> I like to view artists as mediums that can channel and manifest art, but that art stands on its own. Bach just happened to be the one in our lifetime to do that with what he discovered. — The strongest evidence to me for this is that art can outlast the artist every single time.
> I like to think music exists beyond humans and humanity. Maybe far out there in the galaxy or in some other dimension not yet seen. Not exclusive to us, not an anthropological view, maybe spiritual.
I write about this very frequently. I have a strong interest in Art and aesthetics, and play guitar, and write poetry. I'm going to try to not post an essay, which is hard, but
I could talk about this for days and am open to any others that want to talk about music and art.
I think I mostly agree with these quotes.
I specifically think that Art is so transcended from humanity it escapes it, it escapes the emotions, it
escapes the day to day. One might be emotional about it, but emotional intent isn't a part of it
since Art is beyond emotion, and thus also the communication of emotion.
If you want a good definition for what I think of as Art, read Zarathustra. My thoughts on overcoming
are similar as to do with Art. Which is, is it something we can really achieve? Or is the intention
enough to make it? And if so, how much intention is needed?
However I will leave you with something else about Art, something that I think is more closely to how
we most of the time experience music.
John Dewey describes Art as the relationship between the artist, the medium, and the audience. All
three are needed for it to be Art.
When you go see a live show, one with skilled musicians which are able to improv (playing with modal changes,
and knowing how to build and release tension without thought), you get something new, an experience, that only
exists in that moment. That experience cannot be captured, the audio can, even video of the audience and
performers can, but that experience only exists during that improv, it will never happen again. And in my
opinion that is the closest thing to Art, not only for music, but for other traditional art forms as well.
> The fact we channel it to express our emotions is incredible...
This conflicts with my first definition of Art (Platonic) but sits nicely with the second definition (John Dewey).
There is something inescapable communicated listening to Pavarotti, but there's also something inescapable being
communicated listening to Grant Green. Two completely different forms of music, communicating different things,
but it's still very human and powerful.