Hoffer, Music Listening Today.

  Q1: Read the Section entitled "Styles of Music" on page 90 of the text. Is it helpful to divide Western Music into stylistic periods (i.e., Baroque, Romantic, etc.)? Is there possibly a better pedagogical approach? why or why not? If you answer "yes", what are some of the problems with the stylistic approach? If you answer "no", what are some of the advantages of the stylistic approach? Q2: Read p. 123 "Main Points of this Chapter", Point One. Today, some musicians say that Baroque music must be played on only instruments from thsi time period or replicas which reproduce the same sounds. Other musicians say that it is perfectly acceptable to play Baroque music with modern day instruments (e.g. piano instead of harpsichord, valved trumpets in stead of Baroque trumpets, etc.) What do you think about this distinction; is it acceptable or not acceptable and why or why not? If possible, list an example of the 20th century music, popular or classical, where it has been recorded using different instruments and/or style (such as an orchestral work being played by a rock band or vice versa) and whether you think this works or doesn't work.