Friday, December 27, 2013

I've Heard That Before!

The one thing I have never been able to tolerate is the feeling of "same-old/same-old" reinforced (actually forced in that it is unrelentingly repetitive) listening epitomized by the recording.

It is physically impossible for a live sound to be repeated exactly as it was made last time.  That is why real pianos are the only pianos worthy of the name.  That is why live has to be heard in the room (though live on the radio is not completely awful), and why children should be encouraged to engage in variation, so as not to learn that anticipated repetition is the point of music, as so many are still taught.

Anticipated repetition is the point of something else, not music.  Any suggestions what that something might be called?