![]() On the other hand, Church aside, important classical *performers* often emerge by age 14 (in fact, one could argue that those who aren't well on their way to a career by that point are "late bloomers"), and 5 symphonies, maybe decent ones, by age 14 isn't necessarily out of the question Mendelssohn wrote a good dozen or so sophisticated and largely delightful string symphonies by that age, and if they remain a bit peripheral to the core repertory, his celebrated Octet for strings and Overture to A Midsummer Night's Dream, which would follow within 4 years thereafter, certainly do not. I'll spot you this much without knowing more: I didn't see the 60 Minutes piece, and I haven't heard a note of the kid's music, so for all I know it may be fabulous, but on the subject of child prodigies I generally adopt the presumption of "publicity stunt until proven otherwise." Witness Charlotte Church, among many others. Do you have background as a composer? As a performer? As a classical listener? Do you speak with more authority than "I find classical music as a genre boring?" Ĭlick to expand.I'm curious: what are your listening preferences? You haven't filled out your profile, so that's no help. Hunger, hunger, hunger, hunger, hunger, hunger. ![]() The flee the starving artist or bleed to feed his heart It drives away your lovers and keeps at bay the others You have no safe perch, except your own conviction People take so much and leave if you lean They may still return your gifts unopened. If you try to touch, their rules are hard. People take so much, they use and discard. Randy Newman, Etc" which seems relevant here?Ĭan you hear sounds forming in your head? That said, does anyone know the achingly beautiful Chills song, "Song For The idea that it's harder to write a perfect three minute pop song than a wonderful classical symphony is a little ridiculous though! Isn't Michael Brown of "Walk Away Renee" one of these guys too? I know much less about classical music, but I suspect this is true of any composer, or any artist actually. When I think of great pop composers, I recognize that many of them at their peak (like, say, Brian Wilson) were always stretching themselves and looking for ways to better express themselves and top their earlier material. popular.Ĭlick to expand.Hey, I've been in the studio with rock legends creating incredible works, who were bored silly during the process! By itself, that doesn't mean much.īut I've to agree with ZenArcher's comment - all the talent in the world won't mean much without some deep introspection and self-criticism on this kid's part. It's just the nature of the beast when it comes to classical vs. Those who write them should be given a lot of credit for their accomplishments.Īnd the bottom line: those who write them will be bringing pleasure to a LOT more people than this kid ever will if he lives to be 95. ![]() The fact is, there ARE legions of simple pop songs that manage to be both popular and GOOD (and I realize that term is somewhat subjective, but there's also general agreement on what the best of them are).and also enduring. ![]() But neither is it completely insignificant. Mass popularity is only one of many different measures of musical quality, and certainly not the most important one. ![]() And there's plenty of cult music that doesn't sell squat but is nevertheless excellent. Now this cuts both ways.there is a lot of simple pop music that sells millions and is really terrible. I always want to say to them, "OK.if it's so simple, let's see YOU write a simple pop song that catches the fancy of millions and millions of listeners (while your beloved prog is and will always remain a cult item at best)." I have long bristled when people condescendingly dismiss a given piece of music as "nothing more than a simple pop song." (If they're not classical snobs, these people are usually fans of prog or similar genres, where the rationale seems to be the more notes or chord changes there are per minute, the better.) To give him a little bit of support and come at this from a slightly different angle. I can actually understand where the OP is coming from when he says this. ![]()
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