`07*** Quoting Rick Massey from a message to ALL ***`07
RM> So, here's the big question- Who do you compose for? Is it for 
RM> distribution? A select group of friends? To blow away other 
RM> a masturbatory exercise? 
RM> By defining your audience, you define your tools. If you're working 
RM> appeal, chances are strict serialism and twelve tone aren't going to 
RM> well, and it better have a melody. Musicians and Jazz audiences will 
RM> artful uses of rhythm and chord changes, while Prog rock fans and 
RM> eastern Europe will want to hear changes in time and very very 
RM> patterns.
RM> And it seems that often is question doesn't get asked at all. 
RM> behind the vast artistic umbrella of "Music Comp" and just write, 
RM> first question should be "Who is this for?"
RM> Music is communication, first and foremost. How do you communicate, 
RM> whom?
RM> Comments? Observations?
 For my Reply this will be a two part answer.
 Musically, I write what ** I ** find Pleasing to LISTEN to. That includes 
alot of different genres of Music. I find that I like a little of many 
different styles of Music.
 To me, Jazz seems so Pointless, and this is coming from a DRUMMER ! I have 
been playing Guitar since I was 9, and i am drawing very close to 30.
 In the band that I play in, we have alot of different influences, which just 
adds to the variety of textures that we can "pull" from.
 I personally just don't like Jazz. It sounds like 5 different guys playing 5 
different things to me. To me, it never seemed to Flow for some reason. It 
just makes me think of Chaos.
 On the other hand, I like Big Band Music, I LOVE Classical Music especially 
all of the Epic Wagnerian types of things, I like some Techno/Dance stuff, 
Heavy Metal, and Rock music.
 I also Generally do not like Rap. I can see where that Comes from, but most 
of it doesn't DO anything for me.
 So, Musically, I like Music that Either "plays" upon your Emotions, or Moves 
me in Some way.
 Various Styles of Music play on your Emotions in Various ways-We all can 
Relate to that.
 As far as the Lyrics go, here is where I come across as kind of Twisted. i 
am the main Lyricist for the band that I am playing.
 I love ancient Epic Poetry, Mythology, and stuff like that.
 I am very Devout as far as my Beliefs and my creed are concerned, so those 
also come into play as Factors when I am writing.
 To me, if Your Lyrics do not Convey some kind of Message, then they will 
have very little meaning to someone else. Most people write MANY Horrible 
songs and get 1 that is really good for every however many they can draw 
from. That is the Average. Just because you Write something, that does not 
make it great.
 Our Guitarist thinks that ALL of his songs are "THE GREATEST" in the World, 
and He can not GRASP that the Rest of the Band won't be "Knocked" out by ALL 
of his "Masterpeices".
 Actually, it's a very Humorous situation. He will wrote Lyrics that have NO 
meaning Whatsoever, Line upon Line they will make no sense at all.
 To me there HAS to be a Message tht others can relate to.
 So, Our Singer/Bassist/Keyboardist and I are the Lyricists for the Band. We 
use it as if we are a "Propaganda Machine" sometimes-- We use it to convey 
Our Thoughts and Beliefs.
 I'm sure that might sound "scary" to some people, but think about it for a 
moment. The Mass media is a tool that controls WHAT the Average American 
Views, Hears, and in some cases thinks.
 Kids sit and Watch MTV all day long, not even thinking about the fact that 
while they are being Entertained, they are also Watching a Commercial.
 Cartoons are the Same way. Right now it's "The Power Rangers" a couple of 
Years ago it was "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles".
 So, from THAT Perspective, We use it to Convey Our Thoughts, Feelings, 
Political Views, etc.
 Some of our Songs are just simply Poety about Subjects that i am Interested 
in. Our Original Bassist was my Writing Partner for almost ten Years. He 
thinks that the "Gods" of Egypt, and The God of The Bible are Space Aliens, 
who set up a mining Colony on the Earth. He thinks that Eve was "Cloned" from 
Adam's DNA. So, We had a 45 minute Epic called "Gaze of The Sphynx". It was 
so much fun to Play, but it never made it Out of the Bandroom. All of our 
friends thought that it was a great Concept, but they also thought that we 
were Crazy for Doing it.
 We also Have Written an Entire "Opera" containing Anne Rice's "Interview 
With The Vampire" Trilogy.
 That is what he is trying to Persue now. He's moving to Boston Next Week, 
and He's trying to Negotiate a deal with that Music for The Next Anne Rice 
Movie.
 I wish him Tons of luck, because Then I'll be getting some of those 
Royalties!
 He's from the Boston Area, and His Wife wanted to move back up there, so 
they are taking off. It kind of stinks in a way, because He and i have been 
EXTREMELY good Friends for 10 years now-It's like losing a Family member.
 But, they Hate it here in Florida, so as he put, it's time to Get As FAR 
away as Possible.
 
 Like I said before though, I write music that ** I ** like to listen to; 
that doesn't mean that they are all "masterpieces", but On average I don't do 
to bad.
Tim Brown
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