Modal Censorship

"'Which are the mourning modes?...Should these be banned, then?' I asked. 'After all, they are no use even to women—if we want them to be good to women—let alone men' 'They certainly should'... ...'That means we shan't want an enormous range of strings and every possible mode, in our songs and melodies' 'No, I think not" The discussion of modes in Plato's Republic not only assumes music to be representative, but oddly articulate to the point that some modes may evoke some imagery and conjure certain emotions or narratives, whereas others will produce distinctly different effects on a listener. The effects of some are apparently so potent that it is agreed they should be banned. Beyond banning modes, redundant instruments should also be banned and limited in their use to playing some modes but not others or simply not played at all. This conclusion, for not altogether unfamiliar reasons, is troublesome. Sufjan Stevens defies all of these conclusions in his music, which features the use of full orchestras, synthesizers,mode shifts and simultaneous modal overlaps, often taking on a religious tone. Here's one track of his that showcases all of his defiance against Plato's reasoning.From the Mouth of Gabriel- Sufjan Stevens