Single Idea 12875

[catalogued under 21. Aesthetics / B. Nature of Art / 8. The Arts / a. Music]

Full Idea

A performance of a certain work with a false note is still a performance of that work, albeit a slightly imperfect one, and not (as Goodman has argued) a performance of a different work.

Gist of Idea

One false note doesn't make it a performance of a different work

Source

Peter Simons (Parts [1987], 7.6)

Book Reference

Simons,Peter: 'Parts: a Study in Ontology' [OUP 1987], p.284


A Reaction

This is clearly right, but invites the question of how many wrong notes are permissable. One loud very wrong note could ruin a very long performance (but of that work, presumably). This is about classical music, but think about jazz.

Related Idea

Idea 20438 A performance is only an instance of a work if there is not a single error [Goodman]