Hey guys and gals,

Being a (largely) metal oriented forum, it's not unexpected to see people adding disclaimers or apologising for liking music that may seem anathema to the metal community. Here's a great read from Thomas Bergersen about embracing diversity. You may not know his name but trust me, you've heard his music if you've watched any major trailers. He's one half of the brilliant Two Steps From Hell.

Anyways, read, think, enjoy.

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"I just wanted to say a few things on dubstep, as some people seem to focus on it, not as the musical device that it is, but rather its status in our culture and society. People identify themselves through music, and express themselves through their taste in music. Sometimes people get so caught up in the attributions of genres that they forget what music is about in the first place. They limit themselves to certain styles because their mind is not free. Music can and should be enjoyed across all genres, regardless of social value, political statement, mainstream success, stigma and so on, because great talent is to be found in every aspect of art, from the popular to the most obscure and unknown.

Dubstep has a perceived low social value because of widespread misconceptions, ignorance and bitterness. Bitterness from the UK and surrounding cultures because the US dubstep variant, Brostep, by proxy of the masterful producer Skrillex became an overnight phenomenon that completely overshadowed a decade or so of dubstep history from the country and followers of origin. Ignorance, because people do not understand the considerable talent and work that goes into high quality music of any genre, and finally misconceptions because people think dubstep is written exclusively by teenagers with laptops, no musical education or comprehension of simple musical concepts and theory.

Classical music, contemporary and traditional is considered "sophisticated", "academic", "intelligent" and so on, because the ignorant consensus is that it "obviously requires a much greater mind and skillset to write music for something as complex as an orchestra". Thus, so-called "elitist" and "purist" followers of classical/orchestral music are born, and they, like every other culturally selective group in society stick together to spread the message that the music and art that they identify themselves by is vastly superior to that which the unwashed masses enjoy, such as Justin Bieber and Skrillex.

As someone who has written music for orchestras, choirs, metal bands, trance, country, bubblegum pop, hollywood movies and tv jingles I can assure you that neither musical genre is more sophisticated, intelligent or difficult to do than another. I feel compelled to address the gross ignorance that is displayed increasingly frequent when people trash great pop acts of our time such as Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and so on. The collective talent, musicianship, intelligence and hard work behind these acts is unparalleled. There is a reason why these people are popular, and it's not the image or look that they carry. The music may not be to your taste, but be honest with yourself and man enough to admit that the reason you don't listen to Justin Bieber or Lady Gaga is because of its perceived social stigma, your own ego and/or your views on manufactured talent packages.

I myself choose to keep an open mind and never ever mix music and art with politics or as a social affiliation and identification factor. Wherever great men pave new road, greater minds will follow, and the collective great minds will eventually reach the limits of what we are intellectually capable of, only to carry this knowledge forth into new fields of discovery. The principle of evolution is as sound in the context of music as in the context of nature. Do you follow the herd or is your mind free? Think about it. Do you identify yourself through music? Do you hide behind it or do you actually choose to be free and embrace everything without prejudice? Life is so rich and full of beauty, and art is truly limitless, so why limit ourselves to the sheep mentality in our appreciation of it? Embrace without prejudice and cultivate that which resonates within you, not what resonates with others."




Ps. I will add I don't think the kind of behaviour that inspired TB to write is evident on this board, but I do note people apologising for liking certain kinds of music. We shouldn't have to apologise or add disclaimers. If music of any kind touches us, inspires us, makes us happy or whatever, that's a good thing and should be celebrated. :-)

I absolutely agree. You shouldn't have to apologise for liking a certain type of music.. and also for not liking a certain type of music

There is a lot of non rock or metal music I enjoy. I've been getting into film scores a bit more lately. The obvious stuff like Clubbed to Death, Hanz Zimmer, Lux Aeterna by Clint Mansell etc. I know they might seem a bit 'obvious' but there's a reason they got used for so many adverts, tv spots etc. They're so damn good ! is there any particular composer or film score you could recommend ? I'm after anything incredibly dramatic, epic and emotive

I honestly didn't realize that GMC was a "Metal Forum?" so much as a "Good Music" forum that focuses on players who can actually play, but now that I think about it, many of those player do happen to play Metal And, Metal is IMHO an amazing expression of musical wonderment. But, that said, I agree that it's important to be open to ALL styles and approaches of music and playing as each has something to offer.

