The other morning in class, we raised the question of why our generation, said to be possibly the most influential of the century, has lost interest in the arts and particularly classical music. It makes sense to me and I can speak to that truth; not a single person I regularly interact with would voluntarily listen to a symphony (with the exception of my mother). Why is that? One student suggested technology to be the culprit. She noted that our level of regular sensory stimulation is extreme, and I would venture to guess that no generation before us experienced constant sensory bombardment. This is true about advertisements, film, TV, video games and even music.
There once was a time when the composers were followed and praised as we praise pop stars today. There was a time, but a century ago, when an orchestra served the function of today's Pandora radio. Today we require such a high level of stimulation to be entertained that a symphony does not do the trick for the everyman. So has the role of classical music become that of "art for the highly intelligent and educated"?
I could say yes. As someone who enjoys listening to a symphony, a cantata, a piano trio, I admit that that pleasure of listening comes from time spent studying music. For example, knowledge of sonata form makes sense of many symphonies. Knowing the concept of a theme brings further delight upon the listener's discovery of it. An educated listener enjoys classical more, plain and simple.
There once was a time when the composers were followed and praised as we praise pop stars today. There was a time, but a century ago, when an orchestra served the function of today's Pandora radio. Today we require such a high level of stimulation to be entertained that a symphony does not do the trick for the everyman. So has the role of classical music become that of "art for the highly intelligent and educated"?
I could say yes. As someone who enjoys listening to a symphony, a cantata, a piano trio, I admit that that pleasure of listening comes from time spent studying music. For example, knowledge of sonata form makes sense of many symphonies. Knowing the concept of a theme brings further delight upon the listener's discovery of it. An educated listener enjoys classical more, plain and simple.