On Apr 11, 2006, at 9:00 PM, Dennis Bathory-Kitsz wrote:
We ran down the terms. Classical has too much
baggage, and is pretty much wrong. New music means something to a
certain
crowd, but then just loses meaning at all. Art music? That applies to
any
genre with enough skill behind it. Avant-garde is long gone.
What comes after Avant-garde?
Post-avant-garde is just silly.
La Garde? what would the "guard" be? that implies battalions of eager,
well-trained and effective soldiers continuing the fight started by the
avant-garde. I don't think we've got that, as you mentioned.
Arrière-garde? (translated as "rear guard") fighting a retreat from the
battlegrounds? Maybe. 8-( I don't like the sound of that at all.
Concert music
might do it for those who distinguish between, say, a rock concert and
a
symphonic concert.
It certainly distinguishes music purely for listening purposes (as
opposed to dance, background noise, worship, or other purposes), and
presupposes a somewhat more informed audience. Not bad, but it doesn't
take into account the social museum aspect of today's orchestra
concerts ("we support the symphony because it is Ahhht. Plus I get to
wear my beautiful new dress.")
"What do you write?" "Nonpop." "Huh?" And the
conversation can continue. Use any of the other descriptions (art
music,
classical music, concert music, avant-garde...) and the conversation
comes
to a quick and uncomfortable halt.
And there you have possibly the very best argument in favour of the
term.
Getting people talking about it (and of course, coming and putting
their butts into ticketed seats) is the beginning, the middle, and the
end. Otherwise, it is all an elaborate and short-lived exercise.
Christopher
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