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.)