Fooling the masses

[jimmygun]

I compose simple yet 'pretty' tunes. They please my ear and really that is the only reason I do it. One of my friends told me that some of the tunes sound like 'church' music and it got me thinking. Usually the words to hymns are pretty basic. I know I could write lyrics to any of my tunes in a religious vein.

Question is...would it be ethical to do this and let the religious think that it was inspired or let each rendition be preceded by a caviat..."Warning...this music was written by an atheist."

I expect my music to outlive me. I have made recordings and have the music on paper. I would be flattered to think that someday someone would discover my tunes and wonder about the author.

[Yahweh]

In the case of music, your job is to please the audience. I think you can bypass the moral highground in that you dont have to believe the words in the music your write.

http://images.southparkstudios.com/img/content/season7/709.gif

[TruthSeeker]

Originally posted by Yahweh
In the case of music, your job is to please the audience. I think you can bypass the moral highground in that you dont have to believe the words in the music your write.

http://images.southparkstudios.com/img/content/season7/709.gif



and, yet....I'd be disappointed to learn John Lennon was a right wing, war mongerer...or that George Harrison was not spiritual.

[Andonyx]

Originally posted by jimmygun
I compose simple yet 'pretty' tunes. They please my ear and really that is the only reason I do it. One of my friends told me that some of the tunes sound like 'church' music and it got me thinking. Usually the words to hymns are pretty basic. I know I could write lyrics to any of my tunes in a religious vein.

Question is...would it be ethical to do this and let the religious think that it was inspired or let each rendition be preceded by a caviat..."Warning...this music was written by an atheist."

I expect my music to outlive me. I have made recordings and have the music on paper. I would be flattered to think that someday someone would discover my tunes and wonder about the author.

I can't make a general statement, but I really dig some gospel tunes. I don't believe in it, but the music gets me up and happy.

It dpends; if you think that's how your music would best be served, go for it. If you can find a way to be faithful to the music and yourself at the same time, even better.

[jimmygun]

Yahweh...Some would argue that the job of a composer is to please the audience, especially after one has no further need for an audience after accumulating millions of dollars. Isn't it always the way that singer/songwriters move into more esoteric venues the richer they get?

As I said before, I have no illusions that my music will do anything but amuse a few close friends. It is not popular, it may have made it forty years ago but not now. My hope is that someday someone may pick up one of my tunes and be impressed enough to put it into their repertoire.

[Lothian]

Did Tolkein believe in his fantasy figures ?

[TruthSeeker]

Originally posted by Lothian
Did Tolkein believe in his fantasy figures ?

He believed in the message he was trying to convey using those figures, I bet.