What's the story with classical music?

[trewq]

My classical music appreciation had stepped up with the vast number of midi files now available, and what can be done with them.

My appologies if Im deviating from the topic

but its fun to do with great music.

[kenny saunders]

Thanks for all the info, lots to look into...

[niterateaudio]

I personally find classical music gets more interesting as one progresses forwards in time. I never did get why people like old Mozart that much. The newer works are so much more potent.

[jancivil]

Depending on how you define the term it's alive, dead or

Classical is not dead, it just smells funny

did yous know that Wagner was a giant influence on Debussy? In 1887 he proclaimed that Tristan und Isolde was the finest music he’d heard.
Probably knocked out by that Tristan chord near the top sounding like F half-diminished but acting as secondary dominant to E7 with a big old #11 before resolving… F7b5 winkwink

suspect half-diminisheds a big feature for Debussy. “There is no theory!” when interrogated once.

[Michael L]

In 1887 he proclaimed that Tristan und Isolde was the finest music he’d heard.

...cuz Debussy is such a harmony boundary-breaker. Then 20 years later writes Golliwog's Cakewalk which makes fun of Tristan's theme, and is best mates with Satie who warns him away from Wagner. Which shows the truth in the joke that good music never dies but is composted by the next generation.

[jancivil]

Yes, he was soon to find a lot of Wagner gross.

[Kalamata Kid]

This is likely not relevant to the topic herein but here it goes anyway.
These two links get me some new and never heard by me classical music:

UNSUNG OR Underrated OR ignored OR neglected modern OR contemporary classical


UNSUNG MASTER WORKS


also
Classical Music Forum:
https://www.talkclassical.com/

[rp314]

some waltzes are angrier than other waltzes

When it comes to Viennese dance music in 3/4 time I sometimes prefer a minuet...

[Mr Arkadin]

I prefer Mach these days:

[Aloysius]

Once upon a time there were some good painters.
Once upon a time there were some good composers.
Once upon a time there were some good writers.

[Mike777]

"So did classical music as a genre morph into score music?"

yes and no

I don't consider movie scores 'classical' music even though they often use an orchestra and some are great orchestral compositions.

Traditional 'classical' music to me means listening to orchestral music as the only purpose, no visuals needed (or provided by the composer). A great symphony or other orchestral work will hold your attention from start to finish. That said, there are some movie scores that can do that in part, and are performed in part in concert halls. But the composers of these film scores were writing specifically for movies, and not the concert hall. And this is very different purpose when composing.

Hollywood started hiring professional composer/conductors in the last 1920's, like Max Steiner who first was conducting/composing operettas. Then went on to write classic movie scores like Cassablanca.

Rachmaninoff declined to write movie scores. But his music has been used in films.

The difference is in the use and purpose of the orchestra. In a movie soundtrack the orchestral is background music to the visual production on screen. In a movie musical the music is the focus and the orchestra is now music accompaniment for the singers.