Just been listening to Vanessa Mae and Nigel Kennedy... How fantastic! They use modern technology to play their violins and are at the forefront of their genre in my opinion. There's lots of new bands using violins and orchestras now (Arcade Fire for one) Is classical music making a comeback?

Classical music never went away you just have to know where to find it.

I went to a concert last year and there was a great, modern piece of music being played by someone I'd never heard of. Turned out to be the theme music from Pirates of the Carribbean. I wonder if todays film scores will be the classics of the future?

Just been listening to Vanessa Mae and Nigel Kennedy... How fantastic! They use modern technology to play their violins and are at the forefront of their genre in my opinion. There's lots of new bands using violins and orchestras now (Arcade Fire for one) Is classical music making a comeback?

Has nigel still got Mount Vesuvius growin out of his neck?

Don't get me wrong .. there's loads of musicians out there with innate talent (Muse , Radiohead, British sea power for starters) I just can't see the point of having a load of girls who look like they've just finished a stint in a strip club doing a vid and pretending to be 'musicians' .. Bet none of them can play an instrument apart from Myleene Klass who's brill and very accomplished

Has nigel still got Mount Vesuvius growin out of his neck?

Silly Billy Spike! I'd let the Andes to grow out of my neck if I could play like Nige ! Look at Vanessa- apart from her prodigy she has to be one of the most beautiful women on the planet

Look at Vanessa- apart from her prodigy she has to be one of the most beautiful women on the planet

Vanessa Mae was my first crush, back when I was much younger.

I saw her live about five times in the ninties and still to this day think she's brilliant.

Classical music never went away you just have to know where to find it.

I went to a concert last year and there was a great, modern piece of music being played by someone I'd never heard of. Turned out to be the theme music from Pirates of the Carribbean. I wonder if todays film scores will be the classics of the future?

My brother and his German girlfriend went to a posh do in Hannover and they all had to waltz to some music (much to my brother's embarrassment), which they also eventually realised was the music from Pirates of the Caribbean. Must be a popular score!

I agree that classical music never went away. Every year the Proms feature young, new talent and there are many youth orchestras around (for example, The City of Sheffield Youth Orchestra). Sheffield also has quite a few other orchestras - Sheffield Philharmonic Orchestra, Sheffield Chamber Orchestra, Sheffield Symphony Orchestra, The Endcliffe Orchestra and more! We're spoilt for choice!

Also, many bands in the past - whilst not making classical music per se - have been no strangers to using orchestras (The Beatles for starters) and to this day there are lots of bands going the same way. Elbow did a televised performance last year of their album The Seldom Seen Kid with the BBC Concert Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios which was stunning, and just listen to the 3 part Exogenesis symphony at the end of the latest Muse album - the use of orchestras and the influence of classical music is far from dead!

You could say fairly recent genres and their sub genres, such as ambient music (popularised by Brian Eno) and dark ambient, respectively, have links with classical music. It's hard to define what counts as 'classical music' really; it's such a broad term.

There are many popular musicians around today still doing the more traditional stuff, such as Vanessa Mae (as mentioned). So all in all I'd say classical music, whatever you take that term to mean, is still very much alive. :)

All the traditions of proper classical music are being continued by the metal and progressive rock world. More than one time signature per song, melody and counter melody, and much more harmonic developement than you get in the pop world.

The closest thing around to Bach at the moment in my opinion is Paul Gilbert, a virtuoso rock guitarist.

Check this out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FM-7z_2iwFA

Skip ahead to 3:30 for a very Bach-esque bit, the last minute or so of the song is in fact one of the pieces from The Well tempered Clavier arranged for guitar and it's one of the best things I've ever heard. After playing it to my parents they pointed this out and now I'm getting well into a bit of Johann Sebastian.

Classical (or Baroque, but we're really using Classical music as a synonym for all of the old orchestral music and not just classical) music is not dead, it's just not orchestras that play it anymore.

All the traditions of proper classical music are being continued by the metal and progressive rock world. More than one time signature per song, melody and counter melody, and much more harmonic developement than you get in the pop world.

The closest thing around to Bach at the moment in my opinion is Paul Gilbert, a virtuoso rock guitarist.


You're right on about the traditions of classical music being continued in the rock and metal world. And a big thumbs up for mentioning Paul Gilbert!

In the same vein, you've also got the likes of Alex Masi (http://www.alexmasi.net), Yngwie Malmsteen (http://www.yngwie.org/), and Toby Knapp (http://www.tobyknapp.ryasrealm.com/)

Classical music never went away you just have to know where to find it.

I went to a concert last year and there was a great, modern piece of music being played by someone I'd never heard of. Turned out to be the theme music from Pirates of the Carribbean. I wonder if todays film scores will be the classics of the future?

Can you remember the name of the band/where the concert was? It might have been me!

And I agree - classical music has never gone away.

Classical music is everywhere and a good thing it is too.

Some classical music is incredibly rewarding, requiring half a dozen listens before you can begin to appreciate certain parts, movements, melodies and so on. The depth, the colouring (light and shade, loud and quiet) and rhythms (fast movements, slow sections) and of course, the arrangements make classical music forever interesting.

Does it get any better than Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Overture? Intense and brooding in places, but light and delicate (the opening in particular) in others. Then out of nowhere comes that melodic line that makes one's heart melt. How can a twenty-minute piece of music keep you so hooked, never become dull and like a good book, make you yearn for the next 'episode'?

One of my favourite pieces of classical music is Dvorak's New World Symphony. It's stunning and I recall watching an electric storm from my house one evening while playing it (the first movement). The two, nature and man's creation mixed perfectly. The second movement (think Hovis) is incredible yet most people are not aware of the main part of this movement where the flutes come in and the light strings make me think of a green pastoral countryside.

I could go on, onto Mozart's 40th, Rachmaninov's 2nd Piano Concerto to the likes of Grieg and the magnificence of Elgar. And then, what of Rhapsody in Blue - modern, jazzy and flashy?

Classical Music is arguably more relevant now than it ever has been. Buy a Classic FM boxed set (they're cheap and contain loads of information). I promise you will be rewarded - even if certain pieces take 12 listens to sink in.

Classical music is everywhere and a good thing it is too.

Classical Music is arguably more relevant now than it ever has been. Buy a Classic FM boxed set (they're cheap and contain loads of information). I promise you will be rewarded - even if certain pieces take 12 listens to sink in.

Or you could always go and support your local Symphony Orchestra (shameless plug....!) :thumbsup:

This season we are doing some Dvorak (the 7th Symhony - which i think is actually better than 9 - but just my opinion) and Mozart's 39th Symphony in our next concert on the 17th October! Go on - you know you want to....!

Sheffield Symphony Orchestra (http://www.sheffieldsymphony.org.uk/index.php)

One of my favourite pieces of classical music is Dvorak's New World Symphony. It's stunning and I recall watching an electric storm from my house one evening while playing it (the first movement). The two, nature and man's creation mixed perfectly. The second movement (think Hovis) is incredible yet most people are not aware of the main part of this movement where the flutes come in and the light strings make me think of a green pastoral countryside.


That's my absolute favourite part of 'Largo' and indeed the New World Symphony as a whole; I love the way that section starts off quite happy and uplifting (makes me think of spring/summer), but then after the flutes and violins have reached a climax it all turns a bit darker as the flutes disappear and we're just left with the violins to finish the section off (that bit is the autumn/winter part to me).

Then the next section starts and it gets all cheery again. :)