Hey all...
So glad that this thread has generated some discussion for once! I figure if one out of every 4 times I let my brain go wild for a little while about something discussed on this list and people respond then I've got a good percentage.
The point about the drummer (which was also mailed to me by another list member) I think is one of the better springboards for you to make your case, Matthew....and here's another that I've been thinking of lately....the sampler. Not quite a musical instrument, though it can be used as one if you take a basic enough snippet of sound and play it on the piano. Mostly, though, samplers are used for looping and arrangement of previously recorded tonal information. THIS IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS WHAT A DJ DOES, though the ratios are a bit off, because the producer who uses a sampler in this way has snippets of sound that are two seconds long, while the DJ is doing 4-5 minute snippets if he's only sequing records, and you've clearly made the case for innovative DJs who go beyond this but someone could probably argue that similar cognitive processes are used in sampling and by DJs and so if you're going to call one the musician you have to call the other one as well. Furthermore s!
omeone can clearly make the case that the cognitive processes used in arranging and layering sounds as opposed to spontaneously generating tones are somewhat different, which only suggests your notion that maybe the concept of the musician should be expanded for the current musical environment.
I think also, that being a musician has a lot to do with more intangible things that being able to play an instrument really well (though I'm getting pretty good with my sampler and synth so watch out!, acid jazz list), a lot of it has to do with love for music, so anybody who loves music enough to want to actively make other people hear their creation, whether a DJ, sax player, or producer, can fall under this definition. I always think of medieval minstrels and the like when I think of musicians, people who recognize music's uncanny ability to transcend language, culture and even time sometimes and drive straight down into that sweet spot that some call the soul.
I will GLADLY call you a musician, Mr. Bubblicious. I'm very happy that this thread has shown some perserverance.
Jay B