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What makes good music “good?”  Aesthetics in music 

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What is Aesthetics? 

The branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of

art, beauty, and taste, with the creation and

appreciation of beauty.

In music, aesthetics is the study of the experience of

hearing music, and the study of questions related to

its beauty and enjoyment.

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 A (Very) Brief History 

Immanuel Kant (1724-1804):

Instrumental music is beautiful but

ultimately trivial

Does not engage understandingand lacks moral purpose

Music must be combined with

words, as in song and opera

18th Century 

 Aesthetics only include the visual arts; music is only important

as accompaniment to dancing 

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 A (Very) Brief History 19th Century

Music could & should express ideas, images, emotions, or even whole

stories.

E.T.A. Hoffman: Music is fundamentally the art of instrumentalcomposition

 Arthur Schopenhauer: Instrumental music is the greatest art; it can

represent the metaphysical organization of reality.

War of the Romantics (Formalists vs. Anti-formalists)

Formalists: Appreciation of music is found in formal design.

(Music is self-sufficient as a means of expression.)

 Anti-formalists: Musical form is only a means to an end.

(Music depends on extra-musical ideas.)

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 A (Very) Brief History 20th Century

The Formalists vs. anti-formalists debate continues.

Igor Stravinsky: the only relevant thing for the composer "is his

apprehension of the contour of the form, for the form is everything.

He can say nothing whatever about meanings.” 

“Higher” vs. “Lower” Music

The distinction between "art music" and "popular music."

Theodor Adorno: popular culture industries produce a debasedmass of unsophisticated, sentimental products; popular culture

serves "false needs."

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 A (Very) Brief History 20th Century, cont inued

Theodor Adorno (1903-1969): German

sociologist, philosopher and musicologist

Popular culture industries produce a

debased mass of unsophisticated,

sentimental products; popular culture

serves "false needs.” 

The culture industry manipulates the

population. Popular culture is a reason

why people become passive; the easy

pleasures available through

consumption of popular culture made

people docile and content, no matter

how terrible their economic

circumstances.

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Your Turn! Good music vs. bad music: what makes good music

"good" and bad music "bad?"

Why is some music boring?

Instrumental music vs. vocal music:

Does instrumental music have the capacity to

express ideas or are words required?

Is popular music really "lower" music and art music

really "higher" music? Why or why not?