Futures
Does classical music have a future? And what does it look like? If you follow the discussions in newspapers, scientific magazines, at conservatories and in orchestra practice, you will find several answers. One outlines how a slowly shrinking and aging audience inevitably leads to the end of the traditional concert. A different future expects innovation through alternative concert forms, new impetus on social media, festivals outside the concert hall and projects with social partners. Yet another future shows a more diverse and sustainable art form that self-consciously wants to be of interest to more people.
Each of these three futures defines different problems. For example, there is the problem of the composition of the audience and the observation that classical music no longer appeals to young people. A second problem is the supposed elitist nature of the art form; large groups in society are not reached due to social and financial barriers. Finally, there is the 'museum' problem where classical music is trapped in the past and unable to respond to changes in society and therefore becomes less and less in touch with what is happening around it.
English offers the possibility of turning a noun into a verb. The word 'future' then becomes 'futuring'. That indicates the work required to create a future. In April, the MCICM organized a symposium on 'futures' – as a verb – in classical music. Researchers, educators, and musicians from Europe gave examples of looming and beckoning futures. Technological developments such as artificial intelligence, interactive music performances via online multimedia and the use of apps during concerts are changing our idea of what a concert can be. Conservatories and music schools face the challenge of training the musicians of tomorrow for a practice that they will shape. And major social issues such as climate change require reflection on ingrained routines, but also offer opportunities to give classical music meaning in new ways: how should Beethoven sound in a warming world?
The presentations during the symposium can be viewed on the MCICM website. They are also the material of a book on "futures" in classical music that will be published next year. Because more interesting than predicting what those futures will look like is to get started on it.
Neil T. Smith and Peter Peters
Postdoc researcher and director of the MCICM
