What is Post-Classical Music?
An evolving world of 21st century music-making
If you read the last newsletter, you might be asking yourself:
Well, what even is Post-Classical music?
A lot of people see it as this cool fusion of electronics from other musical genres with classical traditions, but I think it’s way more than cross-genre explorations and fancy pedals!
In my own practice, it's a mindset, a journey of creative exploration where we honour various musical traditions while also venturing into new territories.
I got hooked on Classical music at a young age because of all the possibilities — long form pieces, huge ensembles, giant walls of sound, and so much more. But recently, it became so clear to me that my love for this world of music wasn’t so different from the rock, metal and grunge bands I grew up on!
For me, Post-Classical is this fluid, ever-evolving blend of styles and techniques. It's about embracing everything at our disposal to craft something totally unique. All it takes is an open mind and a willingness to break free from tradition. With this, we can push boundaries, experiment, and create something that resonates!
My PhD research
The basis of my Doctoral research stems from the desire to create a personal artistic output, while pushing past the boundaries of genre definitions! It is an account of my own journey throughout the expansion of my own 21st century artistic practice — a process that unifies the different stylistic and cultural worlds of my instrument.
By doing this, I believe that we create a feedback loop of innovation that further propels the possibilities of our instruments and processes; a testament to the people that have lived and shaped this world, and in turn, how this world then shapes the art we are capable of creating.
You may be asking: Manny, why would you spend your time on this?
Throughout my time in academia, it has been my experience that the development of one’s artistic vision and narrative was not prioritized.
I wanted to illustrate my own vision of 21st century classical music; a vision that accentuates the importance of our lived experiences, and the diverse perspectives available to us in our communities.
So then what does it mean to be a Post-Classical musician?
Here’s my envisioned skill-set — and remember, this is a flexible and evolving concept that you can mold to your own interests!
Compose your own music
Improvise in both solo and group settings — The Post-Classical musician views improvisation as a sonic exploration that can be equally manipulated in the world of effects and technology
To be adaptable and modular in the practice of technology as compositional, interpretive, and improvisational tools
Be comfortable with your chosen set-up. This includes setting up and tearing down, properly testing levels, signal chain, troubleshooting technological difficulties, and more
Understand basic MIDI and audio capabilities in a Digital Audio Workstation
Understand basic production and DAW functionality
Distribute their music to streaming platforms
Ok, so this all sounds great, but Classical music is a genre that relies so heavily on methods of communication. While traditional scores may fulfill the job in typical Classical music, it somewhat fails to address all the possibilities offered to Post-Classical musicians.
— That’s where my concept comes in —
✨Time-Capsule Music🔮
I started to think about the lifespan of my compositions, and how I could ensure the constant evolution of a piece of music!
Relying on specific effect pedals can be tricky because technology moves so fast, and specific units regularly go out of production or become obsolete. Recreating these sounds down the line isn’t as easy as you'd think, and I’m not completely convinced on Classical music’s current approach to electronic integration.
But here's the thing—I believe that decoding music goes beyond staff notation. I’m all about flexible, modular communication over time.
The world of electronics is ever-growing and demands a system that is equally dynamic and adaptable. We often fail to address key parameters that communicate interaction with our chosen technologies, or even simply explain their inherent goal!
That's why I coined this term Time-Capsule Music — to embrace a Post-Classical approach that evolves with society and technology; to create something timeless.
In the next post, we’ll dive into this topic further, and how you can apply it to your own practice!
🎶Some Post-Classical Listening🎶
Thanks for reading the newsletter!
If you made it this far, here’s a sneak peek of my upcoming single — O Sacrum Convivium!