[sdiy] MIDI isn't musical : Flame bait?

[Don Tillman]

   Date: Sun, 13 Jan 2002 12:47:48
   From: Scott Gravenhorst <music.maker at gte.net>

   I don't believe that I said I preferred to use Casio over MOTM.  In
   fact, I didn't say that any one tool is better than another.
   *This* point is where we differ.

If one tool is no better than the other, then you're equally happy
with either the Casio or the MOTM, right?

I understand your point, that a great musician can make music from
just about anything.  But the same musician will also have an
instrument of choice.

   I, personally, wouldn't attempt to _do_ a Hendrix solo on 
   a keyboard.  

I actually *have* played "Voodoo Chile" on a Clavinet with distortion,
a wah pedal and the thing cranked on the verge of feedback and it
completely rocks.  Which is another problem with MIDI; it seriously
limits one's expectation of what keyboards can do.

But I didn't bring up Hendrix to suggest that anyone ought to play a
guitar piece on a synth; that's silly (especially when I do it).  I
wanted to point out an example of a wonderful, universally acclaimed
musical performance with passion, beauty, character and soul and the
kind of expression and subtlety of timing that wouldn't make it over a
MIDI stream.

  -- Don

-- 
Don Tillman
Palo Alto, California, USA
don at till.com
http://www.till.com