Simon silverdollarcircle
Well-known member
This is something I've been wondering about...
What's going on with classical music ? Specifically, why does music of all the art forms have a such a radical and defined distinction between the classical and the non classical-
- often entirely different sets of musicians
-often entirely different environments and modes of listening
-a different canon
-different radio stations
-often, an entirely different part of the record shop (Oxford Street hmv's classical music section was in like a sealed off area with plush carpets and mood lighting I recall?)
-very little real overlap between the classical music world and the "popular" music world
I think it goes beyond classical just being a different genre, and more that there are two different worlds of music sitting side by side but not really listening to each other. Outside classical music genres overlap and blur, but the world of classical music always seems distinct.
That's different from the standard high art/ low art distinction you get in the visual arts say. A cheap landscape that you'd pick up in a charity shop is still in some way on the same continuum as Constable. But I don't think a classical composer really is on the same continuum as, say, the Beatles. They are trying to do different things and it's being received in a very different way.
So what's going on? Is classical music fulfilling some need that other music doesn't? Are there really 2 musics? Is it just snobbery?
Help me dissensus.
What's going on with classical music ? Specifically, why does music of all the art forms have a such a radical and defined distinction between the classical and the non classical-
- often entirely different sets of musicians
-often entirely different environments and modes of listening
-a different canon
-different radio stations
-often, an entirely different part of the record shop (Oxford Street hmv's classical music section was in like a sealed off area with plush carpets and mood lighting I recall?)
-very little real overlap between the classical music world and the "popular" music world
I think it goes beyond classical just being a different genre, and more that there are two different worlds of music sitting side by side but not really listening to each other. Outside classical music genres overlap and blur, but the world of classical music always seems distinct.
That's different from the standard high art/ low art distinction you get in the visual arts say. A cheap landscape that you'd pick up in a charity shop is still in some way on the same continuum as Constable. But I don't think a classical composer really is on the same continuum as, say, the Beatles. They are trying to do different things and it's being received in a very different way.
So what's going on? Is classical music fulfilling some need that other music doesn't? Are there really 2 musics? Is it just snobbery?
Help me dissensus.