The Future of Classical Music

[mlunapiena01]

Composer/Critic/Consultant Greg Sandow is working on a book right now about the state of classical music now and where it's going in the future, if it's going to still be around...

This is the most on key (no pun intended), realistic, practical attempt to deal with the subject I've seen to date & I think is worth a read even if classical music is not something you're particularly into (or perhaps especially if)

Check it out, let me know what you think:
http://www.artsjournal.com/greg/2006/02/post.html

Mr. Rudess, if you happen to read this and are willing to give your opinion on the work, I (and I'm sure many of the others here as well) would be extremely interested in reading it as you came from the classical music world, so to speak...

[ktriton]

Interesting stuff. I go to a music college, so I don't think I really have experienced what he's talking about.

Regardless, the title still bothers me. "Classical music" is a genre that refers to a historical period. Contemporary forms are most often called "art-musik" or "serious music". So yeah, the fact that he didn't understand that distinction has me a bit skeptical about his grasp of the art-music culture as a whole.

Either way, it's an interesting problem he's trying to understand. Never thought about it much myself...

[Root_of_it_all]

definately interesting. And i think 'classical' is used more generally these days, even by respected musicians. it refers to certain styles of music in each period. i think although classical also means a period of time in the 18th century or whatever, i think it also refers to Renaissance, beroque, classical, romantic, and 20th century music as a whole.

[mlunapiena01]

ktriton, I've never actually heard either of those terms that you mentioned... could just be a geography thing...

also, it seems that when referring to music, terms like classical, romantic, baroque, etc. seem to have different meanings that they would generally otherwise have... the term "classical music" as I've heard it used generally refers to the western tradition of instrumental and vocal music established during the Common Practice Period and continuing even till today... it's more a style than a particular pt. in history...

[TheMaz]

It's clear, if you read more than the first couple of paragraphs, that he's talking about "Classical music" in a general term, including all the periods mentioned above (Baroque, Classical, Romantic, etc ...).
So, my first comment would be, he sould define his use of the term "Classical music" right at the beginning of his book.
Secondly, I don't necessay agree with him about it being in danger. I'm a regular attendee to concerts (at NAC in Ottawa and Place des Arts in Montreal), and they're most of the time Sold Out.
Of course, you will say that I don't count because I'm a keyboard player with a classical backgroud. Yes ... but I've spread the word around, I've made people listen to classical music (particularly, my son). So, I'm not afraid about the future of Classical Music !!
Prog is certainly more dead than Classical music !
What do you say to that ??
lol
Thanks

Johnny Maz

[mlunapiena01]

I don't think prog was ever as big as classical music was so it would make sense that it's more dead... and I think that's a very interesting point, as more of my income (at this pt. anyway) is likely to come from classical music, I'm somewhat more concerned about that..

um, I've been to one free concert of the NY philharmonic's in NYC and the youngest people I met there were post-undergrads ... also, I know at my school (which has a pretty good music program, but would not necessarily be called a music school), a lot of the events have pretty small attendance & then out of the people who do attend at least 80% (probably more) are music majors who are required to attend...

It's not uncommon for me to hear one of my colleagues talking about going (or having gone to) a rock concert of some sort, but I've never heard ANYONE I know (even those of us who are really into classical music) talk about going to a classical concert, except when it was a faculty recital... It was a bit better at my old High School when we had concerts, though most of the audience then was the kids who were performing and their parents/other family members...

Regardless of whether or not you agree it is in a crisis, there are certainly a growing number of kids training to become classical musicians, but not a job opportunity growth that matches that... at least that's what I see...