What Am I?
If you’re a musician who works in what used to be considered the classical end of the business you’ll know (or have been hearing that) you’re in the middle of an identity crisis. Or maybe it’s a marketing crisis. A crisis of community?
If all you’re doing is playing music from the 19th century, fair enough. But if you’re making new music – what do you call this thing, this what-once-upon-a-time-was-called-classical-music thing?
“Classical” reeks of not-now-ness, while everything else you can call it communicates try-hard-ism, bewilderment, selling out, or disengagement.
So: I am music that connects with the classical tradition in some way, possibly but not necessarily using instruments used in the traditional Western orchestra, possibly but not necessarily using forms from the classical tradition, possibly but not necessarily engaging with the intellect through sound, possibly but not necessarily anticipating audiences to listen attentively. This creative endeavour is possibly but not necessarily emanating from training my creators/practitioners may or may not have had in classical musical traditions and may or may not be supported by a classical music commissioning and performance-funding infrastructure.
What am I? Should I even have a name? Should I just go about my business without a calling card? Is description of what I am even possible? What AM I?
This blog is for exploring this question forensically, macroscopically, up hill and down dale, and all til the cows come home. Join in, rock out, riff, jam, harmonise, improvise, sample, mix, mash-up, download, sing in the shower and/or whistle while you work; there are marks for participation.
Classical music: if you’re doing it new, are you doing it wrong?
AnimalVegetableClassical 