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Both take western music too seriously
Reader comment on item: You Need Beethoven to Modernize

Submitted by Steve Meikle (New Zealand), Dec 24, 2005 at 12:59

Both Mr Pipes and the Muslim fundamentalists take classical music too seriously.

The passions it stirs are overrated.

I do not speak as a philistine but as a former professional classical musician who once, in my youth, lived for classical music.

But music, though it may be an oblging servant, is a tyrant of a master.

As such music is only entertainment, to seek more from it is to abuse it. And this abuse leads to boredom with it just as an addict needs stronger poison to get his highs.

The West is saturated in music, but where is justice?

I pity the barrenness of those lives that feel bereft without art.

Are they deaf to birdsong and blind to a tree in leaf, or blind to a sunrise?

And as the West is dismantling the rule of Law in enthusiastic emulation of George W Bush, the West is itself over rated and is likely doomed. Even if they are singing Bethoven or Eric Clapton while it goes down.

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened for relevance, substance, and tone, and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome, but comments are rejected if scurrilous, off-topic, vulgar, ad hominem, or otherwise viewed as inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the Guidelines for Comments. For informational purposes, we identify countries from which comments are sent.

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Reader comments (10) on this item

Title By Date
For the first time, I disagree with you [46 words]SidNov 13, 2009 17:11
Beethoven's pigmentation [444 words]DannyApr 16, 2009 11:20
Music banned since Islamic Revolution [21 words]Death to IslamSep 30, 2007 11:32
The man that hath no music in himself... [47 words]Steve MullanyDec 29, 2005 19:52
⇒ Both take western music too seriously [161 words]Steve MeikleDec 24, 2005 12:59
Beethoven & MidEast Success [274 words]H. ShamirDec 24, 2005 12:05
Western High and Low Culture [186 words]Samuel SchwartzDec 28, 2005 08:45
Polyphony and synchronization [166 words]Edward ChristieDec 20, 2005 09:13
Yep! [64 words]Bilbo BagginsMar 15, 2004 21:13
Western Music not really necessary for Modernity [677 words]Linas KondratasNov 27, 2002 04:42

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Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened for relevance, substance, and tone, and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome, but comments are rejected if scurrilous, off-topic, vulgar, ad hominem, or otherwise viewed as inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the Guidelines for Comments. For informational purposes, we identify countries from which comments are sent.

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