Note: Before reading this, understand that I am making a generalization,
and like all generalizations, you can gain great insight into trends which
shape history, but cannot account for every work, every composer, every
note that was written using the general observation.  Thanks, M:)

>> I wrote:
>>
>> My main problem with classical music of the last 100 years (for the most
>> part) is that it does not reflect a philosophy or worldview which appeals
>> to me ...

Deryk wrote:

>Your complaint is not an uncommon one - but it does ignore the fact that
>the "classical music" of the 20th century was more varied that any previous
>century in our history.

I don't ignore that at all.  The 20th century was indeed extremely varied
in styles and also philosophies of composition, art, and society in
general.  Some appealed to the people of the time, some did not.  But an
interesting thing happened in the 20th century also.  The ability to mass
produce recordings gave popular music a huge boost, and at the same time,
serious art music began to distance itself from pop music.

Jazz was influencial for a time, but then from the swing era, composers
who were looking to include "the people's" elements turned to folksongs.
Bartok, Vaughn Williams, Copland, etc.  From the beginnings of secular
classical music, it had deep roots in the popular vernacular, i.e.  dance
forms, songs, etc.  But in the 20th century, the tonal composers began
<<looking back>> to old melodies for their inspiration!  It was a nostalgia
built into the aesthetic of the works, based on the country of origin.  No
wonder they were considered "old fashioned" by the intellectual
avant-garde.

The intellectual avant-garde, OTOH, drew their inspiration from the
radical philosophies emerging at their times.  First socialism, then
Nihilism, Dadaism, etc.  heavily influenced the aesthetic until music
became more political statement than personal music statement.  It was
a political statement that the general population didn't like, but the
intellectuals did.  In their philosophy, the entire concept of art was
challenged until it is now just accepted that art is just anything someone
says it is, and it exists for no reason other than to be.

Well, I got news for everyone who believes that.  There ain't nothin' in
this postmodern capitalistic world of ours that is going to survive just
because!

And that's where we stand now.  We are seeing the unfortunate fruits
of this increasing schism between popular culture and classical culture.
Without music that is seen as speaking to today's person, the classical
music genre will eventually fade away as a practiced art form.

Mark Landson
http://LandsonMusic.com