For some, this is a heading. Followed by a list of proposed evils that are embodied in western music in general and 'classical' (as in everything from baroque onwards, not just strictly the classical period) music in particular. Should western be Western?
For me it's a question. What's wrong with western classical music?
I need a bit of guidance here. I've been confronted with this statement and have been asking this question for a few months now. Anyone related to South Africa will know the dire state of orchestras there at the moment - it seems like just as one is perfectly reasonable and entitled to take over a white dude's farm as it was stolen from your ancestors some time in the past, it's even more acceptable to plunder the coffers of orchestras because the money is better spent in enriching people personally than on spending on the perpetuation of a cultural oppression, as evil, if not worse than apartheid etc. Then there is also a valid point of spending on perpetuating the works of dead white men at the cost of live other people. Even my daughter, much as she loves classical music and listens to the "story of classical music" over and over again, but, is apt to wryly comment that it's the "story of lots of western white men and two women"
What about the rest of the world? A brief survey of my two youngsters revealed that neither of them had heard any classical music in their music classes recently, and when voting on what to play in their band, were the sole supporters of something from Beethoven, as opposed to anything else by anyone else that was jazzier and snazzier and didn't have the "classical" (even if Beethoven was romantic) label on it. A recent discussion on "world" vs "classical" music led me to believe that the latter was held in a certain amount of contempt not to mention disgust by certain segments of the community.
Of course, the world she is a changin' is there any place and what is the place. This is a rather thoughtful interview on the impact of our time and it's digital reality on music. And it's not all gloom and doom.
6 years ago, the NY Times said Classical music was not dead - at least not in the USA, and many of their arguments still hold true. The City Journal writes a fascinating article here, arguing that at the moment we in fact live in a "golden age" of classical music compared to the past . Then there is the question of etiquette. Raised both in the City Journal and in this article about the rise in Classical music in China. Music is powerful, it can change lives (literally it seems in China) "The Cultural Revolution gave rise to a hunger for music. When it ended, people were “so thirsty to suck everything in,” said Yu Long, one of China’s most energetic conductors and musical entrepreneurs.
"'More profoundly, classical music executives say that the art form is being increasingly marginalized in a sea of popular culture and new media. Fewer young American listeners find their way to classical music, largely because of the lack of the music education that was widespread in public schools two generations ago. As a result many orchestras and opera houses struggle to fill halls. "
Should we try to fill halls and opera houses? Does classical music have any merit on its own, stand alone basis? Does it need to be introduced and coddled and be given to children through indoctrination at school at a tender age or else it has no chance of survival? Is the teaching of classical music oppressive?
Some of it is Malcolm's fault = you know that 10,000 hours thing. Let's not even mention Tiger Mum, Amy. Do I believe in the 10,000 hour thing - well, yes, in the abstract. But in reality I believe that anyone playing any instrument in any genre just needs to practice consistently and continually enough in order to make slow and steady progress and not to fell the need to give up on themselves, the instrument or the genre.
How many people hate classical music because they were "made" to play it and "made" to practice? But by people who didn't understand how to do so to make progress?
Is Miles Davis correct that it's "dead shit" and is this what is being told to our kids? An interesting review in the economist of the book "Who needs Classical Music" by Julian Johnson. Perhaps I need to read this in order to better articulate my heartfelt feelings that we do need it and that there is nothing wrong with it, nothing to be ashamed of.
What do you think? Am I ridiculous? Why do I feel the need to defend and say it's ok?
In the mean time, here's something awesome and beautiful to watch.
For me it's a question. What's wrong with western classical music?
I need a bit of guidance here. I've been confronted with this statement and have been asking this question for a few months now. Anyone related to South Africa will know the dire state of orchestras there at the moment - it seems like just as one is perfectly reasonable and entitled to take over a white dude's farm as it was stolen from your ancestors some time in the past, it's even more acceptable to plunder the coffers of orchestras because the money is better spent in enriching people personally than on spending on the perpetuation of a cultural oppression, as evil, if not worse than apartheid etc. Then there is also a valid point of spending on perpetuating the works of dead white men at the cost of live other people. Even my daughter, much as she loves classical music and listens to the "story of classical music" over and over again, but, is apt to wryly comment that it's the "story of lots of western white men and two women"
What about the rest of the world? A brief survey of my two youngsters revealed that neither of them had heard any classical music in their music classes recently, and when voting on what to play in their band, were the sole supporters of something from Beethoven, as opposed to anything else by anyone else that was jazzier and snazzier and didn't have the "classical" (even if Beethoven was romantic) label on it. A recent discussion on "world" vs "classical" music led me to believe that the latter was held in a certain amount of contempt not to mention disgust by certain segments of the community.
