JPF Home Page Forums General Messages General Message Forum Is Songwriting Dead?

I’ll probably get some heads shaking here…

Actually, speaking only of music, i.e., the written note, most of today’s music is based on the Romantic Era - latter half of the 19th Century (from Tchaikovsky to Rachmaninoff). Not much has changed melodically or harmonically.

The main difference is the technological factor. Technology adds flavor to the production of “Pop” music. Still the same music from yesteryear, but dressed in different clothes (save the experimental kind – 12 tone, quarter tone, etc.).

Also keep in mind, a large share of today’s music is entertainment based, not artistic based. The masses want to see and hear a show, not so much artistic cleverness.

That’s not to say serious music isn’t being composed anymore. Just that much of the artistic variety attracts smaller audiences.

Then again… maybe it’s because I’ve jammed my brain for over a half century with layer upon layer of musical matter. Difficult for me to hear “new” beyond the technology.

John