How could we think in a really big way — an expansive, loving way — about the future of classical music?
I think we might move toward acceptance. Acceptance of classical music’s place in the world, even if it’s not as large as we’d like it to be.
I don’t mean we wouldn’t work to give it a larger place. But we wouldn’t be angry at how things are now. We wouldn’t blame anyone. And above all, to all the many people who don’t love classical music, we’d open our arms, with loving acceptance.
Because these are our fellow humans, who deserve respect and love just as much as we do. People who (if you’re spiritually inclined) are, like all of us, sparks of divinity.
But sometimes we think in another way
Put that loving acceptance next to the feeling I know we might have, that classical music stands apart (in some superior way) from the rest of our culture. That classical music is high art and pop music ilow art.
That classical music is deep and pop music is shallow. That classical music requires thought and concentration, while the music most people like can be absorbed easily, with no training or effort. And that it therefore gives inferior rewards.
Let’s leave aside the long discussion of whether all of this is true. And ask instead what happens, if we think that way, to our love for our fellow human beings.
Is there a danger that we put them on a lower plane? Do we think that not just classical music, but we ourselves are set apart? That we have something — the depths that classical music takes us to — that other people don’t?
That they settle for something easy, while we choose what’s difficult? Even if they might be loving people, who care for each other and do good in the world.
That doesn’t work for me
I’d hope we could approach others — and the wider culture that they’re in — with some humility. With the thought (which I’d hope would be in any human interaction) that we could learn as much from the people in our world as they can learn from us.
In the end, the values that we find in classical music should be human values. Values that bring us closer to humanity. How sad, if in the name of our deepest values, we build barriers between ourselves and others!
Wonderful to read these provocative thoughts so elegantly expressed.
It was surprising to read recently of an Oxford professor who gives lectures including how aliens are living among us now. In a jocular mode, though some would consider this not so jocular, if we were to assume he is correct, I wonder what music the aliens would deem most advanced and sophisticated? My guess is they might go for David over Goliath. That is, music for Meruvina; a name I coined for various configurations of software and hardware used by a single person, over symphony orchestras. I prefer to live in two worlds at once with music: the traditional and the avant-garde. How to? One approach is to worship that which transcends both: quality; the same concept applying to diverse musical genres. We have a tendency to equate the words classical and quality, but, to begin with, European musical traditions have no superiority over those from America, largely from African American influence, and India; quite the contrary since the middle of the twentieth century. Thus, the word “classical” is in play and not set, and using that word for convenience contradicts actual meaning sowing unintended confusion and mendacity.
I’m all for reaching out with love, too, knowing its often aligned with truth.
Good thoughts, Michael, as usual.
If aliens were enough like us to appreciate any of our music, I’m going to guess they’d have many points of view. Imagining alien musicologists feuding with each other about which Earth music they like.
I’m not at all rejecting your insight here. Just loving the thought of aliens behaving more or less the way we do.
Yes, you’re probably right. One imagines if, unlike us, aliens have a planet anthem as opposed to myriad national anthems. Of if someday earth adopts an overall planetary anthem. Focusing in on one intriguing detail from the aliens among us theorists linked to the Oxford professor, I read that some believe of the various alien forms, ones with insect appearances are the most advanced. Last weekend, while entering a friend’s house, on the outside wall to the side of the front door, I noticed the most exquisite insect, perhaps a beetle. It had a green body with pink wings and gold arms and legs, looking at me with two tiny black eyes, perhaps hoping I didn’t see him or her. I had a photo taken because this could be a fantastic jewelry design. I suppose if their theories were true, this would be the best form of camouflage! Of course, some said at the time of their emergence that the Beatles (their name derived from the female members of a motorcycle gang in the film “The Wild One”) were from another planet given the extraordinary originality and substance of their inventions. I had the pleasure of enjoying George Harrison’s company one memorable evening in Lahaina, and while he was an extremely unusual person, he seemed very human. Speaking of love, Harrison’s song, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”, is about nothing less than saving earth. For those who may be interested, here are links to writings about my meeting with George, and the mentioned song: http://azuremilesrecords.com/georgeharrisonarticle.html http://azuremilesrecords.com/gentlywaking.html
Greg.
Some years back we duked it out over the values of classical music and “music of the marketplace”, and I’ve not chimed in for a while. I want to say that I agree with you, but given the current political situation, kindness is in short supply. As a musician with a foot in both classical and jazz worlds, I would like to add that jazz is also suffering, and traditional non-western music is becoming more and more westernized. I would encourage you to read the late Allan Kueger’s op ed in the NYT (6/2/19). Admittedly, I am leftish, but he had insights,that maybe even the Right has to acknowledge.
Hi, Richard. I’m leftist myself, so we’re not going to disagree about politics. Yes, jazz is Suffering. Didn’t know about world music! Will read the op-ed.
Interesting to me that despite increasing concentration of power and money in music and elsewhere, I think we’re seeing a powerful long tail effect, with such things as interesting pop music artists and craft beer. For me a worthy challenge would be for classical music, jazz, and world music to engage the many curious people who respond to the long tail things. Long story about how to do that and why it doesn’t happen, but I think that’s where our best future lies.