STORIES OF NOTE
A 21ST CENTURY SYMPHONY The Colorado Symphony is cultivating new generations of music lovers through big name collaborations that are reshaping the state’s musical landscape
W
By Nick Dobreff
hen you think of symphonic music, what do you see? What do you hear? Does your mind wander to faded images of legendary composers seen in school textbooks and classrooms? Do you hear a favorite symphony or concerto, perhaps something you associate with a powerful memory or emotion? Or are you instantly transported into your favorite music venue, immersed in the sights and sounds of the concert going experience? From the 18th century through the early part of the 20th, symphonic music was the predominant musical art form for much of the world, and the concert hall was the world’s conduit. Lacking the modern technology we enjoy today, someone from this period would be lucky to hear a piece more than once in their life. Imagine hearing Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony for the first time and never having the opportunity to hear it again? This scarcity generated a voracious appetite for symphonic music, propelling patrons to the concert hall in droves for generations. After the turn of the 20th century, new forms of music began to gain in popularity, including jazz and rock and roll, and later country, hip hop, and electronica. Simultaneously, music also became dramatically more accessible to people everywhere — from homes to personal vehicles, and later, the ability to access any song with the push of a button. This increased volume and accessibility has created more competition than ever for the eyes and ears of music lovers everywhere. So what is the significance of symphonic music in the 21st century, what role will it play moving forward, and how can classical symphonic music stay relevant with the challenges presented by modern society? This is the question around which every orchestra in the world grapples, and it's one that the Colorado Symphony is at the forefront of addressing. 14
C O LO R A D O S Y M P H O N Y.O R G
