What makes "quality music?"

[amanfang]

Sorry if this has been asked before...

What makes "quality music?"  When looking at a piece, what characteristics determine if it is high quality or low quality?  I hear people talk about music in terms of it's quality, and I am not sure how they decide.  Any input is appreciated.

[Kassaa]

I think quality is a thing to feel. As you listen more to music, you will feel what is good and what's not. Even if you dislike the music, you can still feel that it is quality.

[BoliverAllmon]

it comes down to preference

[amanfang]

Even though my idea of quality is somewhat vague at this point, I would tend to disagree with the fact that it's merely personal taste or preference.  I would say that most classical music has much higher qualities than a lot of popular music, but classical is not preferred by many. 
And is quality really felt?  I would also think that you could tell some quality by merely studying the music having never played it.  I suppose that one can tell by listening whether it is good quality, but I don't think listening and feeling is necesssary either.

[Bob]

Maybe Bernhard will chime in.

I've been pondering this for a long time.

Off the top of my head...

The unity of the piece -- Does it stick to an idea rather than change and bring in new things?

Smotth transitions rather than sounding like it was hacked together.


Does it sound interesting or can you predict what's coming up next?  Or does everyone do it the same way so much you can predict it?

This one is broader -- quality in terms of what?  Pure music?  Teaching purposes?  I have found there is a big difference when people talk about what is good for teaching and what is good in general.

Is the piece written well technically?  Can it actually be performed? 

Does it meet the needs of some broad philosophy?   Is it supposed to be "art" or is it supposed to be expressive or is it supposed to be a sound piece with no expression?

Quality can be determined by the music world.  If no one likes it and it doesn't get played....  then maybe it's not "quality" for that time. 


I remember now... Bernhard did talk about this -- Does it function on different levels?    There's a Bernhard thread somewhere on here where he talks about that idea.


Personally, I have found that what people consider "quality" can be considered "profound" many times.  Not all the time.  I can easily think of deep, dark, serious pieces that are "quality."  I find it harder to think of a totally light-hearted whimsical piece that isn't serious in some way. 


(Have you been away amanafang?)

[jeremyjchilds]

I agree, Quality music has something to say, you can tell when a composer had something so say, and when the composer was just rambling on.