Qhite possibly, the best test for whether a piece of music is 'objectively' good, is the test of time.

   If a work can survive for , ah, how long?, say 100 years, and still be played, like loads of folk music, then it must have some gen-you-ine value. (Bach is an interesting testing of this view)

   Even if it was either hugely popular or critically acclaimed when contemporary, and subsequently disappears, that would seem to indicate that it met some current need, was part of a current fashion, or there was something in the water.

From that point of view, the idea that if it sounds the way the performer intended then it's good seems are a poor argument.

likewise the idea that every piece is good to somebody maybe thoroughly true from the point of view of subjectivity and individualism, less satisfactory for a go at the notion of an 'objective' good.

the words, 'potato', 'hot' and 'minefield' appear on the brow of the hill.





      Ivor

(Quietly hoping this revives not stifles further discussion)

---

Thread closed because it's been a target for a heavy barrage of Spam. If you have something to add to the discussion, please start a new thread and provide a link to this one.
-Joe Offer-