How can I seriously talk about bombast?

Posted by rbolaw on April 27, 2012 at 08:34:12

In Reply to: Bombast posted by Mike Porper on April 26, 2012 at 09:28:11:

Here's how -- Most of what we now call classical music was written, if not before the industrial revolution began, at least before it had it's full effect on all aspects of our culture. And it was a quieter world back then. You could hear the wind rustling the leaves and the birds chirping.

Nowadays, everything has to be louder to be heard over the constant background din of our modern lives, and as you point out, what is considered loud music is probably a lot louder than the loud music of hundreds of years ago.

Also, concert halls are much larger now because the middle class created by the industrial revolution wants to be entertained. Instruments and voices must be louder, or more numerous, to fill that space.

IMO the HIP movement was a reaction to all that and was a wonderful thing -- at first. Alas, IMO the movement soon became too bound up by its own rigid rules and traditions and an academic and pedagogic industry that had to justify its own existence. Ironic, since the original idea was to get past rigid rules and traditions and get closer to the music.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Bombast - Mike Porper 09:28:11 04/26/12 (17)

RE: Bombast - Picklesnapper 19:01:30 05/03/12 (4)

Historically Informed Performance - Mike Porper 14:59:37 05/04/12 (0)

What is HIP? - Chris from Lafayette 14:53:52 05/04/12 (2)

RE: What is HIP? - Kal Rubinson 15:20:01 05/04/12 (1)

I like that kind of HIP a lot better! [nt] - Chris from Lafayette 21:48:35 05/04/12 (0)

How can I seriously talk about bombast? - rbolaw 08:34:12 04/27/12 (1)

Like Romanticism, Bombast is a many splendored thing... - genungo 17:07:35 04/27/12 (0)

RE: Bombast - RC Daniel 04:52:14 04/27/12 (0)

What's the problem? I'm sure the classical guys used the very same word to describe... - genungo 18:05:59 04/26/12 (0)

Sober reflection would have dulled your points, which IMHO are right on! [nt] ;-) - Chris from Lafayette 17:12:10 04/26/12 (4)

RE: Sober reflection would have dulled your points, which IMHO are right on! [nt] ;-) - genungo 18:47:37 04/26/12 (3)

Not sure I get your point - are you referring to hair poofiness? [nt] - Chris from Lafayette 22:57:15 04/26/12 (2)

RE: "Bombast"... - genungo 04:03:00 04/27/12 (1)

Got it - thanks! [nt] ;-) - Chris from Lafayette 09:13:27 04/27/12 (0)

HIP? - Frihed89 12:10:57 04/26/12 (2)

Lisa may be many things, but she's not a HIPster - Chris from Lafayette 17:15:54 04/26/12 (1)

RE: Lisa may be many things, but she's not a HIPster - Frihed89 03:04:18 04/27/12 (0)

Follow Ups

How can I seriously talk about bombast? - rbolaw 08:34:12 04/27/12 (1)

Like Romanticism, Bombast is a many splendored thing... - genungo 17:07:35 04/27/12 (0)

How can I seriously talk about bombast?

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