Should Music Be Messy?

[Deleted]

So, as someone who is obsessively 'rules-oriented' and this does include my approach to music, I am sipping my morning coffee this morning wondering if music should be messy? This is an observation that comes about life in general actually, where no matter how much I personally try to tidy things up, it seems that loose ends stray all over the place regardless. And when you think about it, probably the more creative musicians that not only thrive but succeed are those who 'jam' with their friends and I can only imagine that being a fly on the wall one would hear nothing but noise, then it seems that being messy with music is to be brilliant. So, are classical musicians and composers also messy and if they are not, should they be? Thoughts on this?

[Joseph]

Hello Anne and Happy New Year!  I trust your December holidays were enjoyable (the semester had to have been finished!)?
Messy is an interesting term and may need clarification to properly have a discussion.  For now I'll presume you are suggesting a looseness in the approach to a particular work.  I am thinking in terms of a score with all decisions already accounted for in the project vs. "lead sheet" providing just a basic outline allowing for the musicians working together to produce the finished product (which can never really be finished as a change in participant will effect the outcome in such a project).  I think it comes down to how much you want to control the proceedings.  Maybe you have an un-fleshed out idea and you are willing to accept input from others toward your end goal.  I think if you have a complete thought and you know what you want to hear then there is no room for messy.  it all depends on the role you want to take in the process.  One might consider a lack of dynamic specification in an otherwise neatly completed score to be messy.  Some of the writers here have expressed just such a process.  It all comes down to control.  Even a work with a messy process as I have presumed you to mean will need a final voice to say yeah or nay.  Joseph

[Deleted]

Happy New Year to you as well Joseph. Yes, I think I was suggesting a looseness in approach. I think things work better that way ... Otherwise one is afraid to try anything new at all. Anyway, regarding my courses, I had to drop out of the one I was enrolled in this past semester but will attempt another one within the next few days; hopefully it will go a bit more smoothly for me. Thanks for your response to the topic!

[Deleted]

Well, Anne, as ought to be obvious from my compositions, I am in agreement with your position.

Richard

[Deleted]

Messy? Improvisational, I would put it. My wife finds it very difficult to improvise in an any style of music. She plays piano by reading the music. Period. In contrast, I find it hard to play the same thing twice.

I can (with a lot of effort). But that's the messy part. All those scattered threads have to be recorded somehow, preferably written down in Sibelius (but a video recording of my fingers on the keyboard will do). Then I have to find time ... ahem ... steal the time ... to thereafter work those little snippets into something that makes musical sense.

I steal time a lot when it comes to composition. Life doesn't afford me time for writing music; I always have to pilfer it. Working late into the morning, arriving late for appointments, canceling and rescheduling, playing hooky, etc., etc. Its when I do my best work. (The psychologists in the crowd are having a field day.)

Does this play havoc with my life. Yes and no. I'm retired, otherwise I would have to seek counseling.