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Do you have difficulty imagining an Invisible God in the sky

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Fuzzy
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20 Jul 2010, 2:55 am

Orwell wrote:
Awesomelyglorious wrote:
I cannot grant that every song made by Metallica is not worth listening to.

There is no song in the entire genre worth listening to.


I much prefer the immensely more talented(and melodic) Iron Maiden. I find Metallica to be too heavily laden with Judeo-Christian Imagery. Metallica (was) a bunch of angry young men ranting.

While Maiden writes along those lines at times, songs like "Hallowed be thy name" address much more fundamental issues about existence.

Quote:
Tears flow but why am I crying?
After all I'm not afraid of dying.
Don't I believe that there never is an end?

As the guards march me out to the courtyard,
Somebody cries from a cell "God be with you".
If there's a God then why does he let me go?


They also feel no need to sing like they gargle with glass.

Or their interpretation of Coleridges's "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" which demonstrates their understanding that the silence between notes is critical. The bass solo is phenomenal.

On the other hand, they are not like bands like Queensryche; a bunch of college educated musicians singing about gritty life on the streets. Truly they were the backstreet boys of the metal world.


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20 Jul 2010, 8:07 am

Orwell wrote:
Awesomelyglorious wrote:
I cannot grant that every song made by Metallica is not worth listening to.

There is no song in the entire genre worth listening to.


"Enter Sandman."

Proof that not ONLY is there at least one song in the entire genre worth listening to, but that said song is a Metallica song.

Two words that ought never be found in the same sentence or phrase: "Sack," and "Butt." And the fact that Orwell plays an instrument in which both of these have been combined into a single word ought to be enough to call his musical discernment into question.



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20 Jul 2010, 8:31 am

Orwell wrote:
Awesomelyglorious wrote:
I cannot grant that every song made by Metallica is not worth listening to.

There is no song in the entire genre worth listening to.


Which genre is that?


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20 Jul 2010, 8:43 am

AngelRho wrote:
Orwell wrote:
Awesomelyglorious wrote:
I cannot grant that every song made by Metallica is not worth listening to.

There is no song in the entire genre worth listening to.


"Enter Sandman."

Proof that not ONLY is there at least one song in the entire genre worth listening to, but that said song is a Metallica song.

Unfortunately, as a marching band member I have been compelled to play an arrangement of that song. It is perhaps less bad than some other metal songs, but nowhere near enough to redeem the genre. The song itself is nothing special; it is merely tolerable.

Quote:
Two words that ought never be found in the same sentence or phrase: "Sack," and "Butt." And the fact that Orwell plays an instrument in which both of these have been combined into a single word ought to be enough to call his musical discernment into question.

This is why you don't take a misspelling of a French word meaning "push-pull" as the instrument's name. Besides, the instrument that was historically referred to as a sackbut is quite different from the modern trombone. Additionally, trombone is hardly my only instrument. I play bass trombone primarily, but also tuba (the foundation of any proper ensemble) and euphonium (that would be Greek for "sounds good").


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20 Jul 2010, 9:47 am

Orwell wrote:
AngelRho wrote:
Orwell wrote:
Awesomelyglorious wrote:
I cannot grant that every song made by Metallica is not worth listening to.

There is no song in the entire genre worth listening to.


"Enter Sandman."

Proof that not ONLY is there at least one song in the entire genre worth listening to, but that said song is a Metallica song.

Unfortunately, as a marching band member I have been compelled to play an arrangement of that song. It is perhaps less bad than some other metal songs, but nowhere near enough to redeem the genre. The song itself is nothing special; it is merely tolerable.

Quote:
Two words that ought never be found in the same sentence or phrase: "Sack," and "Butt." And the fact that Orwell plays an instrument in which both of these have been combined into a single word ought to be enough to call his musical discernment into question.

This is why you don't take a misspelling of a French word meaning "push-pull" as the instrument's name. Besides, the instrument that was historically referred to as a sackbut is quite different from the modern trombone. Additionally, trombone is hardly my only instrument. I play bass trombone primarily, but also tuba (the foundation of any proper ensemble) and euphonium (that would be Greek for "sounds good").


Oh sure, just because the Greeks say it sounds good means it DOES sound good.

Hmm...

And you do know that the development of the euphonium is in part due to Adolphe Sax, right? It's interesting to me that a CLARINETIST has to lend his wisdom to instrument design before they get it right.

