Search - Alan Parsons :: Tales of Mystery & Imagination (Mlps)

Literary and Musical License

P. Mc Hugh | New Jersey | 08/10/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The previous reviewer railed against the Alan Parsons Project for quoting from Claude Debussy without acknowledging the debt. For centuries, composers have been "borrowing" from each other to create new music. Igor Stravinsky was notable in acknowledging he did "steal" some music from other composers but the art was knowing from whom and when to do the theft.



Copyrighted music does require acknowledgement (and payment) to a composer whose music is incorporated into a new composition. (Remember all the hoopla with rap and hip-hop sampling music of others?) I do not know if Debussy's music is in the public domain or not. Perhaps the Alan Parsons Project should have made an nod to Debussy apparent in the credits, but should we fault the artist for using this music in a new fashion? I think not.



When Keith Emerson borrowed from Bartok, there was not one whit of a mention until reissues of the self-titled album. It was certainly acknowledged for years in trade publications and Keith never said he did not use Bartok. Does it make the music worse? Do you find it disturbing that a musician may not be completely original in the composition, yet is original in the use of the themes from another composer? Do you think it was an intentional rip off?



I think that you enjoyed the album, anyway, is a testament to Alan Parsons ability to produce pleasing and, yes, original music.

Perhaps it was an oversight. But, in no instance should it detract from a great release as this.

"