Why Classical Music?

Why put students through the drudgery of studying a bunch of dead white Europeans?

My down and dirty answer is that classical music boasts some of the highest achievements by western civilized man, especially in the areas of human imagination (emotion too), technical skill (playing musical instruments), and technology (musical instrument building).

At the end of the day, that may not put a loaf of bread on the table, and maybe Congress is justified in wanting to eliminate funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, PBS and NPR. However, classical music is a critical link in connecting with our past and traditions as a civilization. That matters, especially if we want to build a future on those traditions rather than cash in our chips and let corporate driven pop culture shape our imaginations. With that in mind, I propose not to throw babies out with the bath water. Instead, look at classical music as another option, or better yet, an alternative to what's out there in the mainstream. Perhaps, it may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I hope you can recognize (at the end of the day) why classical music ranks as a great achievement in western civilization.

Classical Music for the Rich? Not When There's Bugs Bunny

Probably, the biggest turn-off for beginning listeners to classical music is all the formality that goes with the music.

This is true. Throughout the history of classical music dating back to the early Greeks, classical music was supported by and performed mostly for the upper, aristocratic classes. In many ways, the music reflects so-called elitist values. For instance, it was not that long ago, that no respectable concert goer would appear wearing anything other than a tux or formal evening dress when attending a symphony. That is a big turn-off for a lot of people, understandably so.

However, as true as all that may be, there is plenty of classical music circulating in popular culture today.

Check out the What's Opera, Doc, a classic Bugs Bunny cartoon. (If for some reason the video has been deleted browse online to find another link. Make sure that you are watching the 6-minute long version)

The music in the cartoon is from the opera Ride of the Valkyries, composed by Richard Wagner, a German composer who wrote in the late 1800s. The opera begins with layers of musical accompaniment until the curtain rises to reveal a mountain peak where four of the eight Valkyrie (mythological figures who selected which mortal combatants died or lived in battle) sisters of Brumhilde (a mythological hero) have gathered in preparation for the transportation of fallen heroes. As they are joined by the other four, the familiar tune is carried by the orchestra, while, above it, the Valkyries greet each other and sing their battle-cry.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1atzuy_what-s-opera-doc_shortfilms Links to an external site.

Do not forget Disney's 1940 classic Fantasia, whereby animation was done to pre-existing compositions of classical music. Whereas, in movies, almost always the music is composed to the movie visuals. By the way, if you have not seen it, see it!

There is also the recent movie, The King’s Speech, which uses music by Ludwig van Beethoven. For instance, Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 has a slow movement that underscore George VI’s speech impediment and anxiety at speaking in public. Furthermore, do not forget one of the more memorable movie scenes in the history of cinema. I am speaking of Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey and the scene where primitive man discovers the use of tools. Richard Strauss’ Thus Spake Zarathustra plays in this scene and effectively captures the mood of that moment, which one could describe as wonderment, future possibilities, and grand achievement. You can view the scene. Click on the link and scroll to 5:59 into the clip.

Link Links to an external site. 

My point is that classical music is relevant today and even has a place in popular culture. Above and beyond that, classical music represents our heritage as a civilization, where we have been, and where we may be heading.

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Trivia Corner #1  The use of the symphonic orchestras to perform movie scores was normal in most movies back in the day. However, today, if you were a Steven Spielberg and wanted to hire a symphony orchestra to record the movie score you would be looking at about 40 musicians getting paid triple scale per hour. The bill would end up to be close to $100,000 just for the orchestra. Spielberg can afford it, and would probably choose to go that route in keeping with his high production values. Now with modern technology and music software that can simulate an entire symphony, producers can get the music done on the cheap. Often times, musical scores get done by a composer using a computer and a computer nerd to operate the equipment and to enhance the sound.

One time I recorded for an episode for the movie Poltergeist turned European television series. A scene took place in Cairo, Egypt. The composer at the time had no good software samples of the nay, an Egyptian flute, which I also play. So he brought me in to record the scene. There were just three of us doing the movie--the composer, the computer nerd, and myself.

Trivia Corner #2  What are the two most famous notes in Hollywood film score history and who composed them?

Answer: John Williams composed two notes played a minor second apart for the cello to highlight anticipation of the second shark attack that appears in the movie Jaws. I think you know which scene.