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SAMANLI_ThGr02_I-2
Betreff: ThGr 02
Theorotische Grundlagen 02 Assignment 11.04.2021
Hans Helms observes the developtment in new music more in terms of how
they are conditioned by the developments in economy rather than in terms of an
absolute progress. Spahlinger also maintains an extremely dark tone as Helms
does, the pinnacle of which is undoubtedly the paragraph which he ends with the
phrase …denn längst ist schlimmeres denkbar und machbar, als der tod, als ein
ende mit schrecken .However Spahlinger strives to make a mystic, almost religios
impression on the reader to such an extent that he could not possibly include a
detailed account of the administrative and monetary aspects of new music even if
he has a grasp on these subjects. Nevertheless, even though Hans Helms´ text
might seem to radically oppose the text of Spahlinger at the first glance they are
actually not speaking of the same thing, hence they are not necessarily refuting one
another. Helms´ text unmistakable contains feelings of disappointment and
frustration in the way it depicts a travesty of new music fesivals but since he
abstains from making remarks on new music except for festivals, and confines his
considerations and negative criticisim exclusively to the question of festivals of new
music, whereas Spahlinger speaks of new music in general, it is not really possible
to say that Helms opposes main arguments of Spahlinger(such as that there is a
qualitative Sprung happening or a revolution has not taken place unlike any other
before, etc). It is noteworthy that Helms collaborated on the same year, 1972, with
John Cage in a documentary, which he would not do if he were sceptic of the cause
of new music altogether.