Post by richard on Jun 20, 2020 14:00:59 GMT
In the 60s, Leonard Bernstein gave a series of marvellous lectures for young people about classical music, which can be seen on YouTube. Being the aware, great all-round genius of a musician that he was - classical conductor, composer of the music to West Side Story, pianist, and brilliantly lucid teacher - he was able to use examples from the pop/rock music of the day, including The Beatles, to telling effect.
I'm aware of the series on tv a few years ago, by Howard Goodall, about music - which I've only seen a clip or two from - but he too mentioned popular music, including, again, The Beatles.
My point is this: where is the great classical musician of today who, as Bernstein did, is able to deploy examples similarly, this time from ABBA, that exemplify qualities in popular music and in relation to classical music? Surely there must be a few such musicians out there? Or do they all have snobby, prejudiced, ears? And would there be that interest, anyway, as there seems to have been then? I appreciate that the media has changed massively since the 60s.
Maybe it doesn't matter - that it's enough that the fans know how great ABBA are, regardless of any relation to classical music, or other styles of music. But somehow it does matter to me because, for me, music is all of a piece, in the end, not tight, separate, little pigeon-holes; and the categories of 'genre' are often arbitrary and overlap, anyway.
Any thoughts about this?
I'm aware of the series on tv a few years ago, by Howard Goodall, about music - which I've only seen a clip or two from - but he too mentioned popular music, including, again, The Beatles.
My point is this: where is the great classical musician of today who, as Bernstein did, is able to deploy examples similarly, this time from ABBA, that exemplify qualities in popular music and in relation to classical music? Surely there must be a few such musicians out there? Or do they all have snobby, prejudiced, ears? And would there be that interest, anyway, as there seems to have been then? I appreciate that the media has changed massively since the 60s.
Maybe it doesn't matter - that it's enough that the fans know how great ABBA are, regardless of any relation to classical music, or other styles of music. But somehow it does matter to me because, for me, music is all of a piece, in the end, not tight, separate, little pigeon-holes; and the categories of 'genre' are often arbitrary and overlap, anyway.
Any thoughts about this?