The tuba is the foundation of any PROPER ensemble? Only if you consider the brass band a "proper" ensemble. Orchestras make little enough use of the tuba that it is hardly missed when absent. And that clearly demonstrates the superiority of stringed instruments as members of a "proper" ensemble. I'll even put the power and majesty of a single electric guitar up against an entire orchestra any day. If a rock band were to take the stage with a tuba player subbing for a bass guitar player, they'd get booed off the stage.

There are exceptions, of course. You DO have guys like James Pankow, my brother who has to be pushing 80 by now and can STILL carry a show with his shirt half off. But wait... Isn't that somewhat like what the metal gods do?



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20 Jul 2010, 9:53 am

AngelRho wrote:
And you do know that the development of the euphonium is in part due to Adolphe Sax, right? It's interesting to me that a CLARINETIST has to lend his wisdom to instrument design before they get it right.

Adolphe Sax contributed to many instrument designs. You seem to be ignoring the minor detail of his endeavor to replace your instrument with one constructed of brass—the only instrument, in fact, which bears his name today.

Quote:
The tuba is the foundation of any PROPER ensemble? Only if you consider the brass band a "proper" ensemble.

What is possibly more "proper" than a traditional British musical group? :lol:

And if you have ever heard in person the awesome power of one of the great brass bands and the virtuosity of their musicians, you would not so easily dismiss them.

Quote:
I'll even put the power and majesty of a single electric guitar up against an entire orchestra any day.

And you call yourself a musician. For shame, angelrho, for shame.


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20 Jul 2010, 10:33 am

Oh today I am going to buy tickets to the movie of the show "The Big Four" with Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax. Awesome!



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20 Jul 2010, 11:15 am

Macbeth wrote:
Orwell wrote:
Awesomelyglorious wrote:
I cannot grant that every song made by Metallica is not worth listening to.

There is no song in the entire genre worth listening to.


Which genre is that?

The genre would be family friendly, RIAA approved pop-metal.

Bands superior to Metallica:
Black Sabbath
Burzum
Dream Theater
Head of David
Nocturnus
Possessed
Kreator
Slayer
Testament
Venom
Image



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20 Jul 2010, 11:29 am

Orwell wrote:
Quote:
The tuba is the foundation of any PROPER ensemble? Only if you consider the brass band a "proper" ensemble.

What is possibly more "proper" than a traditional British musical group? :lol:

And if you have ever heard in person the awesome power of one of the great brass bands and the virtuosity of their musicians, you would not so easily dismiss them.


More "proper" than a traditional British musical group? Try a traditional AMERICAN musical group: The Rock-n-roll Quartet from which metal ascended, along with a few other really nice musical genres.

Even the BRITISH are smart enough to recognize that! Where do you think Great Britain imported rock from? France? Hell no! The Beatles were most influenced by the King himself, Elvis Presley, who came from Tupelo, Mississippi, no less. The Rolling Stones are NOTHING if not a British response to Southern Rock. How did Eric Clapton get started? By playing BLUES. Where did the blues come from? Right here in the armpit of North America, for crying out loud! And it's that blues influence that started this whole thing called "rock music."

Really, Orwell, someone as highly learned and intelligent as yourself ought to have a better grasp on musicology than that.



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20 Jul 2010, 11:32 am

OK, I will concede on this one point: There is nothing quite so powerful, eye-catching, and entertaining as a DCI performance. I really do miss the Velvet Knights of Anaheim, and I was privileged enough to see them before their final season.



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20 Jul 2010, 11:50 am

It appears you missed my reference to the stereotypical British reputation for properness.

In any case, I have no interest in this "rock" music of yours. I much prefer Bach.

AngelRho wrote:
OK, I will concede on this one point: There is nothing quite so powerful, eye-catching, and entertaining as a DCI performance. I really do miss the Velvet Knights of Anaheim, and I was privileged enough to see them before their final season.

Not really a brass band (where are the alto horns, cornets, and flugelhorns?) DCI puts on a good show, but in raw musicianship they must be lacking on account of several disadvantages: they perform outside, they move about while playing (and consider the choreographed walking at least as important as the playing) and they are composed exclusively of young amateurs, and not the best amateurs at that. I am a fan of the Blue Coats, though.


