When people ask the average young adult what comes to mind when they hear the term “music” they are likely to respond with a fresh singer, band, or genre of “pop” music. Then there is me, a twenty-three-year-old that blasts symphony music everywhere I go.
If I were to ask a room full of students, how many of them like symphony classical music, I would find about a handful. Does this mean classical music is dying? Not necessarily.
The problem with the classical genre is that it is stereotyped with Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin, Bach, etc. forgetting that new composers are born every year. Some of the most successful composers of the 21st Century are Ludovico Einaudi, Max Richter, David Lang, Lesley Barber and Hans Zimmer.
Growing up, I listened to classical music on the radio or watched performances on television. There was something that drew me into that genre and it wasn’t just the melody, it was everything about it.
I watched my grandfather play the violin and sing his heart out, while my dad played the piano and guitar. My appreciation for music stemmed from their musical talents. The truth is nobody encouraged me to listen to classical music; it was my own choice.
Every time I listen to symphony music, I lose myself in it. The instrumentals contained in classical music are unlike those of any other genre in their ability to reach a person.
Classical music is a mixture of different ways or styles to express emotion and feeling. By doing so, listeners may get a variety of feelings and messages from it. After listening to classical music, all the other genres just sound like noise to me.
Classical music is not just the boring songs that put people to sleep, at least not when you watch some of the greatest movies that wouldn’t be the same without the marvelous music behind them, for example, Tchaikovsky Nutcracker Suite, “The Russian Dance Trepak.”
Hans Zimmer is one of the many composers that has taken music into a whole new level. He is well known for and one of my personal favorites, “The Dark Knight” performance live with J. Newton and the epic Mongolian Voice, Uyanga Bold. Watching these performances live and sitting in the auditorium is an amazing experience. However, young adults are still hesitant to go see orchestras live.
Perhaps, more young adults would be more attracted to orchestra concerts and operas if they could move around freely, instead of being stuck in assigned seats or if the orchestra engaged with the audience. But that would take away from the beauty of the performance.
Musicians play a new program every week with minimum of rehearsal time. It is nearly impossible to memorize every note without the choreography and hours of practice.
The orchestra must also follow the appropriate seating arrangements in order for the music to sound properly. If the audience moved around freely it would cause traffic, distractions, noise, and the elegance of the musical art.
Some things are just meant to stay the same. Still, it is possible as time passes the orchestra performances will adjust to some of the modern changes.
Top SXU Playlist:
Chopin – “Revolutionary Etude”
Johann Sebastian Bach – “Air on G String”
Ludwig van Beethoven – Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67, “Fate”
Samuel Barber – “Adagio for Strings”
Max Richter – “Infra 5”
Ludovico Einaudi – “Nuvole Bianche”
Tokio Myers – “Polaroid”
Lesley Barber – “Manchester Minimalist Piano and String” (Manchester By The Sea)
Benefits of Listening to Classical Music:
1. Boosts brain power and creativity.
2. Reduces stress levels.
3. Relieves pain.
4. Fights depression and anxiety.
5. Decreases blood pressure.
6. Enhances memory.
7. Improves the quality of sleep.
8. Invokes all kinds of emotions.
9. Improves productivity and physical performance.
10. Helps learn more about your
personality.
Visit CSO.org for $15 Student Tickets to see great composers perform in Chicago.
Follow the classical encounters with Rob Shapiro on WXAV entitled, “Bach to school.”
Angelika Rol
Features Reporter
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