Music:

 

Why discuss music when we are considering Logic? It seems to me that when we question our socially constructed reality and wonder if it has some kind of relation to "reality" itself we are very dissatisfied with the answer that we can't know "reality" other than saying the socially constructed reality is the real. (So the "rational" is the real and the real is the rational). While I suppose we can think of several different aspects of life that seems to intuitively present themselves as contrary to this Postmodern position, music seems one of those aspects. We can talk of the Will as somehow being the source of a connection between Spirit and the real. But this somehow seems frivolous. In light of Hegel we can easily apply the same critique Hegel used against Kant to apply to Schopenhauer. In this sense, Schopenhauer seems merely to have misunderstood Hegel, as so many did. The Hegelian metanarrative includes Schopenhauer's as an earlier stage, but Schopenhauer does not include Hegel's metanarrative in his. So we must interpret even such an intuitive aspect of life as music and the universal nature of it in light of human passions and emotions. But these themselves are understood by our metanarrative. We still need not suggest that there is something outside of our experience that we are missing.

 

 

Below are some of the selections I have included on this disk for use in making the various points in class or in the notes I include in this disk.

 

Most of these are wav files but some are midi files, so expect them to work only if your machine has the right software and equipment! By the way, I am a real amateur at selecting audio pieces and setting them just right. Watch your ears and keep your hand on the volume control! Please do not end up with an arc weld between your ears! Especially watch out for Siegfried! Loud start and finish. Never try to play this disk in a regular CD player. It will only work in a computer. You may even damage your amp if you try to play it in a regular music CD player since it will read the data as static. Loud static!

 

Steve Martin on Philosophy and Religion Ok, so the first selection under music is NOT music. But it is sound! Is this what everyone thinks of Philosophy?

 

Madonna is another Postmodern American Philosopher! She is from Detroit, was raised Roman Catholic and her answers to philosophical questions during an interview show her to be a Postmodernist who believes in God exactly as I do. I felt like they were my answers coming from her in her interview! If anyone knows where there might be a copy of that interview with Baba Wawas (aka Barbara Walters) I would love to have a copy.... It is clear that her persona is created by her for a purpose and that part of that purpose is to prevent anyone from figuring out exactly who she is. So am I right for thinking she thinks the way I do? Have I been conned?

 

Compare Madonna to Salome who in this section sings of her joy at finally getting to kiss the mouth of Saint John the Baptist -- now that his head has been severed from his body. Picture her in the moonlight in Herod's Palace with the blood all over her white dress. Herod orders her killed at the sight. The shields of the soldiers crushing her end the piece. This was composed by Richard Strauss. Find the whole opera in the Loussac.

 

Reconstructed music from Sumeria (this is a midi file so you need the right software to play it.)

 

Ancient Greek Music: This is reconstructed also, based on papyrus finds that arguably lead to a successful reconstruction. The CD this is from was made by the Atrium Musicae De Madrid and is available in the Loussac Library.

 

Siegfried: an example of thrilling, powerful, victorious sound. This is the music Siegfried sings as he reforges his father's broken sword "Notung" (Needful). This is a feat that can only be accomplished by one who knows not fear.

 

Beethoven:  Ode to Joy and Fur Elise (a midi file).

 

Prokofiev: for an example of human suffering at its worst. Can you get closer to someone's heart than through their music? (not included yet).

 

Hildegard von Bingen: this music is a modern piece that makes use of her songs. You can read much of her work and there are several good books our on her as well as "her" CDs. The Loussac has "Canticles of Ecstasy."

 

Edie Brikell: What I am -- is this an example of the Postmodern mind or what?

 

Gregorian Chant: is there a beat to this music? Or does it try to be spiritually uplifting by avoiding the heart beat that is so much a part of folk music? It seems sung to the uppermost ceilings in a vaulted cathedral. Notice modern recordings try to duplicate the echo of the sacred place. Is it special because of our sense of security in side such a boundless place (a cave!)?

 

Jewish Music: Kirya is a song to Jerusalem (Kirya is an ancient Hebrew nickname for Jerusalem) morning the loss of so many of its sons everyday.

 

 

Aboriginal Music: how close is this to the sounds of our ancient ancestors? Drumming Circle is from Shaman’s Breath also available at the Loussac.

 

 

 

 

My Heart Will Go On

 

 

Memory from Cats. Does this touch you? This musical is also available in the Loussac. How many had a chance to see it when it was here? Or did you see it on PBS?