「music geek mode」

Blues is the devil’s music, because it was the music of black folk in the states (where proper white folk liked folk and traditional). Rock-and-roll was derived from blues and folk (think Elvis and his degenerate hip-wiggling).

Then the Satanic Panic started in the 70s, including the backmasking fear.

But long before that Baroque was godly music. Bach on his organ. Vivaldi playing his violin for orphans (he did that). At that time music was commissioned by nobles and the Church.

The classical era introduced people’s music When Beethoven sold tickets to seats for those who are willing to pay to hear his third symphony Eroica which was a good hour’s worth of music, to make sure everyone felt they got their value.

The Church was feeling dubious about music for simpletons (e.g. not specifically to exalt God) but romanticism was right out featuring abstact beats and complex chords and the pianoforte which could vary the volume of one note from another, allowing for emotionally driving work. (The piano revolution in 1830s Paris was much like the electric guitar revolution in 1960s London)

Also romanticists like Chopin and Liszt were determined to push the limits of their musicians, which is why Rondeau fantastique sur un thème espagnol: “El Contrabandista” is nearly impossible to play without errors, even by accomplished virtuosos. Also Liszt might be a vampire.

My favorite story is of Paganini, the violinist who was denied proper burial rights for half a century because the Church was certain he sold his soul for diabolic violin superpowers. Paganini’s Caprice №1-23 are used in violin performance contests since they’re difficult even for virtuosos to pull off.

Anyway Ragtime was also music of the devil (this time for being that colonial drivel from the Americas) and Scott Joplin was also accused of consorting with demons for musical skill. So it’s just something of a tradition for the devil to support the musical arts

「/music geek mode」