Why not?

Perhaps I am overly idealistic. At least, that is often the charge. Still, I can't imagine why the world of art is as it is. On one side is the academic elite, dismissing anything with populist overtones or even triadic structure. On the other side are the innumerable mass of sheep, mindlessly bobbing their heads to idiot rhymes.

Why?

When, in the course of becoming the most educated society in world history, did we lose the importance of the arts?

I can understand that as the music of a bygone era, Mozart and company won't appeal to the vast majority of people. But the world is filled with wonderful, accessible new music. Why not Part, Corigliano, or my beloved Gorecki on the radio, instead of the Black-Eyed-Peas?

I think I know why: yes, it is true that we have become an educated culture. But we have also become a shallow one. The sounds in our lives have become a soundtrack to the pursuit of shallow living, or the means by which to deaden the pain caused by such a low way of life.

When a composer like Gorecki sets before you a bleak and distant landscape, it is with an eye to help you slow down and confront yourself. This is not escapism, but realism of the highest order. Considering how short life is, I don't see why we would waste time with any lesser level of contemplation.

Yesterday while driving home, I had the windows down and the Tavener "Alleluia" playing. In the distant, the Church-bells tolled 5pm, and one of those wonderful Ivesian moments occured where unrelated sounds fused into a beautiful, momentary whole of music.

Then, some jerk drove by with his bass all the way up and drowned out the entire moment.

Music is not a way to drown out life, my friends. It is a way to embrace it, to challenge it, to move through it in a poetic manner.

So, why not? Why can't new music appeal to more people?