has classical music declined in popularity over the years?

Question

or are people of all generations still listening to it?

Answer 1

Yes you could consider Classical music one of the less popular genres of this generation(along with Jazz and The Blues.)

I wouldn't say it's "declined" in popularity, meaning it will just fade out like Disco or New Wave, it's been around for over 400 years(this is including Baroque) and I don't think it will ever just "fade out". You could say the same thing about museums, are they as popular as Green Day preforming? Hell no. But does that mean they will slowly decline in popularity and just "fade out"? I highly doubt it. Classical music and museums are considered fine art, something that is respected and will be respected in the coming 100 years, popular music is entertainment and most likely won't have the same lasting impression as classical music has had. Most of the bands have come fourth during the last 70ish years, will just be a footnote in history books where as something as important as classical will have a lasting effect.

Answer 2

1. I don't believe there has been any decline of music at all. If there was, it was during the 60's and 70's when most important genres that people enjoyed like Blues, Jazz, Swing, Classical, etc. began to be overshadowed by Rock getting big. I think those two decades are responsible for a lot stubbornness and ignorance towards and about music in present society. However, recently, I think music, (or if not music, at least Rock music) has been inclining again because of how much variety the genre now encompasses. Everything from Indie Rock to Black Metal is still Rock and still is considered popular music and I've noticed that because people start to listen to a variety of Rock genres, they'll eventually expand into many other genres too. 2. Classical Music refers more to a time period than a genre of music. According to Wikipedia, it began in the 9th century. I think current Classical music is music that emulates or draws inspiration only from music from before the 1930's. I also don't think it's possible to create music with the, as you call it, "'modern' pop/rock/etc.-esque instrumentation" such as electric guitars (including bass) and drums because those instruments weren't used in mainstream music before the 1900s. I'll expand more on this in 4. 3. Classical and mainstream are not exact opposites. Not even close. Mainstream music currently refers to any genre of Rock, Hip-Hop, or Pop. Even all those "underground" bands and rappers that all the cool internet kids force down peoples' throats are much more mainstream than that Funk band from the 70's I've never heard of. Probably thanks to the internet, musicians of these genres are able to advertise and make themselves known and popular. 4. Classical Music was mainstream 200 years ago. Classical is ALWAYS obsolete in society because it's what came before what exists now. 200 years from now, Classical music will probably include the mainstream music that exists now. 5. I think this has always been the case. You really don't need that many keys to make music. Lots of modern bands probably change chords more often than many classical composers that wrote entire pieces based around a single chord. It's just what music is. Thrash til' Death - Beethoven was mainstream in the early 19th century.

Answer 3

Classical music has without a doubt declined over the years and i am sure that their are some people of this generation that listens to it but the numbers are probably few.

Answer 4

Yes unfortunaely it has. Although so have many other types of music; i.e. Jazz. C'est la Vie, as time goes on so does music. I think only people who play classical instruments know things about classical music these days, which is a shame seeing as that's where all the modern music originally came from.

Answer 5

I've loved classical since I was about three. I play it any chance I get, and I'm a season ticket holder of my local Symphony Orchestra. We get mostly seniors at the concerts, but there's a growing number of younger people attending. I think that's a great sign.

Answer 6

Yes. People tend to listen to rap nowadays, which is a load of horse crap about the vanity and shallowness of the artists, and how many cars and pieces of jewelry they have. I believe rap has lowered the average IQ of Americans in general. Country music is a close second.

Answer 7

Sadly yes. I finally took up classical piano at the age of 35, it takes a lot of hard work; when you go to the symphony nowadays, LIVE, you see seniors, middle age people like myself, and some young people but they are mainly asian kids.

Answer 8

yes it has declined, no one except persons older than 50 and those that actally play a classical instrument listen to the music

Answer 9

It seems so. It certainly hasn't with me. I'm twenty-one and I've loved Bach and Liszt since I was a little kid.

And I agree with vertigo.

Answer 10

Of course. Too bad, though. People do listen, but the numbers are waning.