WHY CLASSICAL MUSIC

VIBE

Jul 10

JULY 26TH, 2021

Why Classical Music?

Why classical music? In this age, many people in today's society are wondering what role classical music plays. There are a great number of benefits, and there is an endless amount of research that continues to show how relevant this form really can be for us all!

But orchestras around the country, especially in this unprecedented time where theaters have closed all around the world due to the pandemic, struggle to remain significant in their communities and expand their audience, especially to younger demographics.

Some orchestras do better than others, but overall it persists as an issue each year; the classical music audience continues to see less engagement from younger generations as years pass. Most of our worries do come from personal observations, and orchestras like the California Symphony are making huge strides in their audience developments. Though, there is usually a shared consensus among studies, articles, and observations from orchestras around the country that point to troubles with a continually aging audience.

What’s being done? Like mentioned some orchestras are making great progress in their audience development, but overall many are choosing to do very little, if anything at all. Unfortunately, this is understandable. With small budgets, the focus of many orchestras is to develop their core audience. This core audience funds their organization, and it’s usually a struggle for orchestras to experiment and develop new programs to reach important future generations who eventually will be their core audience. It’s interesting to read the studies on the issue, and if you are interested in learning more, we’ve shared some of the most interesting studies and articles that we found at the end of the post.

It is not all doom and gloom. Other studies are reporting that classical music is experiencing a boom from streaming. Many younger generations are using classical music to escape the sound from more popular genres; they also will turn on some Mozart or Beethoven to help with work, relax from a long day, or to help with sleep.

Though we are seeing a greater number of individuals listening to classical music, why aren’t we seeing numbers increase in the concert halls?

One reason may be is that we are living in an era of so many options. There are so many choices for entertainment today; so many options for a date night; so many options for spending time with friends and family. Symphonic music, opera, and chamber music thrived in previous generations and were much more in-demand; options were limited, and competition for an individual's time wasn't as intense as it is today.

Today, classical music genres have to compete with pop, rock, jazz, indie, and you name it; this competition is also only in the music genre. In the entertainment genre, we have the rise of video games, a vast number of sports, movies, TV shows, musicals, theatre, comedy shows, magic shows, and more. Today's choices are overwhelming, and it's not surprising why classical music is behind many of these newer forms of entertainment. And in this time when gratification can come when you want it, classical music just has trouble keeping up with other genres.

We don’t blame the extension of entertainment options that grows each day. We don't think this is necessarily a problem. Individuals today have an assortment of interests and faster ways to express or enjoy them. They can choose from multiple sources of entertainment without limiting themselves to a single option.

Thus, we will focus on classical music itself. Why may it not be keeping up with audiences? What may be creating obstacles between the genre and newer generations? How can it keep up in a world with a growing number of options? Do we believe it will still be around for another hundred years? And most importantly, why is classical music important today?

Since this is our first official blog post under the name Musikvert, We couldn't think of a better question to try and answer to kick things off. I do want to start with a disclaimer (which might become a habit in future posts). This does expresses our opinion. Everyone will have their own thoughts and feelings towards classical music and its place in the world.

After reading our answer to "Why Classical Music," you still can't find a reason for wanting to experience or disagree with it and think, "Classical music just doesn't make sense in our world anymore." We believe your opinions and thoughts are valid. You don't have to like every genre of music. You don't have to select every option of entertainment.

We love classical music, and we also enjoy many other genres of music: rock, pop, blues, jazz, indie rock, etc. We enjoy watching sports, some more than others, and watching movies, TV shows, and playing video games. We are not limited to enjoying one source of entertainment. We are all very fortunate to have so many ways to stay entertained and connected, even if it's overwhelming to choose.

Our hope is for you to go out and experience a live performance for yourself and figure out if it makes sense for you. Chances are you most likely have an orchestra, opera, or performing arts center near you that performs an assortment of works that can be classified as "Classical Music."

Since they might not be performing in this current environment, check out if they have a channel with free music or are planning a few virtual performances. I'll share a few of our favorite channels at the end of the post.

It's not just about the notes, it is also an emotional experience that has lasting effects on your mind, some say “classical music is good for the brain.” It doesn't matter if you can read music or not - classical music still matters!

CLASSICAL MUSIC

Today, classical music is a somewhat ambiguous term that individuals use freely. Before we answer the big question, we think it's essential to set a few definitions on these broad terms and words that could cause confusion.

