...One of the things that I appreciate about Clapton is that he has managed to be productive when many have faltered, and has written some good soft rock in the last 10 or 15 years. Also, I cannot really judge his "technique" properly, since I only play the guitar a little (I am mainly a piano man, and rusty on that), and mostly know that he has a a grace in phrasing that is impressive. It is probably true that there are a number of people as good or better as guitarists, though: besides Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Steve Howe, and Lindsey Buckingham come to mind...
...The original "cool jazz" was very sophisticated, and very far away from Kenny G. My favorite (probably because I am too unfamiliar to know many titles:-)) is "Take Five"...
...It makes sense to categorize in that way. A group like B,S, and T through in various influences, and wrote many of their songs with an eye on Top Forty exposure, whereas Weather Report was purer, and di not bother much with clean and catchy melodic lines...
...On the modern music, I suspect you are right enough. Certainly, one of the pieces I love best, Britten's "Ceremony of Carols", is a musical hybrid, and uses Medieval poems as texts...
...I admit, I am not much of one for opera, although, of course, there are many fine arias. If it is not Mozart, I probably eventually get bored...
...I use Les Demoiselles d' Avignon specifically because it is the first definitively "modern" painting, shows the influence of primitive art, and reveals a fractured sensibility, one that foreshadows the century prophetically, I think. Don't get me wrong, Hieronymous Bosch had long before painted things that were "weird", but in a religious context. Anyway, I think your comparison of Picasso and Stravinsky is pretty good, and they both worked for Diaghelev:-). I also think that your comments on abstraction are on point...
...I find Hemingway too flat, although I may go back and re- read "The Old Man and the Sea" after your comments. I think that Hemingway may end up an historical artifact, telling us something about the country at mid- century, rather than a literary giant. Rand, well, I just think that she is an atrocious writer, very cartoonish and melodramatic. On the other hand, if I liked melodrama, I would like opera, so maybe I am overly fastidious...
...On "Lord of the Flies", it is interesting to me because, although a well- respected work, it is easy to overlook, and could easily be found too distasteful. I think it is very acute, in fact, and very well- written... |
