Why? Why not?

[Hey, THIS placeholder and wall of text was my site's intro-welcome, v.1.0 back in 2007. 15 years has passed and the site have migrated multiple times, and circumstances have long changed everything. Nevertheless, I don't think any of this (the statement itself) should be altered—as I have continually opined this is more akin to my personal musical diary than anything else, but do browse around and graze upon the blog/YouTube/png buffet. Thanks! rs Feb22]

Note: this page is under perpetual construction. Thoughts and ideas do change with the passing of time.

This website serves as my response towards the current state of dynamics between music as a commodity and the audience as its consumers.

One’s intent becomes the soul of his musical creations. Despite that, much modern music is produced for the wrong reasons: For recognition, employment, status, acceptance, subsistence, etc. When you write for recognition, you do not write music, but rather inscribe the sounds of aspiring for recognition. Similarly, when you write for status, all that can heard are voices lusting for authority and control. Only when you write solely for music’s sake can music be genuinely expressive and communicative.

If you want free music, you can write your own. If there are circumstances that inhibit you from doing so, you can access and download various media from this website free of charge (printing/copying extra).

Should music always be free? Certainly not. I can tell you that this is definitely not about taking away the economic value of music. As a matter of fact, I may perhaps become actively involved in the music industry very soon.

I do not mean to condemn other peoples’ actions. No one should enforce their personal praxis upon others as if performing some zealous proselytism. This is, rather, my personal response as an alternative – a choice that many can make.

Now as to what I am about to say, I sincerely think it is not necessary; yet I have heeded to my colleague’s advise as he argues it is not about dictating others how to use this site, but rather only as a solemnly stated declaration that I have clearly forewarned everyone before they could commit their errors. This then effectively serves as my Pilate’s wash basin:

The only “rule” that is strictly enforced here deals with academic honesty: It’s my work after all, don’t put your name on top of my work and hand it in.

Of course, I really cannot imagine who with a sane mind would appropriate my work instead of the works of others. I could not even think of any reason to, yet I can be very wrong and consequently this is my plea to all those who panicked the day before the assignment is due, and thought about plagiarism as the only solution. Do yourself a huge favor and write your own music. Similarly my written logs and journals are linguistically defective, peppered with various grammatical mistakes. Whoever that was cursed to grade “your” (which is mine) work would be in grave trouble. Do have mercy on them! (I thought all of you already knew, yet again, I could be wrong.)

To navigate to various pages you can click the links to the right Top or the bottom. You may return to the main page by accessing the top bar.

Do enjoy yourselves while visiting richardsimusic.com! If you have any questions and opinions, do not hesitate to send me an email via richard@richardsimusic.com.

關於 richardsimusic.com

此網站是本人回應對於現今大眾流行(商品)音樂文化及它所衍生出來之社會影響而成立的。佛教有一句話“相由心生”，本人認為音樂也是一樣的。因為就音樂而論，姑且將它的含義簡化為被聲音化之人類意識，當代音樂背後在其他外來因素影響下大都已經失色、失意、失真。

在此現象上作表面的批評確實很容易；首先不說從崇外所帶來的文化自卑心態，就是支持本地原創音樂的聽眾也多用嘲諷的定位來批判現今作品。具有諷刺意味的是每當音樂人用那麼不如你自己去寫？去回應聽眾時，大家只有一種無奈的沉默。

不要被這般帶有晦氣的說話唬住！既然有人已下戰書，那麼就鼓起勇氣用自創音樂來表達你所思所念罷。莫害怕失敗，孤立，不被認同；你要學習如何去表達，他人也要學習如何去聆聽。嘗試和學習是終身不息的。

本人從高中時期開始寫作，絕大部分作品都已經上傳在此頁中，並附有樂譜，歡迎下載。如有意見或指教，請致函richard@richardsimusic.com，謝謝。