KillingClassicalMusic

One of the best things about classical music is that it is almost entirely abstract.  Unfortunately, this is also one of the problems classical music has in attracting wider audiences.  Classical music simply requires more effort to relate to in many circumstances than do arts that we can perceive visually or that use language as a medium of message.  Abstract art is simply more foreign to us than more concrete art.

In order to relate much at all to art that is abstract, we have to add steps (and thus work) to the process.  This is very much like communicating in a foreign language before it has been internalized.  For folks abroad the process of communication goes something like this:

1. Hear words in Language A
2. Translate those words from Language A to Language B
3. Comprehend what was said in Language B
4. Formulate a response in Language B
5. Translate the response from Language B to Language A
6. Speak the words in Language A

If no foreign language were involved, at least steps 2 and 5 would be eliminated.

When it comes to classical music, we must first we perceive the art, and we do that by listening to it of course.  Once we have perceived this abstract piece of art, we must translate it into a language we understand.  For instance, we might interpret drums to be warlike or competing solo lines to be lovers in a quarrel.  From there, we must understand the various elements together to really comprehend any meaning we may derive from the music.  This last step is the point at which we relate the music to our humanity.  It’s the point at which the music is something more than a array of frequencies arranged precisely in time.  That’s quite a bit of work and, given the fleeting nature of music, it’s often not even doable in one hearing.

Yes, relating to classical music is quite a bit of work, and this is true of even the most “traditional” and well-know classical music.  This is not merely something with which “new music” must contend.  So, given that this is the case, how do we expect untrained audiences to relate to classical music?  I have some ideas, but I’m going to have to save them for a subsequent post.

In the meantime, I’d love to get your thoughts.  Do you agree that classical music (and all abstract art for that matter) is like a foreign language to most people?  Does the fact that it is abstract make it more difficult for large audiences to consume?

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1. musicalimprovisation said: totally agree, and have just blogged on vaguely similar lines: musicalimprovisation.tu… you have to consider that people may have a superficial understanding, but without depth
2. killingclassicalmusic posted this