My CD music collection includes quite a number of contemporary classical music recordings, which I have aquired for different reasons - some because I have happened to know the composers or performers personally. However, at this point in time I have to admit that I have not listened to most of these recordings more than once.
The question is: Why is contemporary classical music so uninteresting?
My answer is short: Because - in most cases - it lacks a clear melodic line, and often also a rhytmic pulse.
For some strange reason most contemporary composers have discarded the basic truth that enjoyable music requires both melody and rhytm. Maybe the reason is that they do not dare to compete with all the great classical masters? Or maybe they think that all beautiful melodies already have been written?
On the positive side, it must be mentioned that some living composers, like the Estonian Arvo Pärt, and the American Philip Glass are writing melodic music - which certainly must be one reason why they are quite popular. One can only hope that many more dare to return to the essence of good music!
The British composer Ian Stewart has some interesting things to say about the problems of contemporary classical music:
What does not exist anymore, in most classical music though, is the sheer love of melody and pulsing rhythm. If you listen to good pop music, the Beach Boys and The Beatles for instance, a joy in melodic songs comes over. Even Bob Dylan's most acerbic, or embittered, songs are still melodic. Why has contemporary classical music lost this? As I wrote above, I think composers are stuck and rather than dealing with the problem, they evade it. Some contemporary classical music does have melodic themes, such as the repetitive works of composers such as Glass and Reich, and it is not surprising that they are among the most popular living classical composers. However this genre is distinct in itself and not representative of most contemporary concert music. We are now in the 21st century and, to many, the serial principles of the 20th century seem old fashioned. The total serialist composers were criticised by the more traditional music establishment, now they have become a sort of music establishment themselves. Now it is they and their supporters who are criticising music that does not comply with their austere, aesthetic rigour. To me though, music is part of the fashion world and classical music is every bit as fashion conscious as pop music. In the same way as international haute couture designers visit the streets and clubs in London, to inspire their own work, I believe classical composers will start doing the same. It is only a matter of time before the melodic forms of popular music inspire concert music again; and it is only a matter of time before there will be distinctive 21st century melodic works. Perhaps more importantly I also believe that classical composers will come up with distinctive melodic forms that will be new.
(Please note another related post here)
