Just imagine the impression you will leave with your guests, as you drop sparkling bon mots on combinatoriality, pitch accumulators, harmelodics, and gradual phase shifting!… If they haven’t fled for the door yet…
I’m really just reminding you that the American Music Center, as part of its absolutely wonderful and essential web-service Counterstream Radio, has the first four podcasts in their “Crash Course” series available. Each gives you a quick, expert-led introduction to some facet of American contemporary music: Matthew Guerrieri on American serialism, Kyle Gann on minimalism, Tom Lopez on acousmatic music, and Lara Pellegrinelli on post-jazz jazz. If you’ve ever had a twinge of curiousity about any of these but just never knew where to start, what better way than to let one of these pros start you down the path? (photo: Charlie White, “Cocktail Party”)
Oh, I get it. The lady in the purple dress is a composer and what she has to say is so fascinating that even an alien will listen to it.
No?
It’s funny how people find a classical musician and/or composer very interesting for the first moment. Then they realize what it really is and a sour look immediately forms on their face.
I actually found this article that clearly stats how much classical music has actually declined towards the public.
http://artsblog.freedomblogging.com/2009/02/13/stuff-white-people-like-appearing-to-enjoy-classical-music/7568/