RP1: Musical Culture & Musical Value (3-4 pp.

The definition of music is not a simple task because, although any person naturally
recognizes it, its meanings and nuances make the question complex and highly intuitive,
which refers to the individual perception and feeling of each interlocutor, that is,
composers, interpreters, and listener.

Music creates and awakens effectivity; it seems to change the way I conceive the
world. Is very interesting to think about the influence of music in the construction of
identities, not only it helps to signify the world, but music helps the subject to signify
himself. Since I can remember, music has been a great part of my life. CDs and vinyl
have always surrounded my living room. My parents have a great passion for music, and
they awakened it in me. Through music, I defined my identity, and that is a little
paradoxical since my musical taste is not very defined. I listen to all kinds of music; a
proof of that is my recently played artists on my Spotify account, Gustav Mahler, Paul
McCartney, Labrinth, Ennio Morricone and Ray Charles are some of the examples. My
philosophy regarding listening to music is everytime and everywhere; it doesnt matter.

Music, as in any artistic or cultural process, constitutes a social phenomenon. It

relates and questions the social values and the meanings of the subjects. Thus, when I
experience music, I do not establish a relationship with musical material alone, but with
a whole network of meanings constructed in the social world. Music, as well as being an
instrument for the acquisition of culture and leisure, can serve as a tool for social
integration and, in this sense, presents itself as a way of demarcating and reflecting
psychological and sociocultural differences. So, musical taste creates concepts, labels,
groups of coexistence and even stigmas, whereas, also, they are placed in the form of
identity representation. It is one of the ultimate forms of expression. Like identity, musical
taste is also built into interpersonal relationships and one's practices, whether it is singing,
composing, dancing, or listening. That justifies the predilection of certain music over
others.

What is the place of interpretation in music? Is it possible to make music without

playing? Or is an interpretation inherent in the musical action? The answer depends, of
course, on the conceptualization of the term. From a point of view, any musical action
can be understood as interpretation. So, how to analyze and describe a performance? The
answer would be not exactly in the notes played, but between them. For example, to
interpret a text, we should go beyond the simple reading of its line. In between the lines,
the interpreter directs the text, revealing its meaning. The interpretation reveals the
intention of the interpreter. Is also important to analyze the context in which the song was
made; you would hardly appreciate Bob Dylan`s Like a Rolling Stone without knowing
its cultural background, for example. Therefore, cultural values have everything to do
with our evaluation of a performance, the super decorated vocals of India's classical music
would probably be considered out of place in a western song. That`s why The Beatles
used western characteristics in the vocals of Within you Without you despite the use of
Indian`s structure and instrumentation to the song.

Many medias tried to put together a list of The greatest songs of all time, but
how can we define what cultural importance is? How can we determine if a piece of music
is culturally important? According to Nicholas Cook, music isn't just something nice
to listen to. On the Contrary, it's deeply embedded in human culture, [] It is suffused
with human values, with our sense of what is good or bad, right or wrong. [] People
think through music, decide who they are through it, express themselves through it.
Musical taste is also subject, the greatest songs of all time varies from one subject to
another, so, how can we decide which one can represent the best of this art? Chuck
Klosterman, in his article Which Rock Star Will Historians of the Future Remember?
discuss this matter, by saying that, as time goes by, only one representative of a genre
remains, and that artist becomes the genre itself. John Philip Souza and the Marching
Music is a great example of that. But, It is possible to triumph over genre tribalism and
decide which artist or piece of music could represent the best of humanity? Do we have
any modern example? Spencer Kornhaber affirms that the difficulties of gaining access
to music make it more valuable. In a time when repetition seems to be the rule, is hard to
predict which artist possess the originality and impact to endure. With that being said,
Here is my five songs selection that I think would be in the definitive list of the most
influential songs of all time.

The Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 Ludwig van Beethoven.

The Beethovens 9th Symphony is the ultimate ode to humanitys freedom. Being
one of the most recognizable pieces of music of all time, it changed the way a song is
composed, performed and listened, and represents the transition to the Romantic
Movement in music. By blending vocals and instruments and giving them the same
importance, Beethoven shocked the world and started a revolution that would set the tone
for all the music to come.

Rhapsody in Blues George Gershwin

Rhapsody in Blues by George Gershwin successfully mix scholarly repertoire with

elements of popular music. The idea of excluding the prejudice between classical and
popular world approximate the audiences. It incorporates the melodic-harmonic language
of the blues and the rhythms of popular music. The rhythms vary considerably throughout
the piece, avoiding a direct identification with dance. But, it is possible to identify some
patterns that refer to the jazz of the time. It was, and it still is a groundbreaking piece of
music.

Like a Rolling Stone Bob Dylan

Full of criticism and the characteristic cynicism of Bob Dylan in its crudest form,
Like a Rolling Stone shows how the horizon of popular music could be expanded in an
unprecedented way. Considered one of the most influential pieces of music of the post-
war period, the song contains acid lyrics and simple instrumentation, however ingenious,
and influenced folk music and all the other styles to come. Music presents itself as a
legitimate expression to confront the status quo.

A Day in the Life The Beatles

A Day in the Life challenges everything that was established as rock music by that
time, using experimentation with studio technology, classical orchestration, sound effects
and avant-garde techniques. With its laconic descending harmonies juxtapose by a middle
section, which predicts the rise of the opera/rock in the next decade, it represents a
landmark for other music to come. The very last note keeps resonating, just like the song
popularity and influence. A Day in the Life represents the emotional and aesthetic climax
of the sixties, it changed the rules of the game forever and opened the door for a new
musical age, where genres mix and converge freely.

Whats Going On Marvin Gaye

Whats Going on is the definition of a game changer. It takes influence from

different genres of music, Soul, Funk, Jazz, Gospel, and classical orchestration, and
converge them into an unprecedented mixture. The final touch is given by the lyrics that
portrait the social transformations that afflicted the world at the time. The soul music
approaches the condition of art. The songs that use to be associated with showmanship
and personal pain now have become the hymn to social changes.