The Magnificent Goldberg Posted May 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2008 Maybe music is essential to everybody (as everybody does it or responds to it at an elemental level); but seeing the way music can be varied and the lengths to which it can be taken is only an imperative to some. That seems to get it, for me, Bev. MG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hot Ptah Posted May 18, 2008 Report Share Posted May 18, 2008 It's not essential. It's one of the nicer luxuries, though. A person near death from starvation and disease in a refugee camp in the Sudan needs essentials. Music would not be among the first things needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted May 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2008 Well, I wasn't thinking about refugee camps, but people living normal (for them) lives. MG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted May 18, 2008 Report Share Posted May 18, 2008 It's not essential. It's one of the nicer luxuries, though. A person near death from starvation and disease in a refugee camp in the Sudan needs essentials. Music would not be among the first things needed. But I bet you there would be a song there, somewhere, somehow, at some point. It just seems to be part of human "instinct", and I'd perhaps posit that when that instict is snuffed out, life itself is soon to follow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Gould Posted May 18, 2008 Report Share Posted May 18, 2008 It's not essential. It's one of the nicer luxuries, though. A person near death from starvation and disease in a refugee camp in the Sudan needs essentials. Music would not be among the first things needed. No, but if I am near death from disease, I hope whoever is taking care of me at that point knows enough to be playing some good tunes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porcy62 Posted May 18, 2008 Report Share Posted May 18, 2008 It's not essential. It's one of the nicer luxuries, though. A person near death from starvation and disease in a refugee camp in the Sudan needs essentials. Music would not be among the first things needed. No, but if I am near death from disease, I hope whoever is taking care of me at that point knows enough to be playing some good tunes. Me too. That's remind me Beethoven that just before his death asked for some music sheets of Haendel to read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewHill Posted May 18, 2008 Report Share Posted May 18, 2008 (edited) It's not essential. It's one of the nicer luxuries, though. A person near death from starvation and disease in a refugee camp in the Sudan needs essentials. Music would not be among the first things needed. I agree here too. Its not a 'maintenence need' where a human needs things like food, shelter or water to survive, but more of an 'actualizing need' which develops a human's personality, creativity and values. Edited May 18, 2008 by Holy Ghost Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porcy62 Posted May 18, 2008 Report Share Posted May 18, 2008 It's not essential. It's one of the nicer luxuries, though. A person near death from starvation and disease in a refugee camp in the Sudan needs essentials. Music would not be among the first things needed. I agree here too. Its not a 'maintenence need' where a human needs things like food, shelter or water to survive, but more of an 'actualizing need' which develops a human's personality, creativity and values. True, but if you think about what happened in another 'extreme' conditions, like Auschwitz, you can see that music, as well as other 'artistic' forms and 'unessential' activities, were part of the psychological survival strategy in order to preserve self-esteem as human being. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewHill Posted May 18, 2008 Report Share Posted May 18, 2008 It's not essential. It's one of the nicer luxuries, though. A person near death from starvation and disease in a refugee camp in the Sudan needs essentials. Music would not be among the first things needed. I agree here too. Its not a 'maintenence need' where a human needs things like food, shelter or water to survive, but more of an 'actualizing need' which develops a human's personality, creativity and values. True, but if you think about what happened in another 'extreme' conditions, like Auschwitz, you can see that music, as well as other 'artistic' forms and 'unessential' activities, were part of the psychological survival strategy in order to preserve self-esteem as human being. In those conditions, absolutely. One needs to grasp onto whatever they possibly can to survive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted May 18, 2008 Report Share Posted May 18, 2008 There are other "essential needs" beyond those material, no? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medjuck Posted May 18, 2008 Report Share Posted May 18, 2008 In his book "This is Your Brain on Music" Daniel Levitin points out "No known human culture now or anytime in the recorded past lacked music." Good book btw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poetrylover3 Posted May 18, 2008 Report Share Posted May 18, 2008 Music is essential.We find it in all human cultures, playing a central role in both religious and secular settings. Art in general is a necessity. I'd assign it a spot in Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs under the category of self-actualization. Once we get past the immediate need for food, clothing, shelter, or perhaps even arising with it, music stakes its claim on our attention. In my urban High School, even the poorest seize every opportunity to listen, sing, drum or dance-sometimes driving their teacher crazy. Students who groan at the first appearance of poetry memorize line after line, verse after verse of popular songs without hesitation. Collectors like ourselves occupy a specialized niche in this age of Future Shock. We listen to performances that in other times would have vanished without a trace. Eras and styles of music jostle together and then settle into our possession. The variety of music we hear is a luxury, as are the vast numbers of books and films, concerts and plays we absorb. Our passion for the arts is in part a spiritual passion and in part the clamorings of greedy children for novelty, for distraction. There are certainly worse enterprises to invest in-collecting jazz recordings at least support the artists and the people that enable its creation. Peace, Blue Trane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted May 18, 2008 Report Share Posted May 18, 2008 Well said BT! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neal Pomea Posted May 19, 2008 Report Share Posted May 19, 2008 I wouldn't let this discussion reach Congress or constitutional lawyers if I were you. They think the only thing that gives incentive to create music is a long long term of copyright, extending beyond the grave! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted May 19, 2008 Report Share Posted May 19, 2008 I am definitely at the point where I eat, drink, sleep and dream music - to the point of desperation; comes of internal and external debates about what to do what to do; going over old theoretical debates (about all arts , not just music); also comes of feeling that my moment has passed - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John L Posted May 19, 2008 Report Share Posted May 19, 2008 The fact that we congregate at a board like this is evidence that most of us place a very high value on music. But there are a lot of people for whom music is not essential at all. A lot of people never listen to music. Quite a number of people are tone deaf, and don't enjoy music. Many of those people nevertheless live fulfilling lives: create important work, indulge in kinky sex, drink good wine, drive slick cars in the fast lane, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted May 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2008 Quite right, John. Quite a lot of people are stone deaf and can't hear music at all. Quite a lot of people have no legs; does that mean walking is inessential? MG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John L Posted May 19, 2008 Report Share Posted May 19, 2008 Quite right, John. Quite a lot of people are stone deaf and can't hear music at all. Quite a lot of people have no legs; does that mean walking is inessential? MG The point I am making is that a lot of people who are not deaf still choose not to listen to music. For them, music is not essential. On the other hand, I imagine that many deaf people can still hear music in their heads. Beethoven even wrote and conducted a very decent symphony and series of string quartets when he was deaf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted May 19, 2008 Report Share Posted May 19, 2008 well, if I had to choose music or strange sex...... anybody want to buy a saxophone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porcy62 Posted May 19, 2008 Report Share Posted May 19, 2008 well, if I had to choose music or strange sex...... anybody want to buy a saxophone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul secor Posted May 19, 2008 Report Share Posted May 19, 2008 As far as I know, people create music and listen to music all over the world, and have been doing so for many, many years. That must mean something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7/4 Posted May 19, 2008 Report Share Posted May 19, 2008 my answer to the musical question: yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe G Posted May 19, 2008 Report Share Posted May 19, 2008 my answer to the musical question: yes. Yes for me as well. Wouldn't want to be stuck with my mostly repetitious thoughts without the respite that music provides. There are other rewards and pleasures as well, all very important. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe G Posted May 19, 2008 Report Share Posted May 19, 2008 There are other "essential needs" beyond those material, no? Most definitely! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Lark Ascending Posted May 19, 2008 Report Share Posted May 19, 2008 The fact that we congregate at a board like this is evidence that most of us place a very high value on music. But there are a lot of people for whom music is not essential at all. A lot of people never listen to music. Quite a number of people are tone deaf, and don't enjoy music. Many of those people nevertheless live fulfilling lives: create important work, indulge in kinky sex, drink good wine, drive slick cars in the fast lane, etc. I agree. I suspect that over at stitchingandcrotchet.com they regard the production of ornamental needlework as an essential expression of the human soul. Strange, this need we have to legitimise our pleaures by claiming some grand significance for them. I'd be distraught if music was lost to me (going deaf is something I'd really hate); but I suspect I'd adjust. Initially it would be dreadful, but I imagine I'd eventually find another way to fill my leisure time. Making 'Home Sweet Home' tapestries for the wall, perhaps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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