Abstract
The visual arts include painting, sculpture, photography, video and film. But many people would argue that music is the universal or only art of sound. In the modernist era, Western art music has incorporated unpitched sounds or noise, and I pursue the question of whether this process allows space for non-musical soundart. Are there non-musical arts of sound – is there an art phonography, for instance, to parallel art photography? At the same time, I attempt characterisation of music, contrasting acoustic, aesthetic and acousmatic accounts. My view is that there is some truth in all of these. I defend the claim that music is an art with small a – practice involving skill or craft whose ends are essentially aesthetic, that especially rewards aesthetic attention – whose material is sounds exhibiting tonal organisation. But acoustic and acousmatic accounts help to distinguish between music and non-musical soundart, since music must have preponderance of tones for its material.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
