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January 14, 2013
Next Question
“The whole problem can be stated quite simply by asking, ‘Is there a meaning to music?’ My answer would be, ‘Yes.’ And ‘Can you state in so many words what the meaning is?’ My answer to that would be, ‘No.’” — Aaron Copland, What to Listen for in Music, 1939
Posted by gerardvanderleun at January 14, 2013 2:18 PM. This is an entry on the sideblog of American Digest: Check it out.
Your Say
Of course, Copland is absolutely right. If you could say what music meant in words, then you wouldn't need music. Copland's insight can be applied to other forms of expression as well, such as mathematics. If you could say what mathematics meant in words, you wouldn't need mathematics. If you could say what dance meant, you wouldn't need dance.
The meaning is in the forms--aural, mental, bodily, painted, sculpted, etc. Without forms there are no meanings.
Posted by: Gloria at January 15, 2013 11:22 AM