As I write this column, there’s a Beethoven piano trio playing all around me. The light tinkling of piano keys, the lyricism of a violin and the dulcet tones of a cello are filling the room. The sound is so clear, it almost seems as if the players are right here in the room with me.
They aren’t, of course; I already checked. (Despite the fact that cello players are extraordinarily upstanding people, it is never a good thing when one breaks into your home.)
By listening to this lovely piece, I’m committing a tiny act of rebellion against prevailing social trends. The simple fact of the matter is that classical music has been slowly losing its hold on society since, oh, about 1703, and that process shows no signs of stopping.
And while some blame this decline on the younger generation, that’s being a bit unfair. Although the youth cohort of today does tend to prefer music made by people wearing jeans instead of evening attire, it’s hardly the only age group in which classical has fallen out of favor. Kids today may favor Franz Ferdinand to Franz Schubert, but the baby boomers, by and large, will go for George Harrison before they turn on Georges Bizet.
Who or what is causing this unfortunate development? First and foremost, is the length of the music. Classical music pieces are pretty long and this is an era in which many of us lead busy lives and have the attention span of a fruit fly to take the time to enjoy a lengthy classical symphonic orchestra. It’s unfortunate, then, that many symphonies and operas rival “The Lord of the Rings” in length without offering the spectacle of orc corpses flying around to hold people’s interest. Short pieces like Chopin’s “Minute Waltz” are more of the exception than they are the rule.
Still, that’s not the whole story. There’s also a certain air of un-hipness that attaches itself to whoever claims to like classical music. In some circles, admitting to being a classical music lover is the equivalent of saying, “I enjoy a nice glass of Metamucil while staying in on Friday nights and crocheting.” It’s not an image calibrated to attract the trendy young 20-something-years-old or the dopey middle-ager who thinks he’s a 20-something. It’s far safer, we assume, to stick to stuff that most people like, rather than be outed for a predilection for a good toccata and fugue.
Finally, many people avoid classical music because it may be perceived as the province of snobs. It’s not difficult to see why this is. On a classical radio station, you’re likely to be bombarded by so many jewelry store commercials that you feel poorer just by listening to them. There’s also a dignified atmosphere that pervades classical performances, where gentlemen and ladies show up dressed to the nines, and your old Ramones T-shirt is decidedly unwelcome. It’s easy to jump to the conclusion that classical music is a realm for elites and that claiming to like it will mark you as an enemy of the common man.
But that isn’t to say that people don’t get any exposure to classical music whatsoever, because they do. Pieces from Rossini’s “William Tell Overture” to Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries” are featured in commercials hawking all sorts of goods. Of course, one can’t help but think that, if Robert Schumann had ever dreamt that his work might one day appear in a promotion for toilet paper or the like, he probably would have attempted suicide much earlier than he did. But even a little classical in one’s life is better than nothing.
The fact is that classical can be a wonderful addition to one’s musical diet. In an age where every other song seems to be a whine about being wronged in some way by one’s “baby,” it’s nice to hear music that explores the depth of human emotions through colors and moods, rather than words. It also can be refreshing to hear a wide range of instruments, employed simultaneously, after listening to a steady stream of pieces featuring good old Mr. Guitar.
Though none of this is meant to suggest that classical music is superior to any other sort of music, we simply ought to allow classical music equal standing. It’s not as hard as you might think. There are performances by classical orchestras everywhere and many of them are cheaper than a rock concert. (I would still probably leave the Ramones T-shirt behind, or at least accent it with a nice blazer.)
So why not get a little more classical in your life? It might pleasantly surprise you.
Matt’s column runs biweekly Wednesdays. He can be reached at m.waring@cavalierdaily.com.
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