Music Appreciation - Essay Example

Music Appreciation According to Hoffer, "…using themes of other composers was an accepted practice at the time. The original composer of the theme considered its appropriation by another composer a compliment, not a case of plagiarism." This means that composers in the past were more concerned with the outcome of a particular set of music when done with a variety of different composers. They were not focused on individuality but sharing a good piece and making sure that the best came out of it.

This is what Hoffer terms as a musical patronage agreement. A good example of this would be the instance where Mozart and Haydn used the same musical theme and had almost similar works of classical music. Thus the usage of themes from other composers was quite acceptable. According to Hoffer, “people in the classical period, including composers, seemed to attribute little mystery to the act of creating music, an attitude that would change radically in the nineteenth century.” As compared to the nineteenth, twentieth and twenty first century the musical patronage as termed by Hoffer does not exist because of copyright issues.

Current composers are more oriented on individuality, mystery, creativity and success and any infringement is punishable by law. When compared to the classical age, it can be concluded that there was no mystery in works of art such as classical music and there was less awareness of copyright issues as compared to this century where every composer wants to be unique in his/her own wayThe composers in the Viennese Classical Period should not have been more concerned about plagiarism because this is the age that sought to bring about a nineteenth, twentieth and twenty first century that is conscious, full of mystery, creativity, individualism and success by composers.

For example, if Mozart did not prepare a booklet of musical hymns, then a lot of musical arts that depended on his work would not have been realized.Composers today should be concerned with plagiarism. Creativity is something that should be fostered in the musical culture. This century cannot be compared to the classical century of musical patronage where musical hymns were shared and anyone could use them. If in this century it was right to commit plagiarism, then a lot of composers would be creating music and there would be other composers who would take that music and make the best out of it and be more successful that the original composer.

What is important to note about this issue is that success matters in this century and everybody composer has to show what original composition they can bring to the table.Works Cited:Hoffer, Charles . Music Listening Today. 5th ed. New York: Schirmer, 2012. Pp 122Print.