So, classical music...

[mrph]

...new classical music. Opinions?

I skimmed an interesting piece in the latest Gramophone magazine, which commented that there's no 'hook' that can be used to get new work into the mainstream - I think they namechecked the Turner Prize as an equivalent hook for modern art, but I don't have the relevant piece to hand.

There's a bit of my brain that thinks the sort of people who appreciated, say, Tarmvred (to pick a not-so random interesting experimental electronic act) at Infest, are also vaguely likely to appreciate a modern classical composer like Tüür... but I'm not sure that's actually true. Hmm.

May need to think on this a little more, but comments are welcome...

Edit: Well, ok, John Adams is on MySpace. That was a pleasant surprise.

Edit2: ...and so are the Kronos Quartet, among others (...and I hadn't realised they'd been busy remixing NIN. I guess that's a decent hook, hmm? :)

Comments

[nemesis-to-go.livejournal.com]

Apocalyptica have more or less built an entire career out of covering Metallica songs, and other suchlike metal works. And then, of course, there's the likes of Rasputina.

But I dunno if this sort of thing inspires people to investigate classical music in general. Apocalyptica basically play to the rock crowd, where they're treated as something of a surreal novelty. Rasputina are as much of a theatrical concept as a musical experience.

There's been quite a bit of crossover stuff over the years, but I don't think any of it has led to a sudden surge of interest in contemporary classocal - or even old classical. I mean, even Paul McCartney has done classical music. And don't get me started about the Electric Light Orchestra!