Classical Music Looks to the Future with Flux
Contents
As classical music looks to the future, many organizations are embracing the Flux player to help keep the genre relevant.
The Problem
The internet has changed the way we consume music. Gone are the days of buying an album and listening to it from start to finish. Instead, we now have access to millions of songs at our fingertips and can create our own custom playlists. This has led to a decline in album sales and a move towards single track purchases and streaming services.
Lack of interest in classical music among young people
Classical music is struggling to find its place in the modern world. For many years, it was considered the height of high culture, but in recent decades it has lost some of its luster. Young people are particularly uninterested in classical music, and this lack of interest is having a negative impact on the future of the art form.
There are several reasons why classical music has become less popular in recent years. One reason is that it can be seen as stuffy and elitist. Classical music often requires a certain level of knowledge and understanding to appreciate, which can make it seem inaccessible to those who are not already familiar with it. In addition, classical music can be seen as overly long and slow-paced, which again makes it unappealing to many young people who are used to shorter attention spans.
The good news is that there are organizations and individuals working hard to make classical music more accessible and interesting to young people. One such organization is Flux, which is a UK-based charity that promote classical music to young people through innovative projects and events. Flux recognizes that classical music needs to evolve if it is to survive, and they are working hard to ensure that it does just that.
If you care about classical music, then get involved with organizations like Flux that are working hard to keep the art form alive for future generations.
The need for new repertoire
The core repertoire of the classical music concert is hundreds of years old. While new music is occasionally programmed, the vast majority of what is performed in halls around the world was written many generations ago. This reliance on the past presents a number of problems for those working in and loving classical music today.
First and foremost, there is a need for new repertoire. As much as we love Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms, performers and audiences alike are hungry for something new to sink their teeth into. Not only does playing the same pieces over and over again get boring, but it also gives the false impression that classical music is a static art form that has not evolved since the days of Mozart. Inreality, of course, classical music is always changing, evolving, and adapting to the needs of its performers and listeners.
There is also a need for more diverse repertoire. The core repertoire is overwhelmingly white and male. While there are some amazing works by women and composers of color in the standard repertoire (such as Dvořák’s New World Symphony), they are sadly outnumbered by the works of white male composers. This lack of diversity not only excludes potential audience members who do not see themselves represented in the music being performed, but it also gives the false impression that classical music is elitist and exclusionary.
Finally, there is a need for more accessible repertoire. Much of the core repertoire was written for an elite group of professional musicians who spent their lives devoted to performance. As a result, much of it is quite difficult to play, requiring years of study and practice to master. This exclusivity can make classical music seem like an unapproachable art form, which again dissuades potential audience members from giving it a try.
Flux strives to address all of these problems with our mission to promote new, diverse, and accessible classical music. We believe that by championing these values, we can help build a brighter future for classical music
The Solution
The future of classical music looks bleak. With concert halls and opera houses across the world closing their doors, orchestras and musicians are struggling to stay afloat. But there is hope. A new movement called flux is sweeping the classical music world, and it offers a way forward.
The Flux Project
The Flux Project is a classical music initiative that is looking to the future by commissioning new works from a diverse group of composers. The project was founded by New York-based composer and conductor Gregory Victor Davis in 2013, and its goal is to promote the creation and performance of new music by living composers.
The Flux Project has commissioned over 50 new works from a wide range of composers, including established names such as Missy Mazzoli and Christopher Cerrone, as well as up-and-coming talents such as Jessie Montgomery and Tyshawn Sorey. In addition to commissioning new works, the Flux Project also supports the performing arts through educational programs, workshops, and performances.
The Flux Project has been met with critical acclaim, with The New York Times calling it “one of the most ambitious classical music initiatives in recent memory.” The project has also been supported by major foundations such as the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
Other initiatives
Other innovative initiatives are also helping to ensure that classical music has a place in the future. One such organization is Flux, which was founded in 2016 with the goal of supporting “living composers and connecting them with new audiences.” Their work includes commissioning and premiering new works, as well as organizing events and workshops that bring together composers, performers, and listeners.
Flux is just one example of the many ways in which classical music is evolving to meet the needs of 21st-century audiences. With initiatives like these, there’s no doubt that classical music will continue to thrive for many years to come.
The Impact
Classical music is a genre that often looks to the past for guidance and inspiration, but in recent years it has begun to show signs of modernity and change. One of the most significant and controversial changes has been the increasing use of technology, particularly in the form of electronic instruments. This shift has been met with both excitement and trepidation by the music community, as it offers new possibilities for creativity but also threatens to change the very nature of classical music. In this article, we will explore the impact of this technology on classical music, both in the present and the future.
The future of classical music
Classical music is at a crossroads. As the traditional model of symphony orchestras and opera houses continues to crumble, a new generation of classical musicians is emerging, experimenting with new forms and ways of creating and performing music. At the forefront of this movement is the Flux Quartet, a New York-based ensemble that is deconstructing and reassembling the string quartet for the 21st century.
Flux was founded in 2005 by brothers Jeremy and Kenneth Laurenson, who were then students at Juilliard. The quartet has since gained a reputation for its innovative approach to music-making, blurring the lines between composition and improvisation, classical and electronic music. They often incorporate electronics into their performances, using laptops, controllers and other devices to create soundscapes that are as much about texture as melody. They have also been known to collaborate with visual artists, dancers and even mathematicians in an effort to expand the boundaries of what classical music can be.
The future of classical music rests in the hands of those who are willing to experiment, to push boundaries and to reimagine what music can be. The Flux Quartet is leading the way, showing us that there is still plenty of room for invention in an art form that is centuries old.