Science and Composition

James Watson, the scientist who along with Francis Crick discovered the form of DNA, got into some political hot water recently. He implied black Africans were less intelligent than white. Why make such a provocative statement?

Scientists are charged with helping to create new scholarship, to contribute new knowledge. Having won a Nobel Prize in your younger years, what do you now do for the rest of your life? As Martin Rees, the Astronomer Royal of the United Kingdom and president of the Royal Society explains, scientists have three choices as they age. They can (1) become an administrator or (2) content themselves with doing mediocre science. Or (3) they can go off the deep end and say something offensive.

Fortunately for composers of concert music, this is not a problem. As Dr. Rees states, "In contrast to composers, there are few scientists whose last works are their greatest." (See the New York Times article for more discussion about this.) As composers, we are like fine wine, getting better and better with each passing year. That's something to be celebrated! All your best years and compositions are still in front of you, so keep at it.

(Interestingly, I'm sure Dr. Rees did not have composers of popular music in mind.)

Music From the Inside Out

I just saw this movie, Music From The Inside Out, and highly recommend it. The movie interviews several players of the Philadelphia Orchestra, following them around on tour and asking them what music means to them, why they became performers, etc. Several of the players reveal another side of their musical lives, different from classical music. Some of the players are really into bluegrass and Latin music, for instance, and it's fun to listen in.

While at first you might feel this movie is more appropriate for performers than composers, virtually every line spoken in the movie contains a little nugget of wisdom you can take away. And it so interesting to hear performers explain what composers are trying to do... especially as the music of Beethoven's Symphony #3 plays in the background by the musicians themselves!

The Music Business Continues to Pass

I've been a fan of Radiohead since their album OK Computer. I sometimes ask myself the question, "What music will still be around in 200 years?" and I think Radiohead have a promising chance at still being discussed and listened to.

One innovation bound for the history books is how they will distribute and price their new album, In Rainbows. It's available as a digital download from their album website at a price you decide. That's right, when it comes time to pay, you type in the price you want to pay. You can choose to pay a little or a lot -- it's all on the honor system.

VH1.com calls it either "the opening salvo in the all-out war for the future of the music industry" or "the most bizarre marketing strategy of all time." I'd call it an interesting example of the individualization of the music business. For an artist as large as Radiohead to do this, without the aid of a record company pushing it, is remarkable.

Is this the future of selling music?