Why do people forget about classical music nowadays?

Answer 1

Because Oprah has yet to do a show about it ;o>

Answer 2

I don't think they forget. In a sense, I would say that more people now have access to it.

Classical music, in fact, has firstly been aimed at an "elite", a bourgeoisie, a set of rich people that had education, or for a world of musicians which has never been big in number. Most people in Europe or USA in 18th or 19th century have a low level standard of living, hard conditions of life - very few knew about Bach's or Mozart's music, and if they knew, few would have money to go to an opera.

In fact, thanks to radio, to the CDs, more and more people have access to classical music - even if it's sometimes only the "standards" pieces, and far from the way it was intended to be played (cf. errr... André Rieu...). But the Mozart celebrations this year were a big success at least in Europe, and CDs with his music sold very very well. The "new year" concert in Vienna is worldwide shown on TV, and is watched by many.

Moreover, in France where I live, there is a new generation of classical singers and musicians that are more "under the lights" of the medias, like the pianist Hélène Grimaud or the soprano Patricia Petitbon, and which records sell quite well, and I think they don't make too much compromises in the way they play their music. There is also Nigel Kennedy, Roberto Alagna or Cecilia Bartoli that are known by a large audience. Purists may not appreciate some of them a lot, they are however a "first step" into classical music for many people. Many people choose to stay in this first step, some to go deeper into classical music knowledge. But there is at least this first step.

Answer 3

It's all about the beat! In contrast to today's popular music, classical is very complex. Orchestral music involves hundreds of instruments each "doing their own thing" yet making one harmonious piece of music.

Have you noticed how many modern bands play with large orchestras? Dennis DeYoung, former singer of Styx, has been touring for a long time with an orchestra. So has Metallica whose music some critics have said is like the Beethoven of our day. Also, there's a "cover" band that covers Metallica. They're called Apocalyptica; four members and only four cellos each with specially made strings of metal.

There are lesser known bands that incorporate classical music; Enigma, Deep Forest and Mike Oldfield. Even Billy Joel, who played a big part in pop music, is now writing classical scores. Classical music will forever be with us.

After all, in 300 years maybe Justin Timberlake will be considered "classical"! (Yeeesh!!)

Answer 4

I may be the one of the select few but I'm 21 and I really enjoy classical music. I have always been a fan of going to the opera and broadway. Classical is great just for the mere fact that that is the music that has survived thru years and years and nothing has infuenced the way it sounds. I look at it as one of the few constants in a world of chaos.

Answer 5

Here's my guess.

I think people neglect classical music (in the US and maybe some other places) for the same reason that people in the US mostly don't like Chinese or Arabic music - they don't hear much of it, so it sounds strange and boring, like listening to someone talk in a language you don't know. They don't know how to "read" classical music as well because it doesn't follow the same rules as modern popular music at all. (Wagner, for example, uses all kinds of chord progressions which no rock, country, rap musician on the radio is using. And of course modern popular music flouts a number of the ironclad rules of classical music, like including tritones everywhere. And of course a lot of people can't easily abide to listen actively to much of anything without singing - opera sung in another language may not cut it for them either.)

Anyway, here's my thought: because it sounds strange and boring, they don't seek it out unless they're adventuresome (or want to cultivate a refined image), so their kids don't get exposed to it so much and don't have so much of a preference for it. Their kids do seek out different bands and such - but the basic underlying musical "language" is the same as what they heard.

At least I find anecdotally that I only stretch so far from what I'm used to - over time I become used to new things and come to like things I didn't before. I think that has something to do with why many people even say they hate opera. You have to have a reason to get into it.

Answer 6

Nowadays people are influenced mostly by their friends and they have forgotten the classical music and thay listen to other kinds of songs!

Answer 7

For you and other do nonsense generation dj had lost of petite to classical music but for me, I have hundreds of volumes I had collected of classical music and country songs. Remember that this generation of R&B/dance for people who have no interest in their future, rocks/metal/solid rocks music are favorites of drugs/addicted dependent people, instruments/jazz music are selected by desparate lovers/born losers.
For us normal people still wanting listening to the classical/ country music as the only music with meaning and harmony.

Answer 8

I don't really know, but I LOVE classical music, instrumental music from games and movies too. My iPod's filled with music such as those, that's why I don't lend my iPod so much, because most people who borrow them are the ones who like club music or hard metal that's not in my iPod. I once yelled my cousin because she said most of the music in my iPod are OLDIES. I slapped a nice arguement at her where she doesn't have the brains to reply. :)

Answer 9

The greats of classical are still fairly popular. Modern classical is more of a fringe, highly avant-garde exercise. Pretty much no one tries to write in the traditional style any more, because it is fruitless to try and top Bach or Mozart at what they did.

Answer 10

Because now th "main stream" has changed to rap and r&b. Anything else is considered to be less. People don't appreciate good music anymore because if you listen to some of these songs out you will here jiberish. Ex: "Chicken Noodle Soup" "Do It Do It" and ofcourse "Laffy Taffy"
(They are stupid, but ery catchy)

Answer 11

I haven't forgotten. I play classical music often.