Program Music: Is It Wrong for Music to Tell a Story?

When is music not just itself? Can music be anything other than abstract, or 'absolute' as it's sometimes called. In fact, as I'll argue in this video, music is rarely, if ever abstract, even if it isn't describing specific things, when we listen we can't help but pick out ideas, movements or sounds that we relate to the real world. In classical music, representative music is often known as 'Programme Music' and looked down on. I'll argue here that there is plenty of really good programme music, we just don't think of it like that - the Rite of Spring is a good example. And I'll also suggest that some kinds of representative music, like Debussy's La Mer are rich and imaginative works, and the addition of these other elements add to the experience of listening to the piece. Finally I'll question why there is so little of this kind of representative approach in popular music and jazz.

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David Bruce: The Consolation of Rain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=to0tDlSIgHo

David Bruce: Undula
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi7wptivHA8

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David Bruce on Schumann's 3rd Symphony (LSO Channel)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmEPtb3WbF8

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Pieces played in this video:

Duke Ellington : A Tone Parallel to Harlem (Harlem Suite)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHJoS2gMx3Y

Marais -〈Alcione〉Tempête (Jordi Savall & Le Concert des Nations)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POydmjVrD0I

Vivaldi: Four Seasons (Summer)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvDt_KtOzbc

Scott Walker: It's Raining Today
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSzOcvAJmi0

Aaron Copland: Appalachian Spring
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMaAe2aH6pw

Debussy: La Mer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgSNgzA37To

Biber: Sonata Representativa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRX8EwdEyBs

Berg: Wozzeck Act 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viXMstoz5_Q

Thomas Ades: Overture to The Tempest
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yyud1KJBBWg

George Benjamin: Ringed by the Flat Horizon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1x3a5aei12Q

Martin Peerson: The Fall of the Leaf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwAEPOpyBOs

Strauss: Don Quixote
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1HI2IesPBw

Видео Program Music: Is It Wrong for Music to Tell a Story? канала David Bruce Composer