For die-hard fans (especially students of it), classical music is strictly an age of music that occurred around the mid-1700s to the early 1800s. The genre was barely a century old, but today, we use this term very loosely. We will not be this precise with the definition. Classical music in this post and for future posts will be much broader. We will use it to describe art music, serious music, and music that was created

“a long time ago in a …” (sorry couldn't resist referencing Star Wars. Won't do it again … but we make no guarantees).

When we speak on classical music, you can place all sorts of specific genres into this category: orchestral music (which has a huge variety of its own), chamber and choral works as well. There's so much to choose from! And if it has vocals? You're looking at an entirely different world with roughly 2200 years worth – just in numerical terms alone!--of history behind them already when they were written down centuries ago by some guy who was probably really glad that day happened because otherwise his life might have gone something like what happen in the movie The Sound Of Music.

If the piece is considered more of an art, we will place it in the more extensive, very broad, definition of Classical music. If you see traditional orchestral instruments (e.g. violin, viola, clarinet, flute, trumpet, etc.) being performed in a traditional style, we’ll classify it as classical music. If it’s serious, it’s classical music. If you are confused when listening, it’s … well, it could be popular or classical. There is a lot of music that can confuse audiences; confusion doesn’t necessarily mean it will fit into the classical music bubble (world, pasture? We’ll figure out a good organizational word).

The next question you may have is: "how do you determine if a work is more art?" In this case, you may need to turn to the creator of the piece. Did they mean for it to be popular, or was it an opportunity to express their art through music? You might not find a clear answer to some works, but this is part of the fun. You can debate with friends to your heart's content to find a solution.

Too often, we want clear definitions. But a lot of music doesn't give you a clear cut answer. It's up to you as the listener of the musicians' work to determine if it's meant to be art or not. A lot of what’s considered classical music today may not have started that way. Many composers, whose works are part of the classical music pasture (for the rest of this article, we will use this organizational word. It’s been decided!), wrote there music as a form of entertainment for their audience, their benefactors, and their community. It was a way to engage audiences, give individuals an escape from their lives, and shine a light in a world that can sometimes be too dark.

However, the well-known classical music artist, Beethoven, who many of you know, may have been one of the first to really push the seriousness of this art form, pushing the genre into more of an art than entertainment, but we’ll save what Beethoven did for another time.

WHY CLASSICAL MUSIC?

We won't keep you waiting any longer. We’ll give you an answer now.

And we think Leonard Bernstein said it best, "Why do so many of us try to explain the beauty of music, thus depriving it of its mystery?"

It's a feeling.

If you were waiting for a clear answer, we’re sorry; this would never happen. As we mentioned before, classical music can mean a lot too many different people. Yes, classical music is a vital part of our history. The music of the past, like art, reflected the ideals, the soul, the personality, and important concepts of people during those times.

Classical music can give us a glimpse into the past, showing that even when it comes to art there are traditions which continue on through time. From the epic symphonies of Beethoven to the tuneful operas of Mozart, history’s masterpieces continue to set the benchmark. Today’s composers continue to challenge the great masterworks providing new sounds that we may hear for the first time - what will tomorrow bring?

Music is a universal language that everyone can understand, but it's not always easy to decipher what the composer was trying convey with their message. Some artists use music as an outlet for expressing themselves while others call upon higher forces or simply rebel against oppression by creating revolutionary works of art in response— Regardless of how they choose to do so, every critical point throughout history has been punctuated by composers writing pieces reflecting both personal feelings and public sentiment at that very moment.

Miles Davis said "The only thing worse than silence is language that doesn't speak truth." As creatives, artists are able to communicate feelings through sounds rather then words alone.

But we know you might want a more precise answer on why it's important today? Well, it's still entertaining … we know it’s too simple of an answer, but it doesn't need to be complicated.

We have incredible musicians in today's age who continue to surpass the skill, talent and artistry of their predecessors. We wouldn't just want them supported by society but also given opportunities for growth so they can create something new or re-imagine an old work. How can they revive and make it a piece for today? We want to see what new composers can do and what new sounds they can create. There’s so much that can be done; we’re excited to see what comes next!

Many of today's instruments were created from the needs of composers. Just look at the piano; its history is a perfect example of composers demanding more and more, making the instrument into what it is today. Let’s push the boundaries further! We want to see a 5 stringed violin that can play even higher notes, a trumpet with ten keys, a tuba clarinet (imagine some combination of the two), and a flute that can double as a sword (kidding on this last one, but musicians do need protection).