The recent HANSON posts have been interesting, but that really does seem to merit some sort of preliminary apology as their overall reputation is simply so repellent to many, especially to guitar players it seems, that such posts might be dismissed out of hand. However, one of the guys worked as an A&R (signing bands) guy and they are actually decent musicians in their own right.

A similar fate befell CREED (cringe) whose guitar player went on to form ALTER BRIDGE (RAWKS!) and now released a solo album that will MELT YOUR FACE!!!!!. So it is possible to redeem oneself and repair ones reputation I believe. Maybe even Hanson!

Zimmer is my favourite film composer but I spend more time listening to trailer music and in that field there's a ton of great epic composers. Thomas Bergersen and Two Steps From Hell are an obvious choice. Immediate Music, Jo Blankenburg, Jack Trammell, Epic Score, the list goes on. You can discover a lot of great epic dramatic composers through this YT channel. https://www.youtube.com/user/park0urfreak





Hey Todd, that's exactly TB's point. Dismissing artists/bands/genres out of hand is more often an action of prejudice than anything else. I think the outcome of that is how inbred a genre can become. Real innovation occurs when musicians open themselves and explore a wider world of music, finding new ideas and techniques that can become a part of their own style and so forging new horizons rather than drawing tighter and tighter boundaries.

This post has been edited by OzRob: Nov 10 2012, 05:07 AM

I'd add Steve Reich and Craig Armstrong.




Very true - one of the issues with true innovation is that people find it strange because it is different to what they usually experience. There are some people doing some very interesting stuff, some of which worksand some doesn't, like Matmos, Nurse with Wounds, Prefuse, Thomas Ades, My Cat is an Alien. It's also interesting to see how the mainstream sometimes assimilates the innovative and turns it in to a consumerised pastiche. Dub Reggae, underground and D&B all got hit with the commerical bat at various points..

Ben try pianist Einaudu. He will help your zen like state

Sounds like something I need lately !

My musical tastes has no limits... I follow this quote.. Trust the art, not the artist. I definitely agree with Thomas words.

Depending on my mood or situation I listen and am influenced by many genres. I just like good music

"There is only two kinds of music, good music and bad music." - Louis Armstrong

Great quote !

not knowing what TB posted so I cannot comment,but I am metal through(raised in LA in the 80's), that being said this happens to be my favorite song right now
I also like ribbing another user stating " metal Sucks" - much joking like this occurs at Gmc which keeps it down to earth ( and that needs to stay)
I agree that all music is relevant , Having had classical guitar and piano lessons as well as my daughters having classical training as well

but I just got to say this mentality that we cannot say something that might offend someone . I don't know how it is in
Europe , but here in the states it makes me sick , everything has to be equal , We can;t offend anyone,they are rewriting our founding documents because people get "offended" from it .If people can't take someone talking about their likes or preferences- Tough. It happens to me all the time - but it doesnt bring me down , am I not aloud to have a different opinion or the be able to express it

I agree with the things that are being said in this thread - but we all need to" grow a pair "

We in Europe can say whatever we want and u don't have wright to get offended Cursin.

Btw country music sucks

This post has been edited by Slavenko Erazer: Nov 11 2012, 04:32 PM

Here's one of my favorite non-guitar pieces of music. It's one of the main themes from Last of the Mohicans. I've heard it called "Prominence" and "The Gael" so I'm not sure of the exact title. It's very moving in my opinion, especially when coupled with the theme of the movie.



I also recorded a small guitar version of this for kicks a few years ago, this thread made me think of it. It is condensed and ends abruptly as I was just playing around at the time but maybe I'll go on and try to complete it.

hey dude, that is a really cool interpretation. I like that

also, slightly off topic, the guy who wrote the original piece, dougie maclean, was bizarrely at my old bands very first gig Im sure he remembers it as a vividly as I do