Is music an art form?

In the last few years of his life, Morton Feldman asked himself whether music was an art form or just a music form. Music poses a specific problem similar to that of science. Both, if we can call them languages, are peculiar at that. Whatever is manifested through them is supposed to be right, whether it is or not; the only difference being that a scientific proposition can cancel another one, music cannot do that.

Music, being so close to language as it has been, offers a beautiful paradox by being so distant from it. Music can state something, but it can't deny anything.

So, is music an art form? For now I choose Feldman's doubt. But let us suppose it can be. If so, then music should originate outside of music, for music that comes from music itself is only craft.

(Click on the title to go read a discussion taking place somewhere else about this entry)

detalle núm. 3 "solve et coagula"

Obra para cuarteto de cuerdas. Selecciona el título para escuchar la interpretación del JACK Quartet.

Work for string quartet. Click on the title to listen to a performance by the JACK Quartet.