Comments on: Lessons for Rufus: Critique on chant assignment http://rogerbourland.com/blog/2006/05/15/lessons-for-rufus-critique-on-chant-assignment/ Roger Bourland writes about music and life Tue, 06 Jan 2009 08:40:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Berlioz http://rogerbourland.com/blog/2006/05/15/lessons-for-rufus-critique-on-chant-assignment/#comment-412 Berlioz Tue, 16 May 2006 16:22:45 +0000 http://rogerbourland.com/blog/2006/05/15/lessons-for-rufus-critique-on-chant-assignment/#comment-412 No, it's not actually Rufus, but it wasn't me. These are imaginary lessons: YOU can be Rufus. No, it’s not actually Rufus, but it wasn’t me.
These are imaginary lessons: YOU can be Rufus.

]]> By: dysonation http://rogerbourland.com/blog/2006/05/15/lessons-for-rufus-critique-on-chant-assignment/#comment-410 dysonation Tue, 16 May 2006 15:37:29 +0000 http://rogerbourland.com/blog/2006/05/15/lessons-for-rufus-critique-on-chant-assignment/#comment-410 Wait, Roger, that's not actually Rufus, right? That's just you putting potential words in his mouth, right? If not, HOLY COW YOU ARE MY PERSONAL JESUS MR. RUFUS!!!!! Wait, Roger, that’s not actually Rufus, right? That’s just you putting potential words in his mouth, right? If not, HOLY COW YOU ARE MY PERSONAL JESUS MR. RUFUS!!!!!

]]> By: Berlioz http://rogerbourland.com/blog/2006/05/15/lessons-for-rufus-critique-on-chant-assignment/#comment-409 Berlioz Tue, 16 May 2006 14:54:11 +0000 http://rogerbourland.com/blog/2006/05/15/lessons-for-rufus-critique-on-chant-assignment/#comment-409 "I try to write songs from listening to my influences." I think that ethnomusicologists refer to this as "acculturation." For instance, the violin was originally an Arab instrument. Both the playing style as well as the way the instrument is held is different in each tradition, not unlike the difference between a "fiddle" and a violin. Fiddles play bluegrass and mountain music. Violins play classical music. Stravinsky once said: "mediocre composers borrow, great composers steal." The good thing about acculturation, or writing by influence, is that more often than not, the imitation sounds more like the imitator than the style trying to be imitated. So no matter how hard one tries, you still end up sounding like yourself. Yes there can be some surface similarity. Listen to the Stravinsky's "Variations on 'Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her'" Even though most of the notes are Bach's, Stravinsky continually pokes through. “I try to write songs from listening to my influences.” I think that ethnomusicologists refer to this as “acculturation.” For instance, the violin was originally an Arab instrument. Both the playing style as well as the way the instrument is held is different in each tradition, not unlike the difference between a “fiddle” and a violin. Fiddles play bluegrass and mountain music. Violins play classical music.
Stravinsky once said: “mediocre composers borrow, great composers steal.”

The good thing about acculturation, or writing by influence, is that more often than not, the imitation sounds more like the imitator than the style trying to be imitated. So no matter how hard one tries, you still end up sounding like yourself. Yes there can be some surface similarity.

Listen to the Stravinsky’s “Variations on ‘Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her’” Even though most of the notes are Bach’s, Stravinsky continually pokes through.

]]> By: Berlioz http://rogerbourland.com/blog/2006/05/15/lessons-for-rufus-critique-on-chant-assignment/#comment-405 Berlioz Tue, 16 May 2006 06:04:08 +0000 http://rogerbourland.com/blog/2006/05/15/lessons-for-rufus-critique-on-chant-assignment/#comment-405 Yes my dear, but I am teaching you a combination of traditional musical training, and folding it into your own music. In this technique you are not a slave to any academic study. Stay with the course and you'll see the payoff over the years. No grades. Tolerating idiotic critics is bad enough. And yes, you may re-do your assignment if you will: it is due in my in box by tomorrow, 5 pm PST. Yes my dear, but I am teaching you a combination of traditional musical training, and folding it into your own music. In this technique you are not a slave to any academic study. Stay with the course and you’ll see the payoff over the years. No grades. Tolerating idiotic critics is bad enough.

And yes, you may re-do your assignment if you will: it is due in my in box by tomorrow, 5 pm PST.

]]> By: Rufus http://rogerbourland.com/blog/2006/05/15/lessons-for-rufus-critique-on-chant-assignment/#comment-404 Rufus Tue, 16 May 2006 04:43:40 +0000 http://rogerbourland.com/blog/2006/05/15/lessons-for-rufus-critique-on-chant-assignment/#comment-404 This is a really interesting blog! I wouldn't worry about the rhythm or the harmonic/triadic intimations. That is not how I think of my music when I write songs. I try to write songs from listening to my influences. I was not a good theory or ear training student at McGill and I can't read or write music very well. I think I've done more than a decent job on my own, though. This is a really interesting blog! I wouldn’t worry about the rhythm or the harmonic/triadic intimations. That is not how I think of my music when I write songs. I try to write songs from listening to my influences. I was not a good theory or ear training student at McGill and I can’t read or write music very well. I think I’ve done more than a decent job on my own, though.

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