How important is having a point?

[mim]

Something to ponder: when writing a tune, how important is it to you for the tune to have a point, other than the music being its own point? A story, a statement, an idea, an emotion, etc.

To what degree do you think you can tell, when listening to somebody play their tune?

Do you think this changes when one writes for a singer (if they are the singer or not), or if you are listening to a singer, with or without lyrics?

[ladylex]

Nice thread Mim

Well.. Music will always be subjective. So whoever creates the music.. the lyrics, the ‘point’ or purpose of the tune will only ever be truly personal to the creator. Not to say of course that listeners or performers of that tune cant relate but I believe they will project their own purposes onto the tune as well. It is these private ‘points’ that personalizes improvised music and makes it different each and everytime.

I guess.. It depends on WHY Im writing it in the first place. Ive written bits of fluff that makes fun of a particular situation (EG rather hilarious HipHop tune Silicone Tits) or a tune that was inspired by a dramatic turn of events.

So yeh.. Im of the opinion that the purpose of a tune is valid mainly to the listener or performer. Music has its own highly personal message – and this message is open to anyone whomever wishes to accept it.

[mim]

True, the specific meaning of a tune may be valid mainly to the writer. The listener can gauge whatever they like from it. Though I suppose I was wondering to what degree the listener can detect the existence of a pre-determined meaning in a tune, as opposed to the listener interpreting it to have a meaning for them, when in actual fact the composer may not have had anything specific in mind when they wrote it.

Whew that was a long sentence. I'm not being very succinct. If somebody can decipher my ramblings please comment.

[ladylex]

For one well known to be less than concise.. I understood that perfectly heheh.

hmm.. that is indeed something a bit more to ponder. Because unless the listener knows the name of the tune (Im thinking of Impressionist pieces here with their lovely descriptive titles) or is quite close to the composer .. the 'point' can only be suggestive .. right?

I guess I look at it this way:

The notes and chords are positioned in certain ways by the composer so that it induces chemical reactions from the brain of the listener/performer. The chemical reactions effects the listener’s inner ear and body so that the chemically produced feelings remains locked in our consciousness. We can try to explain the reactions we have by translating it into words .. "the composer was obviously serious here becos the character of the tune has become grave and intense.." but it never fully sticks... not really...

David Bowie's composition techqnique takes him selecting random words and seeing which ones will 'fit' lyrically. Robbie Williams (a bad example.. but given his following..) says he never has a point to his tunes (dont we knowit!) and laffs his head off when fans ask him what certain lyrics mean.

Hmmm.. gonna think s'more. I like this topic though!