You know, I agree with you that a turntable is not an instrument, but you know what? It is considered an instrument by increasing numbers of people. A saxophone wasn't an instrument, either, less than 100 years ago. Remember that.>All a DJ’s needs are a bit of dexterity and a decent sense of rhythm.
You guys think it's so simple, don't you? How about a knowledge of recorded music? You think these guys just automatically have acquired this? No, it takes time, and requires work, retention, memory--perhaps not practice or study, but something like it. The whole point is to have a track playing along that brings something musically to the listener. And remember, this doesn't apply simply to rap. There are several genres of electronic music. I know, I know. Nobody who makes that stuff is a musician. Sheesh. There's a whole world out there who doesn't give a damn about you & yr musical snobbery. Maybe if you listened to something that's going on outside yr own world you might even actually hear something you might enjoy, for Pete's sake.
>No actual musical knowledge what-so-ever is required.
A musician doesn't necessarily require an advanced knowledge of recorded works, either. A DJ does. Not better or worse, just different.
>A DJ can’t “play” even the most elementary tune unless a musician pre-records it for him
How do you know? There are plenty of DJs who are also musicians. Where do you get yr information?
>DJ’s “play” the high-tech equivalent of a washboard.
Yeah--so? John Lennon & Paul McCartney started in a band that had a washboard.
>A decent musician needs a working knowledge of music theory, which in itself can take a lifetime.
Really? What's yr definition of 'decent?' There are plenty of players I'd consider very decent who wouldn't know what music theory was if they even knew how to read music.
>Without it, improvisation will consist of little more than a limited vocabulary of licks
Yr source on this?
>on a good day a DJ couldn’t tell whether a page of music notation was upside-down or not.
Where do you come up with this stuff?
>DJ’s aren’t musicians - they don’t play a musical instrument and they have no use for music theory
Do you make it up as you go along? Hey, most DJs probably aren't musicians. But some are. Which means you're just plain wrong, bub.
>Rappers aren’t singers
Who's saying they are? They are, however, vocalists. Do you have this much of a problem with Ken Nordine?
>repetitious rhythmic-monotone speech is just that; speech
No, it's not. When delivered rhythmically, as rap, it enters a musical realm, whether you like it or not.
>it shouldn't be confused with the music produced by a competent musician.
Sounds like it's more likely you're concerned that someone's doing this confusing than it is that anyone's actually doing it. Hey, I've got a question for you: did you complain this much in the 1970s about Gil-Scott Heron? How about Linton Kwesi Johnson? I honestly don't remember anyone ever screaming that THAT stuff wasn't music. Remove their musicians & substitute a record, and everybody's got such a big problem with it. Makes no sense. Or are you going to tell me that 'The Revolution Will Not Be Televised' wasn't music, either?
