#42 — January 2012
Philip Glass and the Avant Garde
Dear %3% (%2%),
The Classical Composers Database newsletter has appeared somewhat irregularly over the past months. This is the first issue of 2012.
The new Avant Garde
Today, 31 January 2012, is the 75th birthday of Philip Glass. A few decades ago he, with his Minimal Music colleagues, was considered to be in the Avant Garde of Classical Music. Nowadays his composing style is no longer revolutionary.
Who or what is today's Avant Garde? Many composers nowadays seem to write in a fashion that appears to refer e.g. to the Romantic style, a moderately Modernistic style, or with clear influences of popular music. Also Minimal Music is still written.
Are there any really new music styles? One might think that after the 1960's — when many composing rules were overthrown, rewritten, or just thrown away — anything goes in composing. This makes it hard to find something that was until now unheard of.
In these days it is almost impossible for anybody to keep up with everything that is going on in music, so it is hard to decide what really is new. Maybe even many composers don't have a good overview, and just compose what they like best, not caring about being Avant Garde, Post Modern, Neo-Romantic, fashionable, or unfashionable.
MusicAtlas and updates of contributions
As I have also been busy with some other work in the last few months, there haven't been too many updates to the site. There are many updates waiting to by added.
In the coming months I want to work on adding all your contributions, extension of the MusicAtlas (Slovenia and France are waiting to be added). I will keep you informed in the coming editions of this newsletter.
Add concerts to the calendar and map
If you want to advertise (it's free!) an upcoming concert to the Classical Composers Database, you can do that here (log in first!): http://www.classical-composers.org/submit/event.
Remember that your concert is also shown in the Wikitude MusicAtlas World, and on the MusicAtlas Web App. This way people will be able to see your concert on their smartphone (e.g. iPhone, Android) when they check the Classical Music places in their neighbourhood. See http://www.classical-composers.org/page/apps for more information.
I have made a few improvements since last time, but a few problems may still appear. Let me know about your experiences!
Updates backlog
Many of you have contributed to the Classical Composers Database. Unfortunately, over the last weeks I have had little time to handle all the information you sent me. I promise I will do my best to catch up with things in the time to come.
Please be patient with me.
Newsletter archive
The newsletter archive can be found here: http://www.classical-composers.org/page/newsletters.
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With best regards,
Jos Smeets
Classical Composers Database
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