What's So Funny About Peace, Love and Experimental Classical Music?

Experimental classical music is like the rebellious teenager of the genre! It's always pushing boundaries and breaking rules--then and now. It's the wild card which kept and keeps classical music fresh and exciting. Imagine Beethoven on mushrooms, that's how experimental classical music feels like to me. It's a breath of fresh air in a world where tradition sometimes feels a bit stuffy. The break away from standards or not following proper composition structure, makes for exciting musical risk play! Fly your freak flag. Arrange it any way you feel; crush the notion of what a "symphony" is and focus on what it could be. Gioachino Rossini was an early 19th century composer who one day, decided to shift gears and drum up, "Cat Duet". The piece is more satire than anything, but the fact Rossini tried something different, throws him into the "outsider" of classical music club. 

Eric Satie is a favorite of mine. His music is both whimsical and dark at the same time. Sad and often thought provoking. You've probably heard some of his work in a movie or tv show. Well, in 1893, Satie created, "Vexations"--a relatively short piece in itself, yet, to be played 840 times as if the work were on a loop! In total, this work probably clocks in at over 18 hours! That's a pretty big leap into experimental classical, with dashes of the avant-garde.  

What makes experimental classical music so important is its ability to challenge the status quo. It's like a disruptor in the world of all things classical music, shaking things up and forcing us mortals, to see things in a new light. A new approach. Without experimentation, classical music would risk becoming stagnant and repetitive as far as I'm concerned. So, much love and props to all the experimental composers for keeping the genre interesting and waking up listeners! 

Art is a perfect space to take risks and accept dares. There's no safety net necessary in the wild world of improvisation and experimentation in music. In theater. In writing and visual arts; acting and filmmaking. Pushing envelopes is a great thing for artists and creators. In monkeying around in the lab, you find yourself open to new horizons and creative paths.