First Post

I have wanted to keep track of the concerts I've gone to for a while now. Starting this blog seems a good way to do so, and perhaps share my other random thoughts on music. The title of the blog is inspired by a cover from the New York Times Arts Section I cut out several years ago:

"Some 1,800 classical ensembles perform 36,000 concerts a year. Once-obscure specialties yield sold-out events. Start-up labels produce a flurry of new recordings. Music is downloaded (legally!) faster than ever. And new concert halls are the must-have status symbols for cities on the rise. Check the numbers: rumors of classical music's demise haven't just been exaggerated. They've been dead wrong."

The facts speak for themselves. One thing this quote does not mention is the interest of young people in classical music. In order for classical music to truly survive, new generations must keep the same interest as the older generation. It seems that interest in classical music among the younger generations is not as weak as people may seem. I have noticed the average age falling at the concerts I attend and many people I have met through music are committed to keeping it alive. That does not mean I haven't encountered experiences which suggest the opposite though. Attending a concert last June, the older lady next to me remarked to her friend "look at these YOUNG people next to me" with a surprised tone. To her we seemed out of place, but I did not feel out of place at all. The music of Brahms on that day's program was powerful for both of us I'm sure. Afterwards we even discussed the modern Magnus Lindberg piece to open the program. I found myself falling into the stereotypical assumption that she would have negative comments but to my surprise she admitted she liked it. If the younger generation can be into classical music who says the older generation can't like new music. As we both realized that day, stereotypes aren't always accurate.

So while it may seem odd for an eighteen year old college freshmen to be blogging about the (mostly) classical concerts he attends, there is nothing I would rather discuss. Classical music speaks to me more than any other type in part due to its depth and complexity, but overall to express a wide range of emotions. I look forward to sharing my thoughts.