Of course, the world she is a changin' is there any place and what is the place. This is a rather thoughtful interview on the impact of our time and it's digital reality on music. And it's not all gloom and doom.
6 years ago, the NY Times said Classical music was not dead - at least not in the USA, and many of their arguments still hold true. The City Journal writes a fascinating article here, arguing that at the moment we in fact live in a "golden age" of classical music compared to the past . Then there is the question of etiquette. Raised both in the City Journal and in this article about the rise in Classical music in China. Music is powerful, it can change lives (literally it seems in China) "The Cultural Revolution gave rise to a hunger for music. When it ended, people were “so thirsty to suck everything in,” said Yu Long, one of China’s most energetic conductors and musical entrepreneurs.
Mr. Yu described his own initiation. One day in 1976 his grandfather approached him with a “mysterious smile” and played a tape of Mozart’s Symphony No. 40. “I suddenly felt in another world,” Mr. Yu said. “I decided to go abroad and study. It opened a whole new world for me.”"
So why is it becoming a dirty word amongst other segments of society. Music programs are being cut, and not just in the USA, or they are being altered as "all music is equal" in order to be politically and culturally correct. Is this valid?
"'More profoundly, classical music executives say that the art form is being increasingly marginalized in a sea of popular culture and new media. Fewer young American listeners find their way to classical music, largely because of the lack of the music education that was widespread in public schools two generations ago. As a result many orchestras and opera houses struggle to fill halls. "
Should we try to fill halls and opera houses? Does classical music have any merit on its own, stand alone basis? Does it need to be introduced and coddled and be given to children through indoctrination at school at a tender age or else it has no chance of survival? Is the teaching of classical music oppressive?
Some of it is Malcolm's fault = you know that 10,000 hours thing. Let's not even mention Tiger Mum, Amy. Do I believe in the 10,000 hour thing - well, yes, in the abstract. But in reality I believe that anyone playing any instrument in any genre just needs to practice consistently and continually enough in order to make slow and steady progress and not to fell the need to give up on themselves, the instrument or the genre.
How many people hate classical music because they were "made" to play it and "made" to practice? But by people who didn't understand how to do so to make progress?
Is Miles Davis correct that it's "dead shit" and is this what is being told to our kids? An interesting review in the economist of the book "Who needs Classical Music" by Julian Johnson. Perhaps I need to read this in order to better articulate my heartfelt feelings that we do need it and that there is nothing wrong with it, nothing to be ashamed of.
What do you think? Am I ridiculous? Why do I feel the need to defend and say it's ok?
In the mean time, here's something awesome and beautiful to watch.
2 comments:
Hi gweipo --
To my mind, there's nothing inherently wrong with Western classical music. Except that (and I grant this is from a Hong Kong perspective), I think that it's actually becoming less Western even while staying classical.
More specifically, it seems like there are a heck of a lot of ((very) good) classical musicians who are Asian as well as Western these days. Also, more than one Western classical musician has told me how they found it so refreshing to see a younger audience -- or at least more mixed age -- crowd when playing in Hong Kong compared to, say, New York or London.
Gweipo, when you were in Hong Kong, did you ever go to a Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra concert? A lot of the music they play -- especially when it's more or less the full orchestra -- seems very classical as well as Chinese to me. But if there's just a Western classical vs world music dichotomy, does that mean that their music is considered world music rather than classical?
There's no arguing about taste. So, therefore, no need to defend it.
I often like to listen to western art music - mostly baroque chamber music.
But I think there is often a problem of presentation live. A lot of the dance music is not presented in such a way as to allow the audience to dance. If a person were to stand up and sway or in some way do anything to interact w/ the music other than fierce concentration & applause at the *right* moment, they commit a social solecism.
So, groups like Classical Jam's programs in the schools are a great way to help teach kids to enjoy it.
http://www.classicaljam.org/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Bz-cNAH5v5I
Wouldn't it be fun if they had such programs for adults at concert halls or ballrooms?
Or, groups like Classical Revolution that encourage chamber music jamming
http://classicalrevolution.org/
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