Threatened with the prospect of having to read Hegel last night, I decided to explore library stacks I had never visited. I found that nonsense in research is not confined to the humanities. Not even music is exempt.
This article is an example of needless piling on of meaningless noun phrases:
http://jmt.dukejournals.org/cgi/content ... t/50/2/143
This is my personal favorite: "The study of harmonic cross-reference in the three-key expositions of [two pieces] reveals a tension between functional distinctions for the sonorities involved (as defined by Schenkerian analysis), and the interconnection of these sonorities in processes of motivic development." How about "Schenkerian analysis of harmonic cross-references in [two pieces] shows that its voices are both distinct and connected, and this tension is what develops the motifs of the pieces." I don't see how this passes as cutting edge, unless the analysis itself is what matters, but does it matter if it only states the obvious?
I don't know much about music theory, but I can tell the difference between *making sense* and being over my head. How do I know I can tell the difference? I read my instructor's thesis. I didn't understand much of it, but it was readable. Compare with this clearly-written abstract:
http://jmt.dukejournals.org/cgi/content ... t/50/2/181
The premises are named, then defined. Incredible!
This article is an example of needless piling on of meaningless noun phrases:
http://jmt.dukejournals.org/cgi/content ... t/50/2/143
This is my personal favorite: "The study of harmonic cross-reference in the three-key expositions of [two pieces] reveals a tension between functional distinctions for the sonorities involved (as defined by Schenkerian analysis), and the interconnection of these sonorities in processes of motivic development." How about "Schenkerian analysis of harmonic cross-references in [two pieces] shows that its voices are both distinct and connected, and this tension is what develops the motifs of the pieces." I don't see how this passes as cutting edge, unless the analysis itself is what matters, but does it matter if it only states the obvious?
I don't know much about music theory, but I can tell the difference between *making sense* and being over my head. How do I know I can tell the difference? I read my instructor's thesis. I didn't understand much of it, but it was readable. Compare with this clearly-written abstract:
http://jmt.dukejournals.org/cgi/content ... t/50/2/181
The premises are named, then defined. Incredible!
"More then ever, the world needs love and the Grateful Dead!" -Vince