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Posts: 357
Joined: Dec. 5 2008
From: New Jersey USA
The Day the (Classical) Music Died
The preceding discussion that began with the question about old music clogging the way for newer classical/serious music, got me to thinking about when I reached my own limits as to what I chose to listen to. So I looked over my preferences to check for latest dates of composition/publication of larger orchestral pieces I enjoy hearing repeatedly, looking for clues. I found that, for me, the music mostly died in the 15 years between 1942 and 1957. 1942 saw Martinu's Symphony No. 1, his best in my opinion, as all the following symphonies of his I found to be mediocre rehashes of that first marvelous effort. 1942-45 brought Bartok's great Concerto for Orchestra; the Bartok Piano Concerto No. 3 also in 1945. We then skip to 1951-52 for the Prokofiev Symphony No. 7, to 1955 for Martinu's The Frescoes of Piero Della Francesca, and finally to 1957 for the Shostakovich Piano Concert No.2. It ends there.
All the above works are resolutely melodic, tonal, with little dissonance; I hold that Bela Bartok in his major orchestral works such as the Music for Strings, Percussion and Celeste, the Divertimento, and the Concerto for Orchestra, and the three piano concertos, went about as far as sustainable, paying audiences for classical/serious music would accompany him. The subsequent history of serialism and aleatoric musics strongly validates that idea, as nobody (relatively speaking) ever pays money to hear such musics. Classical/serious music, if it is to survive the aging and death of its audience, must find new ways of expression and maybe consider a brand-new name. Some, like myself, have suggested that as flamenco "evolves", it needs to be called by a brand-new name (I think Donn Pohren would have agreed); maybe it's time for classical music to consider the same thing. I remember a Yanni concert on PBS being announced as "the new sound of classical music". I prefer the old sound.
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The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing.
RE: The Day the (Classical) Music Died (in reply to runner)
I'm so sorry for your loss. Can I send a donation to charity in the the memory of your music choices? Where will the memorial to the deceased take place? May the public attend or it is private ceremony?
In this time of loss I hope you have family and friends surrounding you that you can lean on and borrow 78 RPm records from. ________________
Sarcasm aside you have great picks, very top modern music, but it does to stop there. Composers today are making fantastic works.
May I suggest a gentle listening to a few works and a subscription to the Naxos new music podcast?
The podcasts have 8 years back log of music on the Naxos label. I listened to the whole archive, podcast by podcast. I found new composers doing wonderful music. Music worth owning and paying for. New Music worth supporting.
I reccommend this:
Podcast: A Québec Classic 17:12 10/30/14 This month's release in the Naxos Canadian Classics series focuses on the string chamber music of Jacques Hétu (1938-2010). The theme of past and present links composer and performers, as Raymond Bisha surveys Hétu's works dating from the 1960s (when t...
This: Podcast: Fung ‘Dreamscapes’, Violin Concerto, Glimpses 13:35 10/14/12 Raymond Bisha introduces us to the contemporary Canadian composer Vivian Fung’s superb new recording Dreamscapes. Her Violin Concerto featuring soloist Kristin Lee is an intensely lyrical and virtuoso work in which West and East collide to create music... ( Bill would like this)
Goreki 3rd Symphony. Anything by composer Stephen Paulus Cello concertos of Dimtri Kabalevsky Lou Harrison
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I'm tragically skeptical of those who say there is no good new classical music today. In my opinion those who say this are not looking and listening carefully enough. I implore any one who says this to search out new classical music written in the last ten years that they like and buy it. It's unfair the good composers working today to bury them in negativity and not support them by buying their work. I have very little money, but after I buy my material I spend my money buying new music.
In fact some of these new composers are Foro Flamenco Members! Bulerias 2005 is one of them. Buy his new album, I did.
Posts: 357
Joined: Dec. 5 2008
From: New Jersey USA
RE: The Day the (Classical) Music Died (in reply to estebanana)
I will check out your recommendations. Thanks for reminding me about Lou Harrison, a good man. Also I'm a big fan of several of Alan Hovhaness' early works.
_____________________________
The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing.
RE: The Day the (Classical) Music Died (in reply to runner)
Runner,
As I see it music has not died for you, you just defined the threshold of dissonance you can handle.
I don't see this as a problem. You just need to do some 'ear yoga' and stretch into new music more.
There as the some wonderful lectures on You Tube given by none other than Leonard Bernstein on why Arnold Schoenberg's music is beautiful.....Maybe not everyones cup of tea, but to doubt the great Lennie understood beauty....
Posts: 15418
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: The Day the (Classical) Music Died (in reply to runner)
I have no probs with dissonance and atonality stuff...so long as there is interesting rhythms. Why atonal music goes hand in hand with non rhythmic phrasing? It makes no sense to me. You would think they would go for increasing sophistication with rhythm. So I turn 180 degrees to Indian Classical music...where there IS NO tonality, just modes. Oh well.
RE: The Day the (Classical) Music Died (in reply to Ricardo)
quote:
I have no probs with dissonance and atonality stuff...so long as there is interesting rhythms. Why atonal music goes hand in hand with non rhythmic phrasing? It makes no sense to me. You would think they would go for increasing sophistication with rhythm. So I turn 180 degrees to Indian Classical music...where there IS NO tonality, just modes. Oh well.
Ricar
Indian music has been in 'stasis' for ten centuries....
Posts: 3472
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Washington, DC
RE: The Day the (Classical) Music Died (in reply to estebanana)
quote:
Indian music has been in 'stasis' for ten centuries....
HAHAHAH Bwahahahahaha BBBWWawahahahahahahah hahahah ha
Ok just a joke.
Like those who invoke that jokester Mao in support of internet-driven diversity, you are way too subtle, Stephen. You must telegraph your way-too-subtle humor days in advance.
Bill
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And the end of the fight is a tombstone white, With the name of the late deceased, And the epitaph drear, "A fool lies here, Who tried to hustle the East."
RE: The Day the (Classical) Music Died (in reply to runner)
Arrested for charges of suppressing young composers thoughts, dreams and compositions.
Released on own recognizance, logged 1000 hours time in public service cleaning trash from highway shoulders. Restraining order must stay 100 yards from any concert hall or music conservatory.
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