Metamusic

Further notes toward a semiologicohermenutics of the Anachronisms

by Hardwick Herpes

All music is conventional and arbitrary. Eastern and Western music differ profoundly, for example, and simply because musical conventions have developed differently in different parts of the world. No one would argue that Eastern music is right while Western music is wrong, for example.

Nevertheless, people persist in applying the meaningless labels good and bad to musical performances. Since musical convention has no moral basis (and none is claimed for it) the application of such labels necessarily cripples the individual's ability to apprehend the full meaning of any musical work.

By composing and performing music which is firmly in while at the same time firmly outside one musical or other, the Anachronisms liberate the mind by freeing it from the shackles of musical convention and allowing it to roam among the garden of endless possibilities which is the musical endeavour.

(to be continued)