Ahh, finally I get some time to jam on the keyboard. (ya know, the one with letters on it)
For me, the main purpose is to present something in nice wrappings, and then on the inside, there's some sort of gimmick or mechanism, that the listeners have to figure out. Then, when they figure it out, they learn something. I dunn of it's what I wanted them to learn, musically, but nonetheless it just goes to prove that using your mind to think is worth something. This like my general purpose.
Then, on a more micro scale, each song has a very different meaning. Some songs are just for fun.. like jam sessions when I get together with friends. These sessions aren't really innovative or anything.. it's just there so we can enjoy ourselves. Then, at times there are songs that I try to sell. These can be innovative, or can be cheesy crap. And then there are songs that show technological improvements, or some new trick that I just learned.. sort of experimental in a way I guess. And of course, sometime I compose just because I want to hear it. Just like Ontik. The importance I guess is to have many different ears. Know what you're looking for in a piece. Sometimes it's what "you" are looking for, sometimes it's what "they" are looking for. You'll need both ears to get a job done.
It's basically a question of values.. Ok, so maybe you feel like all value resides in yourself. You know what you like, and don't like. You don't care what others say. But in the end, I think we wouldn't really have any values unless we had some relative point to measure from.. that is, external input. Maybe the input is somebody else's music, maybe comments, whatever. Either way, we're stuck with judging by what we know, which most of time is a collection of things built by other people. Though the only way to beat this mechanism is by gaining lots of personal experience. When you have first hand experience, you don't need others to tell you. You KNOW what it's like. THAT'S absolute value. Though these experiences get quickly outdated and then you're stuck with gathering outside information again.
So that's one way I think. Another way to see it, which goes with Ontik's idea, would be to gain information from what you create... resulting in a sort of creative feedback chain where you're affected by what you create. I personally love that idea, and live by it most of the time. The only drawback is that it's easy to go shooting off in a nonsense direction... but then again, who decides what is nonsense.. you? others? And also, people who make history often do shoot off in the wrong direction.. but they go so goddam far that it becomes a landmark. Tough journey, but well worth the effort because you're exploring where no one has gone before, leaving a trail when others (may) follow.
Heck, there are so many possibilities. I doubt there's one right answer that'll last forever. Any answer is only right in the situation that it was produced in. The real meaning I think isn't in proving what answer is most right, but in asking yourself, and others the question and thinking about what it means. So, whatcha all think?
And just to add, Ontik, about what you said about presenting a very vulnerable emotion to public... I totally have that same feeling! Sometimes the emotions are so intimate, it's very embarassing! It's like, musically, I'm like 2 inches from the listener's ears, and they don't even know it!! Or sometimes it's like inviting someone into my heart to have a walk around. These kind of songs, I usually keep to myself untill the initial "it's a boy! Oh look he's wrinkled up like a monkey" phase, and then let other people hear it.
hehe.
Heey, and wait a second... why isn't dblbass replying?? He's got a lot of donuts stuck in his head that he should share.
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: kensuguro on 2002-03-05 06:00 ]</font>
It sure is satisfying to create in my room for myself but, in my perspective, it is incomplete. If I don't get to share my inspiration and musical insight with my brothers and sisters around me, then I'd better have stayed in the Universal Silence than to come in this embodiment... I believe that within each and every human being burns a flame which contains a creational power that transcends any of our concepts. And I know that when this Fire is given an opportunity to expand and become manifest in the outer world, then the Earth becomes a better place to be because this Inner Light inspires everybody else and makes people more aware of the Power dwelling inside of themselves. 
