In the concert hall that attracts thousands of people's attention, you can not only enjoy the symphony played by 107 people, but also listen to extremely popular and interesting music lectures. In 1950s and 1960s, many young people in the United States and Canada gained the cognitive ability of music through the lectures of music master Bernstein. The following is Professor Bernstein's chapter-what is classical music?

What word is used to summarize classical music?

What word is used to replace the word "classical" in classical music? We just want to explain what "classical music" is through these popular words.

However, as long as the arrangement is not like jazz, it is classical music. People often say "I really like music", which means I like Han Deer's music (classical music) rather than Spike's, but there are also good jazz and good pop songs. Can't use "good" to describe the difference. There are good Han deer and good spike. Therefore, we have to give up this word.

Then people use "seriousness" to describe classical music, but some jazz is also serious. What is more serious than the drums of African soldiers (typical jazz)? Therefore, this word is not good.

Then some people use "erudition" to explain that only very smart and well-educated people can understand classical music. Obviously wrong. Because many people who love Beethoven are not like Einstein.

What about the word "art" music? Many people use this word to describe the difference between Beethoven and Italian Booker, but this word doesn't work either, because just as many people think jazz is art, so it is. If we try to use symphonies, we exclude music written for piano solos, violin solos or string quartets, which are of course regarded as classical music.

Perhaps the best word invented so far is "long hair", because jazz musicians invented it themselves to belittle any music that doesn't belong to them. But I've seen many jazz words with hairy prefixes, so I don't think this word will work either.

Since all the words are wrong, let me first sort out the differences between different kinds of music and find the correct words. The real difference is that when composing so-called "classical music", the composer will write down the notes he wants to sing, and he will even write down the instructions he can think of, telling them everything they need to know in detail, how fast or how slow, so as to assist the performer. Of course, there are not enough words in the world to let the performer know everything the composer wants to write, but this is what excites the performer.

The players are only mortal, so each one is slightly different: for example, the sentence at the beginning of the symphony of destiny, I believe you all know the melody. Sing it to me. The first conductor gave the last note a special depth, that is, the longer one, which was so "weak"; Another conductor is also trying to figure out what Beethoven really wants, and probably feels that the first position of that note emphasizes such "weakness"; Another conductor, perhaps not as loyal as the first two, may come to the conclusion that the four notes should be played more emphatically and solemnly. We have all heard of these versions, but apart from these differences, it still stems from the different personalities of these three conductors. They are still conducting the same notes, the same theme and using the same instruments, and their purpose is the same, that is, to make Beethoven's notes on the score alive in the way they think he wants. This means that what they call "classical music" cannot be changed unless it is because of the personality of the performer. This kind of music is eternal, unchangeable and accurate.

"Accuracy" may be a suitable term for us. We call it "accurate music" because it has only one way of playing, and that way is what the composer himself said.

But if you use the popular song "I can only give you love, my baby", there are endless ways. It can be sung by the choir, by Louis, Amster or Maria Callas, or by anyone. It can be played by a jazz band, symphony orchestra or toy flute without lyrics. Whether it's slow or fast, passionate or sentimental, noisy or complicated. It can only be played once or repeatedly. (Master Bernstein used several methods to express the same song) There is nothing wrong with these methods. For those special performers who did this at that time, every one seemed to be right and suitable for the performance venue. There is no rule that this song must be played in this way, that is to say, it is not accurate music, and it does not have to be played exactly in the way written by the composer. As a matter of fact, pop singers should not always perform in the way written by composers. Folk songs have the same situation, which makes more sense. Because no composer stipulated how it should be played, especially the change of jazz. It is improvisation, composing music while performing, and almost never takes the trouble to write it down.

So, now we have at least one word that is more suitable for classical music, that is "accurate music", although we may be able to come up with a better word than "accurate" to describe the so-called classical music, so that we will not use the wrong word "classical" any more.

Classical music has another meaning.

Why is this word wrong? There is such a thing as classical music, but we are talking about different kinds of things. Classical music refers to a very long period in the history of music, which is called the classical period. The music created at that time was called classical music. Now let's know something about what happened in the classical period. From 1700 to 1800, it lasted for a century, which is known as18th century.

This is the perfect rule.

Let me take the previous 50 years as an example. What was America like at that time? It is still in the process of development, and there are new pioneers everywhere, leading a hard life. Later, a new country was established from the ground. At the same time, Europe is very different. Europeans no longer explore and nail wood. They tried to perfect what they had built. At that time, Europe was an era of rules and regulations, and those rules and regulations were as precise as possible. This is the foundation of classicism. It took the rules to the extreme and created classical architecture, classical drama and classical music. Classical music is music written in the era when people are pursuing things. People try their best to have perfect music, just like a beautiful ancient Greek vase. The names of two music giants are Bach and Handel, especially Bach. He collected all the rules experienced and played by composers before him, and tried his best to make some rules perfect. Take the form of "wandering song" as an example. The rules of the "seeking area" are a bit like those attached when you buy the assembly number group. Take his Brandenburg Concerto No.4 as an example. Play the theme with viola first, then add the second violin, four notes high, then add another violin in the third part, then add cello and double bass in the fourth part, and finally add flute in the fifth part. This piece of music is not just five independent pieces, they are all combined.

Also cheerful, witty and interesting.

Fifty years later, everything has changed. Their music is completely different from Bach's. How did this change happen? Will * * * and Republicans go to Chicago for a rally and then vote to change the music style? No, it happened naturally. People in Haydn's and Mozart's times thought Bach's serious "escape from music" was trite and boring. They want something new, not so complicated, but elegant, exquisite and pleasant music with beautiful tunes and simple accompaniment, which coincides with that era. At that time, ladies and gentlemen in the court wore lace cuffs lined with silk and fans inlaid with jewels, so elegant music was made for them.

And its most important feature is melody, which must be nice. Listening to Mozart's concerto in C major now, no one can write the same melody as Mozart. It is as full of rules and regulations as Bach's Dunzou District, but there are many other rules and regulations-the simple and pleasant music they want, this simple and pleasant new music, and another feature is interesting, cheerful, witty and energetic. Isn't it interesting to listen to Figaro's Wedding Overture? It's like riding a roller coaster, full of laughter and good mood, which makes you breathless. In fact, classical music is very interesting

Wit, humor and fun are important parts of Haydn's and Mozart's music, but it also has many things such as elegance, elegance and intensity, but the most important thing is that it has classical beauty. For him, the form of establishing balance is as rigorous as Bach's Song of Escape, and it is also in pursuit of perfection, so it is classical.

It is also eternal.

What about the emotional part of the music? People always think that feelings and emotions are the main things in music, which make you feel sad, painful, or victorious or happy. But the mystery is that Mozart and Haydn will make you feel those feelings. When great composers create music, they will make you feel deep emotions. Because he is great, because he has something to say to you in music. The concert of great musicians will last forever, maybe forever. That eternal quality is perhaps the most important meaning of the word "classical", and that is immortality.

Beethoven, the master of classical music, summed up the laws of Mozart and Haydn and carried them forward. He was the last person in the classical period and the first person in the romantic period.