Is Classical Music Dying?

[Svenn]

The problem classical music has to modern audiences is the lack of any sincerity or profundity in the emotive aspect of the sound... I mean let's face it, most of Mozart is just a bunch of glib childish fiddling that only violinists or crossword-puzzlers (or jazz enthusiasts) really enjoy. Whenever classical music tries to be sincere, the subject of the song is some unrelatable greek tragedy or some crap. Add on top of that is the length of the pieces, which were intended to take up a whole evening. Moreover, and no offense intended, but a whole generation of ambitious yuppie east coast and asian-american parents have kind of assumed classical music as some sort of mark of elitism, further tainting the atmosphere.

I'm really only interested in music that engenders some sort of transcendent feelings, whatever they may be, and isn't mere petty entertainment or background music...

(Now baroque, (Handel, Lully, etc.) is good stuff)

 

[Pennglock]

Take a look at the sales numbers for classical music. Many weeks, moving 200 disks will land a recording on the Billboard Classical Top 10, no exaggeration.

 

[thenanyu]

Originally Posted by harvey_birdman

Pachelbel and Froberger, just off the top of my head.
I find them boring. Mahler and Shostakovich sell records - not Pachelbel.

And classical music as a genre doesn't develop. That's why it's classical music. There may be very minor changes in performances over the years but that should always be secondary to the performance of the piece. If you want contemporary versions of classical music for modern audiences you get this: No thank you. I'm happy to know that I've got Furtwangler's version of the 9th on CD and I don't need to buy another copy. Frankly, I don't care which flavour of the week is putting out another version.

No, I don't think so. The contents of that link is indeed garbage, but contemporary classical music to me is something like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl3wU...eature=related A phenomenal performer and a piece that has yet to its deserved recognition. Other modern composers include Tan Dun, Turnage, Ewazen, etc.

Originally Posted by Lostinthesupermarket

What format are you listening to the music on, as a matter of interest?
Redbook for the most part - it's enough for me. I like SACD and Vinyl as much as the next man, but find regular CDs to be completely adequate.

Originally Posted by Artisan Fan

You can always buy Julia Fischer instead.

Hilary Hahn FTW but JF is quite amazing too. The one to look out for is a cello player named Tina Guo. She has a bit of a colorful personality but she was born to play the hell out of the thing.

 

[LabelKing]

Originally Posted by cminor

I hope whoever design the program for SF Symphony and MTT got fired. Absolutely pathetic programs.

Very schlocky, appeals to the retired PBS subscribers who take the BART down from Berkeley for one of the numerous Puccini/Bizet recitals.

 

[pinchi22]

Originally Posted by Svenn

Add on top of that is the length of the pieces, which were intended to take up a whole evening.

So, music that requires an attention span of more than 3 minutes is a bad thing?

 

[thenanyu]

Originally Posted by pinchi22

So, music that requires an attention span of more than 3 minutes is a bad thing?

These days, a news report requiring an attention span of more than 60 seconds is pushing your luck.

 

[Artisan Fan]

Was at J&R in lower Manhattan today and their classical music department is terrific!

 

[thenanyu]

Originally Posted by Artisan Fan

Was at J&R in lower Manhattan today and their classical music department is terrific!
It's certainly not bad - when I was in college I spent countless hours hanging out in Amoeba locations in SF and Berkeley. Have you been AF?

 

[Dmax]

Originally Posted by Artisan Fan

Was at J&R in lower Manhattan today and their classical music department is terrific!
Yes. Probably the best in the city. The prices are pretty good too as they usually have a couple of labels on sale.

 

[Artisan Fan]

Originally Posted by thenanyu

It's certainly not bad - when I was in college I spent countless hours hanging out in Amoeba locations in SF and Berkeley. Have you been AF?
Yes, many times. Have a client in downtown San Franhippy. Amoeba and Rasputin are great stores. Really like the Berkeley locations best although Amoeba in the Haight is great.

 

[Artisan Fan]

Originally Posted by thenanyu

Hilary Hahn FTW but JF is quite amazing too. The one to look out for is a cello player named Tina Guo. She has a bit of a colorful personality but she was born to play the hell out of the thing.

Pentatone has signed Arrabella Steinbacher to sort of replace Julia Fischer and she is well regarded but I have not bought any of her discs yet.