated representations, justifications, or articulations.

They live, or are found not to exist at all, through experience, which is why I say listen, and hear.

Friday, January 16, 2015

Complacency and Doubt

Conformity to trending attitudes does not confer cultural perspective.



Clearly this is contrary to popular opinion, but popular opinion is an insult to individual intelligence. There is no monolithic "we" that "shares" anything.  There is only perception, insight, and proper understanding of the appearances of reality,

These do not exist in unquestioning acceptance of group norms.

Cultural perspective demands right reason, freedom of thought, and contemplative reflection. The way of the artist demands the same, if the art is to be of significant cultural meaning and importance.

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Apocalypse Past

Rarely is music central to culture and of premier importance.


By historic measure, such times are brief, revealing the nature of the human condition as only art can with respect to life's impermanence.  Hollow echoes follow, sustaining the futility of nostalgia.

Yet art remains, to be revealed in different ways, including those brought to light by the art of sound.

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Amid the Predictable

One may perceive deeply, or not at all.


Art exists independently, and makes no demands upon an audience.

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Obscured Presences

In plain sight.


Sibelius.  Debussy.  Satie.    Tone Poems.  Impressionism.  Furnishing Music.

Miles Davis, Gerry Mulligan.  Birth of the Cool.  Terry Riley.  John Cage.  Minimalism.  Indeterminacy.

Lists do not end; there is only failure to know, and to do.

Ideas of value may become lost, misunderstood, or set aside, but they do not cease to exist.

Monday, January 12, 2015

Search

It is a way of sound.



It is everywhere, yet it goes unnoticed. Those who claim to seek it want it to be something other than what it is.  Those who find it know it is beyond description.

Listen. It is always present, yet it must always be heard within. Then it will resonate throughout the greater world.

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Enough to Listen

What consciousness does naturally, it may do with intent.


Upon entering new environments, curiosity is aroused, attention directed, awareness heightened.

Hearing, sustain such acuity with expansive, contemplative perception.