What music is "Classical"?

[meghanst]

I’m studying contemporary music a university and this is the terminology usually used.

Classical music is generally divided into eras so if you are referring to Mozart etc, it’s not classical but classical/classic era/period. The periods are Renaissance, Baroque, Classical/Classic, Romantic and 20C which actually started a little before the 20C and includes impressionism, symbolism, neoclassicism, expressionism, serialism, chance, minimalism and some types of jazz.

The single word 'classical' includes all of these as well as non Western classical music such as Indian, Chinese and Japanese classical music. Classical as opposed to popular is often defined by the lack of beat (having rhythm as opposed to beat) with popular music often having a strong 4/4 beat.

The dividing line becomes blurred with ambient and minimalist music. I personally think Marsen Jules’ ‘Herbstlaub’ is very much contemporary classical. And much of the music of Taylor Deupree, Robert Rich and Steve Roach is extremely borderline. This is what I’m trying to compose and it’s not easy. I’ve composed successful symbolist music and a number of other styles and it’s much less demanding.

Is anyone else interested in this ambient style of contemporary classical that Marsen Jules creates?

[Kernos]

I am not familiar with any of these composers. But I did find Herbstlaub on the iTunes Store (for only US$5.94— almost minimalist!) so am willing to give it a listen.

I do remember Brian Eno's "Music for Airports" and had an LP which is packed somewhere. I remember it being quite ignorable and when it came out thought it a joke. I had some of the early Philip Glass which was NOT ambient, at least not in the sense of Musak, but hyper- music, I think designed to induce psychosis. I notice he has done quite a bit more and is using classical terminology to name his works and is even listed on ArchivMusic.com (the ultimate test of Classicality — Jules is not), but my early experiences and Koyaanisqatsi cause me to be cynical about Glass. Perhaps someone can encourage me to listen to his 'best'.

When I get back to work and DSL tomorrow, I will take a listen to Herbstlaub and let you know what my impressions are.

(as I age, all music becomes impressionistic)

[meghanst]

The term ‘ambient’, like the term ‘classical’ covers a vast array of music.

 I do remember Brian Eno's "Music for Airports" …  I remember it being quite ignorable and when it came out thought it a joke.

I did not suggest the Brian Eno’s music was classical, nor do I know of any writings or musicologists that suggest it as such.

 I had some of the early Philip Glass which was NOT ambient, at least not in the sense of Musak, but hyper- music,

I was not using the term ambient to suggest Musak and I was not suggesting the music by Philip Glass was ambient, he is most assuredly minimalist. My statement was not “The dividing line becomes blurred between ambient and minimalist music” it was “The dividing line becomes blurred with ambient and minimalist music” and was in reference to the statement in the previous sentence “Classical as opposed to popular music”. It means: There is minimalist music that could be considered classical and minimalist music that could be considered popular. The same applies to ambient music.

I notice he has done quite a bit more and is using classical terminology to name his works and is even listed on ArchivMusic.com (the ultimate test of Classicality — Jules is not), but my early experiences and Koyaanisqatsi cause me to be cynical about Glass.

A number of prominent opera companies would disagree with you. European opera companies have commissioned several operas from him and New York's Metropolitan Opera has commissioned at least one.

To quote one of your own musicologists, as you are an American, Professor Kamien of Queens College, City University of New York, states the early work of Glass was reminiscent of Aaron Copland and when talking of the Opera 'Einstein on the Beach', states Glass creates a “unique world of sound”.

Perhaps someone can encourage me to listen to his 'best'.

One of many is ‘Akhnaten’

Jules is not (listed on ArchivMusic.com).

This list does not include one of Australia’s leading classical composers, Peter Sculthorpe, one of Australia's 100 Living National Treasures, although Ross Edwards is on the list.

I suggest that Jules, as a developing artist  is too recent to be expected to be on this the list (‘Herbstlaub’ was released in 2005). However you will find references on the web to him as an “electronic/classical artist”. His work is a combination of electronic and acoustic. Only time will tell if he is seen by musicologists, as I suggest, as a contemporary classical composer.