Linking this up to the Science Fiction thread, there's a story by Philip K Dick called "The Preserving Machine", in which an eccentric inventor devises a machine to process musical scores into living creatures so they can go out into the world and fend for themselves, rather than the precious information in the scores being lost - actually what happens is they go feral, and when they're converted back into music the result is ugly and atonal. I think I have that right! I haven't actually owned a copy of the book for many years, but it made quite an impression at the time. As I remember, though, Bach's 48 took the form of a flock of beetles and the "Schubert animals" resembled sheep. Can anyone out there remember what the other music-animals were?

I've found some of John Tavener's pieces...

Did I mention he's not at school yet?

I agree with Reiner that it's good about having an imagination.  I'm sure the appreciation of structure, form, heritage, etc will come later.  Would be a real blessing if he could grow up to appreciate all aspects of music.

Cheers

Tommo

Hi tommo,

I think most people do appreciate structure and form in music without knowing what musicians refer to as 'structure' and 'form', ok structure maybe can be guessed/grasped easily but 'form' is something that needs to be explained and then recognised so that one knows what musicians/composers are talking about.


Yes, that will occur if he has a good 'ear', a feeling for rhythm, and then has the opportunity to hear all aspects of music. I only knew classical music by the age of 16 thanks to my father. School and social life did little for me musically - even though I attended a school visit to see the SNO - but it was my father who said 'would you like to listen to this' or 'look there's a concert on TV tonight' etc.

The next influence was Edinburgh. If I had not attended university there I wonder what my musical interest would be now. Edinburgh introduced me to the classical concert (Usher Hall), and I heard my first harpsichord (Edinburgh has a museum full of them, with concerts). Edinburgh's pub scene also introduced me to jazz.

I'm sure, tommo, you'll ensure your son does hear many different musical influences, and it will be fascinating to see what he really enjoys, and as you say hopefully he will appreciate all other aspects. With me it was a very gradual process and many influences occupied me for years at a time, including rock, punk, reggae, dance bands, light music, opera, I've learned to love them all and I've never dismissed any of them.

But I do struggle with New Music 

It can't be 'New' Music forever, when will we see definitive names for types of contemporary music?

John W

When I was a child I used to invent film-type 'programmes' for favourite pieces.They had nothing to do with the received images connected with those pieces.

For instance,the slow movement of the 'Eroica' Symphony was a courageous night flight in pioneer-aviation days,and the finale of Tchaik 5 was the British Armoured Divisions advancing across France.

I think it is better to know what the child likes and what shows are on that the age group likes and make comparisions. I remember my friend when her son was small always had one record played for a few days. It was Golberg variations for a while. She compared some of variations to Roger Robit beeing chased or other cartoon charachters. She succeeded and her son loves classical music now.

I don't know many italian names of arias (starting words). Where is 'Ombra mai fu' from. I know I am going to be embar rassed.