Re: vocabulary

>>>> H. S. Teoh<hsteoh@...> 12/17/2004 12:37:55 PM >>>
[snip on-topic stuff :)]
>> Yes.  I agree that a feeling for language is useful in conlanging, but
>> formal training in linguistics is far less important.  It is the same
>> as with music, for example: a good musician needs a feeling for music,
>> but he doesn't need formal training in music theory.  It has been
>> claimed that musicologists, when they compose at all, compose soulless,
>> overintellectual music (though it has also been claimed that this
>> is in no way the case; I don't know who is right), and it might be
>> similar with linguistics and conlanging.
>
>Now, I am an amateur musician, and so I tend to agree with this
>theory. ;-) However, IMHO, it is not necessarily the case that
>musicologists will always compose overintellectual music. I think it's
>just a matter of inherent musical competence. Musicology is a tool; in
>the hands of a musical master, it can be an extremely useful tool for
>creating the most powerful, moving pieces. However, the same tool in
>the hands of an inexperienced composer can easily be soulless and
>overintellectual. (The case is the same with the bad composer who does
>not know musicology, except that in this case we take no notice of him
>because he doesn't have an audience to begin with.) A composer without
>knowledge of musicology can still compose good music, although such a
>composer would IMHO benefit greatly from a study of musicology.
Sorry, I have to correct some terminology here:
Musicology generally refers to the study of music history and performance
practice, NOT composition OR theory.
Theory refers to the study of inner-workings of music based on the musical
language itself.
Composition is the area of creation.

In large music schools (UNT, for ex., where I got my doctorate) all of these
are separate areas of study, and majors. Musicologists rarely take composition
classes, and IME, generally write the least interesting music. Theorists are
more likely to compose, and write marginally better music. Composers, are
the cream of the crop, IMNSHO! :)


-------------------------------
James W.

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