|
I liked the part that I was writing, but it wasn't working. It certainly isn't a matter of taste - my instructor and I have a lot of different views on music. I have written stuff when I was in 7th grade that was utterly horrible, and in no way good music. Mostly poor ideas as well. I have written stuff in high school that I enjoy quite a bit, but I don't really think it's good music. It's very immature (even though I like it, that doesn't make it good.) I am writing stuff now that I enjoy, but I also think it is good music (or at least quite close.)
How about this: Mahler 3 is good music. A 12 minute piece of one single note played on an oboe non stop with no inflections and a poor tone is not good music. There may be people who walk away from Mahler 3 saying "I didn't like that" but that doesn't negate it as good music. Someone could walk away from the 12 minute oboe piece and say "I liked that" (they'd have to be on something, though,) but that doesn't qualify it as good music.
I think there are criteria, but good music certainly exists. I'm not entirely sure what they all are, but off the top of my head I would say something along the lines of intent, as well as the music working with itself would be included. My problem that I have with what you are saying is that you're saying "There's no such thing as good music. It's foolish to aspire to write good music because it's impossible, so you should just write whatever you want" which, in my opinion, is a fairly reckless way to take your craft. Perhaps I have misunderstood you, at which point it might be a bit more beneficial to me if you better stated your philosophy on music.
|