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20 Jul 2010, 11:59 am

Look, I'll admit that Metallica isn't my favorite band. I do generally prefer Megadeth over Metallica, and I prefer Marilyn Manson over both.

How about some Cradle of Filth though:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dW6aNAZGTM[/youtube]

I know you love the man's vocals, Orwell.

(Also, Orwell, what is your favorite genre? If it is Classical, I will have to smite you for being a dork)



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20 Jul 2010, 12:07 pm

Awesomelyglorious wrote:
I know you love the man's vocals, Orwell.

What vocals? And what's with all the creepy Goths?

Quote:
(Also, Orwell, what is your favorite genre? If it is Classical, I will have to smite you for being a dork)

I enjoy Romantic-era composers the most. Modern philistines such as AngelRho would tend to lump that in with classical.


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20 Jul 2010, 12:14 pm

Orwell wrote:
(Also, Orwell, what is your favorite genre? If it is Classical, I will have to smite you for being a dork)

I enjoy Romantic-era composers the most. Modern philistines such as AngelRho would tend to lump that in with classical.[/quote]
Well, that is considered "classical music" as classical is generally considered the period from the Baroque to the Romantic period. At least in common parlance. So, DORK!! !! I SMITE THEE!! !! Image



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20 Jul 2010, 12:14 pm

Orwell wrote:
It appears you missed my reference to the stereotypical British reputation for properness.

In any case, I have no interest in this "rock" music of yours. I much prefer Bach.

AngelRho wrote:
OK, I will concede on this one point: There is nothing quite so powerful, eye-catching, and entertaining as a DCI performance. I really do miss the Velvet Knights of Anaheim, and I was privileged enough to see them before their final season.

Not really a brass band (where are the alto horns, cornets, and flugelhorns?) DCI puts on a good show, but in raw musicianship they must be lacking on account of several disadvantages: they perform outside, they move about while playing (and consider the choreographed walking at least as important as the playing) and they are composed exclusively of young amateurs, and not the best amateurs at that. I am a fan of the Blue Coats, though.


No, I got the reference. I just ignored it.

If you have no interest in rock music, then you are lost. There is nothing more I can say or do to help you.

Bach is good, too. I'm also a big fan of Skid Row, and I find it hard to understand how you can like Bach/Skid Row and yet say you don't like rock music.

Unless you're talking about J.S. Bach. My piano teacher tried to get me to learn his inventions back in the day, and it was just too much for me. When I finished my master's degree and moved back home, I didn't really have that much to do so I took to learning a fugue I'd found in one of my anthologies. My wife describes that 3-month period as the lowest point in our relationship. ;)

Whenever I find a worthy piano student, I'll invariably have them learn the first "Prelude" from WTC.

I don't know about DCI being made up EXCLUSIVELY of amateurs, though. I've had several acquaintances who were also college music majors who were PROUD of their DCI participation.

The beauty of DCI performances is their integration of visual and sonic effects. You have some of the most forward-thinking people in the business putting this stuff together, and the performances are unparalleled. Most of the concepts we even have with high school and college marching bands originated with DCI. I mean, we're doing stuff now that the DCI people were already doing 1 or 2 decades ago!

Yeah, the Blue Coats are always good.

But if outdoors performances aren't your thing, there's always Blast! and Shockwave.



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20 Jul 2010, 12:27 pm

Orwell wrote:
Awesomelyglorious wrote:
I know you love the man's vocals, Orwell.

What vocals? And what's with all the creepy Goths?

Quote:
(Also, Orwell, what is your favorite genre? If it is Classical, I will have to smite you for being a dork)

I enjoy Romantic-era composers the most. Modern philistines such as AngelRho would tend to lump that in with classical.


It makes no difference to me, Orwell. Most mere commoners do not know the difference between Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and even 20th Century and Contemporary music. They think that Renaissance music and medieval music is the same as the rest of it. So if you try to talk to these people about different kinds of music, and they say "Oh, you mean Classical," it gets really frustrating and one tends to tire of even trying. They think "Romantic" music has something to do with "Romeo and Juliet," which is only true to the extent that Tchaikovsky wrote a symphonic poem based on that story.

So while I've wrestled with maintaining a sense of artistic and academic integrity since graduation, the fact remains that I live in this place that they call "the real world" and have painfully been forced to adjust.

So until the entire world learns to appreciate music and understand the difference between "Impressionism" and "expressionism," I have no choice but to speak in terms that regular people understand.