Why Does Classical Music Matter?

Posted in General

I recently attended a Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center concert featuring the Israeli pianist Inon Barnatan. The program opened with Beethoven’s Piano Trio in C Minor, Op. 1, No. 3. The piece is one of Beethoven’s first published works; I’ve studied and played it many times. I sat back to enjoy the performers’ command of the music. Barnatan frequently acted as a master of ceremonies, deftly exchanging melody lines in conversation with the violin and cello and signaling unexpected harmonic shifts.

It’s astonishing that music written hundreds of years ago still occupies a revered place in our modern culture. Although the most famous composers have been dead for centuries, even casual listeners glean an understanding of their distinctive personalities: the prismatic organization of Bach, the mischievous humor of Mozart, the tempestuous humanity of Beethoven. Classical music continues to forge emotional connections with new audiences, a fact that Barnatan discusses in this interview:

Barnatan also mentions the fact that in addition to the richness of the traditional classical music canon, new works are constantly being added to the repertoire. On July 26, in celebration of Crandall Public Library’s 125th anniversary, Summerland Music Society will present the world premiere of a new work, Bujeo by Emiliano Pardo Tristán. Based on the Panamanian folkloric tradition of yodeling, this trio for clarinet, cello and piano promises to be one of the highlights of our 2018 season.

Please join us this summer to discover how classical music will connect with you.

Summerland Music Society

Summerland Music Society