Or do you listen to far more classical music than you had thought? I'm not talking about the musical stylings of Mozart and Beethoven, but the modern day classical composers that sneak into our films and even our video games without permission from the consumer. And yet, we love it!
Some of the most memorable music from the past several decades have actually come from John Williams. He has taken the same instruments widely available in the classical era of music and given our movies unprecedented life. Even if you haven't seen the movie, you can probably guess that "duuuuh nuh...... duuuuuuuh nuh.... duuuuh nuh, duuuh nuh, duuuuh nuh, duh nuh duh nuh duh nuh" is me trying to communicate the infamous Jaws theme. He's done the same for Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, Star Wars, E.T., Harry Potter, and more.
Heck, even video games manage to maintain this taint of culture. Mario, who is more famous than Mickey Mouse, now has orchestras playing his music. For money! Not to mention the only slightly less known music from the Legend of Zelda. I remember once my mom remarked on what nice music I was listening to when I was playing a game, which was astonishing since she much more commonly yelled at me to turn it down.
So what do you think? Is classical music just as viable today as it was back in the days of yore? Or has it just changed to survive? Do you ever find yourself listening to classical music in some form by itself?
20 comments:
The only form of "classical: music I listen to is Transiberian Orchestra. Which is a hybrid version.
I think classical music developed the reputation of being boring, and even today, the average person assumes that classical music, while beautiful, can put you to sleep. I think this music, which is now often heard while we do other fun things, has crept into our lives more than we know.
The difference with classical music today is that it has become background music rather than a type of music that many people listen to on a regular basis. Though it may still be viable, it plays a different role in contemporary society.
I don't think I agree with your premise that classical music has somehow been put on the back burner of our culture. Great composers like Mozart, Beethoven, and Bach have survived roughly 200 + years of culture change, and it's probably pretty likely that people in the future will still be listening to these greats. In contrast, today's pre-packaged artists will be lucky to last a single decade. I listen to a lot of classical music, and am coming to learn just how amazing some of its pieces are. I think that the current culture that requires instant gratification makes it hard for a lot of people to sit and listen to a long piece of classical music, but that if people would just give some of the right artists a chance, it would become a lot more "popular".
Classical music is always my first choice when I'm studying and even though I don't listen to it on a regular basis, I really do enjoy it. I think classical music, whether you like it or not, has had an influence on every kind of music. Although it seems people don't listen to it as much today, I still think it is an integral part of how new music is created and will always be an important aspect of culture.
I dont necessarily think classical music is extinct. We may not listen to it as much as other things, but it is still a valuable part of our culture. I also think that certain music being made today will be the classics of the future. Its just different than what the music of the day is accepted to be.
Background music in movies is what classical music seems to have developed into. I think it has a different role in society than it use to, which is unfortunate.
I don't think the musical style has changed, but I think that the medium in which we find it has. I LOVE playing and listening to piano music, as well as jazz concerts, maybe I'm a nerd, but there are many pieces of this type of music located throughout my various play lists.
I agree that if kids get to listen to it in video games and movies, that may not be the medium of choice for most parents, but at least they are being partly exposed to the culture of classical music.
I have developed a love for classical music in recent years. As Joshua stated, I think it will last long after the popular music of our day is gone. What I love about classical music is that it gives you a chance to use your imagination, since there are no words. This is why it is popular as the score of many movies, but I think that it will continue to be an important (if under appreciated) part of our society.
Im not entirely sure if it was much of a big deal along time ago. I feel it was just the upper class listening to it, but I could definitely be mistaken. I think we hear it often subtly. Irregardless I don't think it is a major part of popular society in this day.
I have definitely listened to quite a bit of classical music. When I say classical, I really do mean Mendelssohn, Strauss, Berlioz, Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin, and a myriad of other great composers. Although, I don't just listen to just that, nor is it even my primary choice. It has not died completely in our culture because people devote lives to studying, playing, and listening to it. I don't think that people can classify movie scores or simply instrumental music as classical. I think the true greats of the past are here to stay, not in popular culture, rather with people that care about it. Their music is truly inspired and from the heart.
I associated classical music with the older generation and elevator music. Until last semester when I walked into a class early and one of my classmates was listening to classical music with the lights dimmed doing some class reading on his laptop. I found it soothed me, relaxed me and actually made me focus more on schoolwork. Normally, I would have agreed with the assessment that classical music has been put on the back burner, but rather I just don't think our generation gives it a chance.
ok first of all I LOVE john williams. that man is a genius. I feel like the traditional "classical" music is not very popular anymore, but orchestral scores are. All of my friends love the soundtracks for movies like Pirates of the Caribbean and Sherlock Holmes. I think the majority of people who listen to traditional classical music are musicians themselves (ex. as a piano player, I have certainly played/listened to my fair share of classical composers).
I think that just like in the past, classical music has changed to fit the desires of the people. Just like how there is a difference between Bach and Beethoven, there is today a difference in the way the instruments are used to string together a melody and harmony. Music today is much more varied because we have so many genres, but classical music is still rockin' (figuratively). And yes, I do like to listen to some classical music, usually when I am in a spiritual mood because that has been the basis of my connection with "classical" music.
I think the classical music is here to stay. It just has to adopt and change in order to keep people interest and buy records.
I had never thought about that before-- that the major themes from movies like Harry Potter are in a sense classical music. So I do agree that it has adapted itself in order to fit our modern culture. I took Music 101 this past winter semester, and while I don't just jump at the chance to listen to classical music now, I did develop an appreciation for it. Very occasionally while I'm scanning through radio stations I'll pause to listen to it for at least a minute or two.
Classical music isn't as viable as it was back in the day. Back then, classical was pretty much all that was available to listen to. Now there are so many genres of music, we can't keep track of them all. However, I do love movie soundtracks. I own The Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean and Harry Potter soundtracks because I love the music. But then again, I have to be in a certain mood to listen to it. I wouldn't just turn in on and blast it in my car.
I would say that classical music is not as pervasive as it once was a century ago, but it is still everywhere we turn to in the media. Movies, TV shows, video games, and advertisements too. Classical music can set the emotion of a film and make it so much more captivating.
i think classical music still has an important role in our society today, however, maybe people just choose to listen to something more modern because styles and tastes change with time. i do agree with some of the comments that have already been made that it does have a reputation of being boring and our generation seems to just not listen to it as their first choice of music.
I actually have been to more symphonies than rock concerts--probably more from lack of opportunity than anything. And though I don't often pop in a classical album to just listen, I do consume more classical music than I think. It isn't the music of our generation, not so much, but it still carries a lot of weight. It falls into that high culture arena. When I feel like being cultured, that's where I go.
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