I get disturbed every time I read “Lite Classical Music”. I have never understood the association of classical music and a slang word for lowered alcohol content beer. “Lite” as “diet” soda beverage has an even worst identification, a beverage made with aspartame as sweetener with potential side effects, as this chemical product include methanol converting into formaldehyde under some conditions.
Is the “Lite Classical Music” a hazardous cocktail? An artificial sweetener? A hidden methanal concoction? A milder intoxicating brew? Or is it people trying to define some of the classical music in market term, “Lite” being the easiest to sell? I know, we discovered that cows were producing more milk when exposed to Mozart music, although, I believe Amadeus had no such intention when he was busy writing his composition. I sympathize with salespeople facing art for art; it is tough… the inspiration and creation for the sake of humanity; “what’s the point” they might say!
“Lite” or not, classical music represent far more than what our dismal education has or not portrayed. If we consider the Classical’s as Western music, we already miss the other sources such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and to some extend any formal folk music from around the world, being more of a traditional representation of a musical culture.
Periods such as Renaissance, Baroque, Classic, Romantic and Impressionist, to name a few, show very specific characters. The nation of origin among the Western Classicals represents distinctive signs of culture such as Russian composers being unique in comparison with Germans, Italians, French, Spanish, British, Polish… Western music is not limited to Europe as American and various South American composers embrace the same musical sources. I am fascinated by Takashi Yoshimatsu’s compositions as it blends Western and Japanese sounds, themes and orchestration. Classical music has no border as we say.
After all, Asians are avid adepts of Western classical music, expending from their ancient traditions and opening themselves to the world… I guess the opposite of what we tend to practice here… I have seen friends loosing their temper at the sounds of some classical music, asking me to stop “that”. I have seen people catching the temporary tempo of a symphony to find themselves looking wacky after the music abruptly slowed to an unrecognizable rhythm, followed by an acceleration of pace, again motivating our boeotians to get back on the beat and finding themselves once more in an embarrassing position. Some people mis-classify Jazz as "music for elevator" because it has no lyric! Not easy to understand the world and open to it when music only means Rock, whether classic, hart, punk, or Hip-Hop with its variations. Jazz being for old folks and Jazz-Fusion having been under popularized, Country is the genre one tend to love or hate with passion. Ultimately, music knowledge for the general American population ends up being songs of a form or another, no pure and simple music.
Classical music is also often presented as an invariable composition with no concept for interpretation, a sort of Cabernet without Millesime or Terroir… a dark red grape juice with alcohol… "Soothing" music, “Classical Thunder” and other typical commercial terms have no meaning as the music is an expression of artists, not a production aimed to move consumers in various defined forms of moods as a cheap therapy. Classical music is there to be appreciated outside oneself, allowing the music to reach instead of being controlled. It is a moment of contemplation during which one let the composers, interpreters and musicians communicating their combined feelings and allowing their emotions to blossom.
Light classical music would not make sense, as composers would not intentionally write a “less heavier” music for the sake of a lighter digestion or an easier understanding. “Lite” classical music is in reality an insult to the effort and involvement of composers, interpreters and musicians, as nothing “Lite” would have and would be satisfying them; classical music imply a total involvement with no restriction.
Personally, I like micro brew producing more intricate beer taste then “Lite”. Cheers to the Classical Music Lovers.
No comments:
Post a Comment