[rodgersorgan] Re: Dominance of rhythm and percussion

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on 11/23/02 4:17 PM, William E Ehrke at diapason@xxxxxxx wrote:

> Free Priority Mail Shipping through the Holidays from on music from Frog Music
> Press!
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> ==
> 
> Admittedly this is pretty far off the subject of organs -- a question
> for the musical philosophers among us:  How has music arrived at the
> point where rhythm and percussion completely dominate?  Melody, harmony
> and overall texture have all but disappeared from much of what we hear.
> 
> Pop music, of course, is the prime example.  But forgetting that for a
> minute, think of the everyday music of your life:
> 
> Why on earth does so much radio and TV advertising feature nothing but
> mindlessly repetitious boom-whack patterns behind the sales pitch?  Does
> this percussive assault increase people's tendency to buy?
> 
> High school bands (and my son plays in one) field such agressive
> percussion sections that you can't hear enough melody or harmony to tell
> the national anthem from the fight song.  Directors love to showcase
> their drum lines in half-time shows, but never a wind section.
> 
> And of course restaurants pipe in percussion-heavy arrangements that
> have about as much charm as a throbbing migraine.
> 
> Maybe some sort of musical weariness has finally caught up with me.
> Anybody else?
> 
> B.E.
> 
> 
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> 
The clanking and other noise does get to be a bit much.  The volume is way
too much.  However, this got it start musically a long time ago.  I remember
accompaniment to piano and little electronics like the Thomas and Lowery
organs in restaurants when I was growing up.  Does anyone remember the
"Side-man"?  Built by Wurlitzer during the 60's this was a dream come true.
Drum, castanets, block, cymbal all available at a push of a button.  Tempo,
rhythm, beat all ajustable.  The volume control apparently was used during
poorly played tunes.

Maybe it started off as a metronome and got out of control.  Maybe the ad
people are trying to appeal to our instinctual tribal beat that makes us
stand up and yell charge it.

I bought one of these machines not too long ago at an antique market.  My
granddaughter and grandson think its great and do their "dancing" with that
alone.  I am the final authority on the volume.

Kind of like opening and closing the swell shades with the organ off.
Leaves a lot to be desired.





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A MIDI Musical Christmas will delight your ears!  Buy now for Christmas music 
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