For some reason there has always been a strong relationship between classical music and electronic music. But is it appropriate to assume there would be a connection between the two genres ?
Classical music is often considered to be the music with an intellectual touch which in a certain way has also been the case for Electronic Music. The following question that rises is why ?
Classical music is all about knowing the piece exactly, and appreciating this performance, in comparison with all the other performances you know of this piece, and no variations from the score are allowed.
Electonic music is all about not having a specific score* and each time you play a piece is can be quite different, but recognisable, the appreciation comes in comparison with the times you did it before, and enjoying the variations.
* unless you are a rigid Cubase/Sonar block-filler
So the difference is ... classical = performance is important with no variations allowed, electronic = performance expected to have variations
Early electronic music was released on classical labels ((e.g. Stockhausen on Deutsche Grammaphon) and the people who played it were actually classical musicians venturing into new electronic territory.
These days it is actually impossible to get electronic music, however good, onto a classical music channel. For example I have tried my times over recent years to get modern electronic music onto BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM (and that's in the "hey this is wacky" programmes). They are just not interested, and view anything post 1970 as being pop music and therefore not suitable for their listeners. Unless of course you happen to be a recognised classical musician venturing into electronic territory.
Which is odd, because there are a large number of very accomplished electronic musicians there already, but just let Nigel Kennedy or someone touch something electronic and fart about, and it's instantly prime time material. This is a disgrace and an insult to all those electronic musicians who have been perfecting their craft for many years.
Right now I'm listening to a piece by Cornelius Cardew called Treatise, which is both classical and electronic (at least containing considerable electronic elements) - or perhaps it is neither? Again, I think these kind of distinctions are completely unnecessary.
I have had my music played on various classical music shows (even won a major award through ABC classic FM in Australia), but not for a moment would I consider myself a classical musician/artist. I get really tired of the divisions and snobbishness directed from those in a certain camp towards those in another - personally I don't see myself in any camp, I just happen to make music. It's really just a matter of listening to music for what it is, and appreciating it or not.
I really don't find that many similarities between electronic music and classical. But that's perhaps because I'm still not a big fan of classical music. I tend to dislike those parts of electronic music with a classical/symphonic/pompous edge.
I get really tired of the divisions and snobbishness directed from those in a certain camp towards those in another - personally I don't see myself in any camp, I just happen to make music. It's really just a matter of listening to music for what it is, and appreciating it or not.
Classical music is all about knowing the piece exactly, and appreciating this performance, in comparison with all the other performances you know of this piece, and no variations from the score are allowed.
I guess that's what it means to you. It's certainly not what it means to me. I can't think of any other's who have a grasp of classical music who've expressed that opinion.
It's kinda tricky. I actually don't know how to define classical music (as opposed to Classical which is fairly easy to define). I might define it as music created expressly for the purpose of exploring some aesthetic/emotional territory, at least until I was asked to rigorously defend that position anyway.
"I actually don't know how to define classical music (as opposed to Classical which is fairly easy to define)"
what ?
of course we could bring in 'serious music'
With a capital 'C', Classical as opposed to classical, generally refers to music of a particular period that uses a particular treatment of chord progressions. That distinction, like my self may be too old and may now be passe. I notice it is not mentioned in the Wikipedia entry on "Classical music" which is worth reading.
