MUSIC AS AN OBJECT OR PROCESS

Music as an Object or Process

Music as an Object or Process

Introduction

Music is a universal language that has acquired many forms due to the influence of culture and tradition. However, one of the key aspects of music is that, it has become an entire industry now with a commercial value. Such transition has raised questions about its nature as being an object or process. This paper highlights the argument of Christopher Small, according to whom music has been typically conceived of as an 'object' and suggests an alternative conceptualisation of music as a 'process' inspired by music from other cultures and traditions (Small, 1998, 92). The paper also identifies the concept of standardization and Pseudo-individualization that has changed the face of music and flourished the culture of pop music that is universal in almost all cultures and traditions.

Music as an Object or Process?

Music is not a thing or even things. It is an action that people do. All the music objects are the concretions of physical activity. The problem is that paper gets misled by the tendency of language to turn ideas into action that they think of them as things themselves. Music is an abject to the extent that people perform it by several means, and these means are the instruments, and the objective of music ends here (Small, 1998, 94). However, with the commercialization and the standardization, music has turned into more an object instead of a process. On the other hand, music is a process in a way that it is the reflection of cultures and an encounter between human beings which takes place within a physical and cultural setting and these settings have to be taken into account when one asks what meanings are being generated. To further understand the process and nature of music, the next section refers to the music from different transitions including the classical and Conjunto music.

Music from Different Traditions

The Classical Tradition

Franz Liszt was one of the most influential music composers of the 18th Century. His works and contributions have received critical acclaim the world over, and he is respected for his valuable contributions towards the development of classical music. Franz Liszt was a musical polymath - equally gifted as a composer, performer and teacher. His artistic work was focused on the music in the broadest sense, encompassed the boundaries not only within the different genres of music directions and styles but also between the arts. Music to him was a divine talent and his love of this art as well as his understanding of the same shaped his work as a performing and visionary artist (Shuker, 2002, 144). He made outstanding contributions in symphonies, and many of his symphonic tunes are performed in various Western theatres to this day. It is a fact that music composers are influenced by their colleagues. Same was the case with Liszt, who was influenced by Beethoven, who is clearly regarded as the most celebrated music composer of all ...