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I you will permit me, one could say the same for all music.

Barber is never atonal for a second. The whole piece has constant pedal points to remind you of exactly where you are.

Thanks for that. Will definitely give it a few listens before I go.

As arch-conservative tonal composer Saint-Saens pointed out, using music to convey emotion and a message is not a necessary function of music, although doing that will appeal to the amateurs.

It's never occurred to me that "the best" atonal music was characterized by conveying emotion or any message other than the music itself. Which is not to say that it cannot convey those things - I'm not the kind of purist that denies that music can do that.

But-

Just like finding beauty and interest in the natural world (which could care less about my emotional response to it), I am quite happy when music is simply intriguing or beautiful or catches my interest in almost any way.

I couldn't care less about how much you could care less.

Of all Americanisms, that is definitely one of the ones I 'could' care less about.

Personally, I couldn't care less (i.e. I could care more, but don't give a dam*) what composers choose to write. After all, one could throw dice and write 'music' based on the notes they come up with.....er, oops, it's already been done .

Plenty of amateurs - me included - write music purely to please themselves. In the natural world, birds sing for a reason, but leaves rustle for none at all....

The reason leaves rustle is because the wind blows them.

Touché

Here's something to entertain all who love the rustle of leaves in spring (and nice tunes and recognizable harmonies ) ......
http://youtu.be/lvT2vU-z7kA

Uh-oh, I don't normally make that mistake. Or at least I think I don't. Aarrgghh!!

[video:youtube]om7O0MFkmpw[/video]

lol

I have good news for WR.....although he probably won't know it because he usually honors me with the Ignore feature.

And even if he sees this, he probably could care less.

Point: Contrary to the quasi-pedantic view that has become widespread, there is nothing incorrect about "could care less."

Here's the deal: It is a sarcasm.

Example: Your friend sits down at the piano and plays some atonal music. You hate it. So you say, "Yeah, I love it." Sarcastically.

Then, let's say, he says, "Just for that I won't play for you any more." So you say, "I could care less."

Sarcastically.
Just like you said yeah I love it.

Just as "Yeah, I love it" wasn't a mistaken version for "I hate it," but a sarcasm, likewise "I could care less" wasn't a mistaken version of "I couldn't care less."

And here's what supports the idea that this is in fact where people are coming from when they say "I could care less": What is their TONE? Is it not sarcastic? Almost invariably sarcastic? I think it is. It is rarely said in the matter-of-fact tone in which they would say "I couldn't care less." So, WR, you did right fine.

Thank you very much.

hahaha!

I think that this video can close this thread in a loving way! LOL

LOL

That is a totally ridiculous justification of a phrase which is simply a nonsensical mutation. There's no sarcasm implied, its just that the n't syllable has been dropped the same way the i sound has been from aluminium, though in the case of the latter at least the entire point of the word hasnt been subverted.

I've never even spelled aluminum with the i in it. I don't think many Americans do. I agree otherwise.

No, it ain't not right, nohow.

I think you didn't even think much about it before saying that.

You could argue that it's not necessarily right, but you're wrong that it's ridiculous.

Take another look (if you feel like it), and think closely about what was explained. If you still think it's ridiculous, you'll still be wrong.

Do you disagree that it could make sense that this is how it FIRST got said?

Do you disagree that people who say it usually say it with a more sarcastic tone than those who say "couldn't care less"?


If you mean that people who say it are rarely thinking of it that way, I don't necessarily disagree.

I've only ever heard it said on television because I don't live in America, but I've only ever heard it said with an intonation that implies what they mean is 'I could not care less', with no hint of sarcasm.