How does one approach discussing music? It’s undeniably a matter of taste but yet we talk about “good” and “bad music. How should we even go about defining what is and what is not music? Anywhere I go, a few minutes spent with my eyes closed transforms the unnoticed sounds that surround me into music. Last night I noticed that the cicadas in a nearby tree were croaking in three-fourths time. The cars that passed by and the people talking near me provided both melody and harmony. Is that not music?
These questions will provide a sort of focus to my column Explorations in Tone and Time. Every column will discuss some aspect of music either as an abstraction or using some artist or song as an example. I will speak completely from my personal musical aesthetic, but constantly attempt to account for others’ aesthetics as well. For every article I invite and encourage any readers to respond through the comments on the WVAU website, my email as shown on my DJ profile, or (my personal favorite) in person over a nice crumpet. Hopefully, an honest personal study of music will spark enough discussion to ignite a journey towards some higher truths.