Wiardgroup

> (hmmm ... things seem to have calmed down here, so maybe I should keep my
> mouth shut, but, no, sorry ...)
LOL. I'd kind of given up as it seemed like I was wasting my time.
I still think I am.....but anyway..........
> but I 
> believe Chris when he says that there is great, unrecognized, recent
> classical / orchestral music out there (I wouldn't know, it's not my area
> of interest/expertise).
Well two living composers who immediately come to mind are Arvo Part and
John Tavener, both of whom are very melodic and fairly accessible IMO. John
Tavener had a piece played at Lady Diana's funeral, how mainstream do you
wanna go?!
This was Johnm's quote:
>>It's like seeing a fine painting
>> by David or Ingres vs. dog crap thrown at a canvas. Progress ebbs
>> and flows, and the 20th Century in many ways has been an artistic
>> Dark Age as sure as the 11th Century was a scientific Dark Age.
I guess you'll come back at me with 'in many ways' being your get out
clause, but taken on face value this statement demonstrates a certain
prejudice that just doesn't stand up to scrutiny.
Apart from my previous two examples, we have Steve Reich and Phillip Glass,
both of whom have achieved a certain pop star status. English contemporary
music has a strong melodic tradition, exemplified by Benjamin Britten,
William Walton and Ralph Vaughan Williams.
If you still say the 20th century was an artistic dark age, can I point you
towards the orchestral works by George Gershwin, or should I point out that
Prokofiev died in 1953 and Stravinsky in 1971.
> "Primarily Intended for certain kind(s) of music" I'll certainly grant you
> (although I wouldn't want to secondarily-guess Grant's - or Don's -
> intentions).  Just not "... they were limited to one kind of music"

It seems to me that John is arguing from a viewpoint of the 60's/70's music
scene, hence the constant reference to 'Switched on Bach'. It doesn't matter
to me what the musicians of that era used their Buchla's for. I say they are
as valid a mainstream melodic instrument as any Moog.
I'm primarily a drummer. My best sounding snare drum was built in the 1920's
by Ludwig. The guy that first bought it was probably playing ragtime or
Charleston's. I've used it on alternative rock, pop, dance music etc...
I play louder than any pre-war drummer ever would and every stroke I make is
a rimshot.  Everyone agrees it is one of the best snare drums ever made. No
one seems to worry that it isn't being played in the manner it was
'primarily intended for'.
CW