Letters to the Editor
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Classical Music
Classical music is simply music that is good enough to transcend time and place. Of course Mozart did not set out to write "classical" music, but he was very much aware of past tradition. He knew the works of Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, as well as the music of his friend, Haydn. This is no different from traditions developing in art or literature. I think it is fair to say that the great tradition of western art music did reach a crisis in the twentieth century beyond which it was not possible to develop further. We experienced this crisis in the form of piano music consisting of four minutes of silence or even of a piano being dropped into the ocean by helicopter. This is not art, but anti-art. The destructivness reflects the frustration of a tradition having exhausted all possible avenues of development. The value of the greatest art of the past - whether by Mozart or Shakespeare or Giotto is not diminished by the end of the traditions to which they belong because great works of art transcend both time and place. Popular music is emphemeral. It provides momentary pleasure, but is not good enough or rich enough to last. Who wants to listen to the Titanic theme song today? But whether you like classical or popular, we are fortunate to be living at a time when we can listen to a recording of a gregorian chant one minute and a Beatles song the next. Through recordings, all music from all places and all times is available to everyone. I do not lament the death of the western classical tradition because the music is all there for anyone who cares to listen, as fresh now as it was 300 years ago. You can also explore the music of India or China or Africa. Take your pick!