Today, there are many composers who continue to write new pieces for a modern age. It's similar as when an artist would come out with their newest album or single; however, these works require teams of people. And who doesn't like team sports!

If you haven't been to a performance, imagine 70 individuals syncing up precisely (or as close as possible) to create an auditory sensation. You have one coach, the maestro, whose leading them all to success. It's a fantastic feat that has to be seen in person.

Now, it’s not necessarily 70 individuals each time. You could have a soloist, a small chamber group, etc. The point is these new works will usually create new demands on the greatest musicians of our time. Think about how exciting it was to watch Usain Bolt, former Jamaican sprinters, set a new world record for the 100 meters, 200 meters, and relay 100 meters. I’ll give you a second. You can even watch the video below as a reminder.

https://youtu.be/jiQ-4TFeeO8

Exciting right!? Watching a musician go all out on their instrument can also be just as thrilling. Maybe not as exciting as Usain Bolt since they might not be setting a new world record and most spaces require silence in theaters, but it’s still an amazing experience.

So with all these amazing features about classical music, you would think it’s doing well. As we mentioned before, there are struggles with many orchestras in today’s world. Also like classical music the answer isn’t that clear which is why it’s persisted for so many years.

The culture at concerts could be too elitist, as many are advocating now. There are too many rules that intimidate new concert goers; it almost feels like you need a 100-page rules handbook just to understand what you are going to before entering, and this is on top of the concert program that you receive. We don’t know how big a problem these rules are for new audience members; you do find many of the same rules at movie theaters and for the most part movie theaters are doing well; maybe not in the last few year, but it is an unusual time.

For classical music concerts to continue, they’ll need a way to attract younger audiences. We are almost at the … do or die point. We really do hope orchestras, concerts halls, opera houses, and theaters find a way to develop their future audiences. It’s the only way we will see these performances in the next hundred years.

Classical music concerts are on the brink of extinction. With few young people interested in attending, professional orchestras and opera houses will soon be unable to continue hosting these performances for their audiences- unless something drastic changes quickly!

The only way we can see these shows is if a new generation steps up as fans; it’s what keeps classical musicians performing at their best, innovating and pushing the limits of music and what we’ve come to expect.

Though we have much personal trepidation, we believe classical music will pull through and find its way to the center stage of our society. It is still important to us today. Millions of individuals use it as an escape from all the sounds of today; this music has peaceful qualities that calm the mind. Millions learn instruments. Not everyone becomes a professional, but it does give them a sense of belonging they may have not gotten from other clubs, sports, or other groups. Many young musicians used it as a way to escape tough situations; clawing their way through dark tunnels to find the light on stage centered on them.

Why classical music still matters can be debated for many years. One thing is for certain, the power of classical music has not waned in centuries. Even today many people across generations find themselves enthralled by these timeless works that are performed with precision and beauty just as they were back when Mozart was alive!

There are so many more examples and stories from today and from classical music history that we’ll share with you in the future, but this first post was just to open your eyes to the current situation and give hope to a subject that usually doesn’t have much. Since this is such an important subject, we’ll continue to share stories, more personal ones, with you. Some will be from our own experience, and others we hope to find from other musicians and classical music lovers. You may find yourself wanting to share your story after you go to your first performance after reading this

… go ahead

… We’ll wait.

We do have to close this post, so if you do want to share, please feel free to leave a comment below or contact Musikvert directly. Also, let us know what your answer to the question “Why Classical Music.” Our goal is to invert your thoughts on classical music, making it a little easier for you to enjoy and removing any obstacles that may be in your way.

Audience Studies & Classical Music Articles:

https://americanorchestras.org/images/stories/knowledge_pdf/Audience_Demographic_Review.pdf

https://www.esm.rochester.edu/iml/prjc/poly/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/2002_Classical_Music_Consumer_Report.pdf

https://www.theaudienceagency.org/asset/1303

https://observer.com/2019/09/classical-music-business-crisis/

https://iml.esm.rochester.edu/prjc/interrupting-disruption-reinventing-classical-music-for-the-21st-century/

http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/112742/7/Revised_JPME_Young_audiences_paper_-_Dearn_and_Pitts.pdf

https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5166&context=gradschool_dissertations

https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1259&context=cusrd_abstracts

Classical Music Streaming Articles:

https://inews.co.uk/culture/music/classical-music-experiencing-resurgence-millennial-streaming-289962

Classical Music Video Libraries: