Quality of music -- levels, what are they?

[Bob]

Bernhard has said quality might be determined by music functioning at several different levels.

But what are those levels? 


Thinks...
They wouldn't have to just be in music.  They could be spiritual or a reference to something outside of music.
I was thinking of things like melody, form, etc., but it could be one area, like melody, that has several different levels I guess.


Any more thoughts.  I know that thread is out there where Bernhard explains it more. 

[pianistimo]

if you get about ten recordings of the same piece - you start to see the variety not only of interpretations but the 'shallowness' of some and the 'deepness' of others.  there was a fellow to play soon here in philly that was playing the moonlight sonata on wrti yesterday.  from the little exerpt that i heard, i knew i was not going to the recital.  maybe it sounds snobby - but i know what i like.  it was played as though the moon was rubber.  and, it was pedalled past the point of romanticism into smitherines.  if i were to express my true feelings, it would be to bring a bag of rotten tomatoes (but i do not believe in violence against pianists).

once you listen to a few recordings, you say 'ok.  i like that one.  but why?'  then, you listen to it over and over again - and slow it down (writing down little notes to yourself).  actually i haven't done this to quite this extent.  it's like someone reading poetry.  some put the accent here and others the accents there.  some put MORE dynamics in (more effort) and some make everything sound 'bland bland.'  horowitz really impressed me with his 1965 carnegie hall playing of bach's toccata and fuge in C major. there was so m uch expression.  it was as if he was telling the audience that he too loved the piece. 

[bernhard]

Here is the thread:

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2658.msg22805.html#msg22805
(What is classical music – comparison with wine and sports cars-  models and levels of meaning - classical music is multi level).

And here are some related ones:

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2244.msg19050.html#msg19050
(meaning of music – comparison between music and movies).

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2709.msg23292.html#msg23292
(Pop x classical – John Lill quote on pop mucus)

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=11069.new;topicseen#new
(people don’t like music – music is an open secret)

Best wishes,
Bernhard

[prometheus]

Yes, the different layers refer to the content of music that is only accessable aftar a certain amount of effort. So the music is layered. Good music has as many layers as possible with as much content as possible. Of course this all sounds a bit abstract but I'll keep it short since Bernard already explained it in lenght. Al least, his vision on it.

[rc]

In my mind, I sum it up as "the amount of thought that went into a work". Which also, correlates to the amount of thought put into the interpretation.

Basically, as I'm learning a piece, the more interesting things I'm able to find in the composition beneath the immediate surface appraisal. I think it boils down to efficient use of existing material in the piece, development. As opposed to just throwing out new material... Giving it more meaning within the context of the composition.

[prometheus]

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,5690.0.html
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,5692.msg55509.html#msg55509