Defining Music

For this class, we’ll adopt Varèse’s idea: music is the organization of sound, whether by the artist or listener. This broad perspective acknowledges that what one person considers music might not align with traditional definitions, but that’s okay.

The Blur Between Sound Art and Music The line between sound art and music is fuzzy. Music is obviously a sonic art form, but not all music fits comfortably under the term sound art. For example, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony is universally considered music. But if you stretch that symphony over 24 hours, like Leif Inge did in his work “9 Beet Stretch,” some might question whether it’s still music or something else entirely. It’s a blurry space, and some sound artists prefer the term sonic art to avoid the cultural baggage tied to music.