Taylor Swift currently holds the number one hit on iTunes with her recent development “Blank Space.” Despite the simple chord progression and cliche theme, even her most adamant haters may find themselves humming the refrain peacefully before they realize what they are doing.
As Taylor Swift grosses thousands of dollars on her recent hit, Hillsdale music students diligently strive for excellence in classic works such as Bach and Rachmaninoff, subconsciously aware that they may be pursuing one of the lowest paying majors this liberal arts school offers.
Eventually, these students must question what about this financially unstable course of study is worth pursuing, when even Mozart cannot compare to Madonna.
James Holleman, music department chair, believes the lack of popularity for classical music may be a lack of general knowledge about classical music.
“People aren’t educated in how to listen to a symphony or how to listen to a concerto,” Holleman said.
Holleman, who has studied music for over three decades, hails from the minority in appreciating classical music.
“Every time I study a Beethoven symphony for the third or fourth time to prepare for an orchestra concert, I get a new understanding of it,” Holleman said.
He doesn’t get that same thrill out of pop. However, even Holleman has been grasped by the lure of pop culture music.
“If you ask me what’s in my top 25 on my iPod, there’s going to be some Led Zeppelin, Bob Marley, Janis Joplin,” Holleman said.
Sometimes, even these famous singers don’t know what about their music is popular. “Off the Record,” a collection of stories from well-known singers by Joe Smith, reveals the mindset of well-known artists.
“We would go into the studio and not have any idea of a single. We never had any idea of a single….I don’t think I was ever good when I went in trying to write a hit single,” Elton John is quoted as saying in the book. “It’s hard for me to choose the [songs] I like, because the ones I like aren’t always the most popular.”
Listeners enjoyed the catchiest tunes, which may not have been the ones which the most harmonic rhythm.
In contrast, Paul McCartney made an effort to earn the respect of a more mature crowd.
“When I wrote ‘Yesterday,’ I was aiming to impress people who knew music, rather than just get the teeny-boppers. We had the kids, but we wanted their parents to like us, too,” reads a McCartney quote.
“The four of us brought different things to the table. John brought a biting wit. I think I brought commerciality and harmony….George was serious, always very good on the business side, and always very good on his instrument. Ringo was simply the best drummer in Liverpool,” McCartney said.
Their combined talents attracted far more listeners than Vivaldi might ever.
Hillsdale recently witnessed a performance of Bela Bartok’s “Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion” performed by Stacey Jones, Brad Blackam, and Jonathan Chesson. Although an impressive crowd applauded energetically afterward, Holleman believes it takes several listens before someone truly enjoys the whole 30 minute piece. “Blank Space,” however, was a top hit within days of its release. That is the difference between popular music and classical. Although classical may have the complexity to awe the trained musician, popular music contains the simplicity to catch the attention of everyone else.