Random Thoughts About the Decline of Classical

It seems to me that classical music declined in popularity by the middle of last century due to a lack of melodic color (and particularly the lack of tonality). Some people do like it that way, so there is a market for it--but I think most people prefer a good melody, and stirring harmonic chord progressions, and this is found more in modern pop music than in modern classical. Plus in modern classical you have to wait through quite a bit to hear a good melodic section when it does exist. Maybe we could help classical music out a little by adding more melody and more frequent melody. What do you guys think?

Well, it is true. What you are asying is highly correct. I write music with classical instruments, but, regardless, consider my music, pop/rock. But the decline of classical music is more due to the fact that people are stuck-up bigheads, and automatically turn off to lyricless music, instead of listenning with an open ear.

I use to like mozart, beehtoven, salereli a whole lot.
But I have found myself more fond of composers like Stravinsky, Penderecki, Elliot Carter and the thousands more.
As of right now music like mozart or anyother classical composer usually leaves a hole, and people like Elliot Carter, John Cage and Henry Cowell are filling me up making me feel more complete.
But i geuss thats me

Originally posted by Lord Sorasen@Oct 4 2005, 07:42 PM
[b]Well, it is true.* What you are asying is highly correct.* I write music with classical instruments, but, regardless, consider my music, pop/rock.* But the decline of classical music is more due to the fact that people are stuck-up bigheads, and automatically turn off to lyricless music, instead of listenning with an open ear.

Yes, I would definitely agree that the lyrics have a lot to do with it as well. Words are a big plus if they're good, but at the same time music is a language of its own, that bypasses the analytical brain to reach and affect the human spirit directly. And that is something many people don't seem to get.

Music is not as much music as it was a long time ago.

People now look at music videos, lyrics, and image more than the music itself. Theirs one other thing.

Music artists these days write, produce, copyight, and distribute an entire ablum, every 3-6 months! Its all about speed now, quantity over quality.

So, music will not get better, for people don't look for music in music anymore, wierd as that sounds.

BTW: I actually ENJOY metal bands, and some Rap bands, I open my ears, and write what I hear.

A good perspective on this is Kyle Gann's. He has a blog at www.artsjournal.com/postclassic/ which I've read altogether too much of. I can't sum him up justly here; try reading some of the olderst posts there.

Given the sheer volume of "serious art music" being written today, it's really hard to get a good read on what "most" people are writing these days. Well, especially because it's become such a fringe culture, although I think the internet can help bring us together.