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Reviving "classical" music Posted by Ford on November 3, 2005, 8:10 am 152.76.0.130 http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2005/July05/View_from_audience.htm It's disturbing for me to find a writer with whom I absolutely agree, but I must say that Frank T. Manheim is right. Compare the attitude of the modernists, regarding popular appeal, with that of the greats of the past. Beethoven, etc etc, were very much part of their time and culture. Not only do they liberally rely on folk sources (which were not dead artefacts, but vital parts of contemporary culture), but even when writing from scratch, their work always emerged from traditional forms and sensibilities. Yet, although the 20th century had arguably the richest popular music of all (all kinds of jazz, then myriad styles of rock, now various kinds of electronic music), classical music has barely been touched (apart from some feeble attempts at jazz) due to modernism's allegiance to starting from year zero. Why not a theme-and-variations on "Oops, I did it again" by Britney Spears? It's a perfectly fine melody - a talented composer should be able to produce something both enjoyable and interesting. Why not a set of modern orchestral dances based on "techno" models? It would certainly be better than the current "cross-over" strategy.  Post a Response

Re: Reviving "classical" music Posted by Martin Walker on November 3, 2005, 8:33 pm, in reply to "Reviving " 213.36.128.232 It really is difficult to know where to start here, since such vague generalizations always seem to rest on very vague evidence. I can only say that if you think that a Britney Spears "tune" is "folk", you've got another think coming, quite apart from the prohibitive fee involved in quoting it in musical variations (of course it is precisely a "dead artifact" & bound for the junkyard of history). Even Stravinsky found to his horror that the theme of "Happy birthday" used in his Greetings Prelude was copyrighted.And staying with Stravinsky, a prime example of a "modernist", one would think - did he not use folk melodies in Petrouchka & other works? There are variations on a Bänkellied in Berg's Lulu-Suite and a Carinthian folksong is quoted in the violin concerto. John Cage's 16 Dances for orchestra are imbued with popular elements (one of his best works in my opinion), Frederick Rzewski has written one of the 20th century's greatest variation sets on the Chilean popular song Un pueblo unido --- and so it goes. Britten's work is full of popular elements, I hardly need to mention Milhaud, Villa Lobos, Revueltas, Copland, e tutti quanti. On the other hand, "Beethoven etc etc" (sic): - Beethoven's richest work is not particularly notable for "folk sources", a lot being decried as completely mad even by his colleagues (e.g Weber) - it was not really generally recognized for its profoundest qualities until the 20th century, his most popular work during his lifetime being his Septet op.20, followed by Wellington's Victory. Need I say more? Sometimes one gets rather tired of uninformed people slagging off the art music of the last 100 years - if you don't like it, OK, but if you want to criticise then a little more understanding & reflection might be in order.  Post a Response

Re: Reviving "classical" music Posted by Ford on November 4, 2005, 7:01 am, in reply to "Re: Reviving "classical" music" 152.76.0.130 Well, of course, when I suggested a serious treatment of Britney Spears, I was only being provocative (or was I?). My post was really about possible ways to revive interest in "art music". This is probably not of interest to composers who disdain popularity, and would rather have their work vanish into obscurity as soon as the ink is dry. Call it nostalgia, if you will, but I'd like to live in a time when, as in the 19th century, the audience prefered new music to old; when the finale of Tchaikovsky's 4th had the audience literally jumping up and down on their seats; when Verdi had to go to great lengths to stop his tunes being prematurely leaked; when living composers were more famous than (most of) their dead counterparts. I don't think this is at all possible until composers reject the confines of academic inbreeding, and try to engage directly with the society in which they live. (This does NOT mean doing an Andrew Lloyd Webber.)  Post a Response

Re: Reviving "classical" music Posted by Paul Serotsky on November 5, 2005, 12:24 am, in reply to "Re: Reviving " 80.229.144.169 My god! It sounds as if you are suggesting that composers should write music for the enjoyment and edification of their AUDIENCES, rather than their own navels!!! Whatever next?  Post a Response

Re: Reviving "classical" music Posted by annleaha on July 14, 2006, 10:18 pm, in reply to "Re: Reviving " 24.187.173.19 The 5 Browns – No Boundaries – Out Now! Hi everyone, Has anyone heard of The 5 Browns? I just discovered them & they are absolutely amazing! What a talented family! If you like classical music, you HAVE to hear this group. They have just put out a new album called No Boundaries & I have been listening to it nonstop since I picked it up. Check out the track listing: 1 Rhapsody in Blue 2 Malaguena from Andalucia Suite 3. Simple Gifts/Going Home 4 Shaker Hymn 5 Going Home 6 Full Stride Ahead (Rag) 7 Feria from Rapsodie Espagnole 8. Gargoyles, Op. 29 9 III. Allegro moderato 10 IV. Presto feroce 11 Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6 12 Variations on a Theme of Paganini 13 Danzas Argentinas, Op. 2 14 I. Danza del viejo boyero (Dance of the Old Cowherd) 15 II. Danza de la mozo donosa (Dance of the Delightful Young Girl) 16 III. Danza del gaucho matrero (Dance of the Artful Herdsman) 17 Valse and Romance 18 Valse 19 Romance 20 The Firebird (from the 1911 Version) I just joined their i-squad & found out they are on tour now too. I hope I can get some tickets soon. The i-squad seems pretty neat. You earn Bonus Points and then trade them in for merchandise from The 5 Browns. If you are interested in checking out their music visit this link (hope it works for ya!) http://i-squad.com/ The 5 Browns.html http://www.the5browns.com/  Post a Response

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