Formal Properties as the Basis for Value in Music

Seminar paper from the year 2013 in the subject Musicology - Miscellaneous, grade: 100.00%, Pepperdine University (Seaver College), course: Philosophy of Aesthetics, language: English, abstract: This paper defends the thesis that value in a piece of music is based in its formal properties rather than its non-formal properties. Two arguments are presented to support this conclusion. The first argument shows that if value in music is to be objective, then it must be grounded in a piece's formal properties rather than its non-formal properties. In the second argument, a number of alternate possibilities for grounding value in music are considered and shown to miss the mark or be inadequate. Finally, a number of possible objections against the arguments and conclusion are considered and possible responses to them given.