In Defense of Modernism

Dary John Mizelle writes about the philosophy of modern music.

Music with an experimental consciousness bespeaks a fresh outlook on life and an ongoing development of knowledge. People who appreciate experimental music and other avant garde arts have a kind of openness of mind which comes as a breath of fresh air in a world of hardened attitudes and political positions.

I have come to the conclusion that the current prejudice against experimental music is a result of confusion between music and music theory. Music theories come and go as musicians attempt to explain the musical languages of their times or former times, yet great music of any culture or era has the power to outlast the fashions of the day regardless of which theoretical construct or musical language was used in its composition. That is why we still listen to great music of the past. It speaks to us regardless of the theory the composer knew and practiced, because of the compositional excellence of the composer’s technique and the honesty of his artistic voice.