Ok. I know this post has certain issues, so for the first time, I decided to edit and repost:
If you hold for a second and consider the lives of great men of the past, you cannot help but marvel at the legacy they leave behind.
My interests were engaged when I was re-watching "Amadeus", a 1984 film illustrating the last days of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, about The man. The music. The magic. The madness. The murder. The mystery. The motion picture. I think that is enough of publicity.
Following that, I realised that I do not have any of Mozart's great works in my music collection, so I went in search of his music. And then i came across Requiem K.V. 626, the unfinished requeim which supposedly drove Mozart to his grave, literally.
So I began reading Mozart's biography, which reminded me greatly of Ludwig Van Beethoven's life. Similarities in both virtuoso's lives were noticed. One being that both composers died of illness.
Nevertheless, at the critical stages of their illness, the ne plus ultra of their works were presented.
When Mozart approaches his death, he was working on "The Magic Flute", but was mentally occupied with "Requiem". But he never quite finished the latter. Even then, he was able to premier "The Magic Flute" and completed a few concertos.
The entire Ninth Symphony of Beethoven was conceived in days when Beethoven could hear nothing. In the losing his sense of sound, he "hears' music through a special rod attached to the soundboard on a piano, which he would bite, and feel the vibrations of the sound on his jaw to perceive the music.
Faced with the utmost terror of a deteriorating body, these great men persisted.
In my ears, no music created in the 21st century is comparable to these works. These works have stood the test of time, and have even brought breakthroughs to the world of music.
Well, thats not to say that contemporary works are not good enough, because like Weiye said, kids can also hum parts of music from John William's Theme from Jaws, Star Wars, Indianna Jonnes. I for one am a great fan of Hans Zimmer's compositions for the soundtrack of Pirates of the Caribbean.
Nevertheless, Contemporary works have their basis and concepts that were created by the great men of the past, using them to re-create a new work of art. Much like using the concepts of the refrigeration cycle to create air conditioners.
I could still recall Johan De Meij's Third Symphony "Planet Earth", the piece they say is monumental. But can the audience remember a few bars of that monumental, stupendous 40 minutes work? Perhaps with more performances and exposures they could.
Yet, to me, the use of electronic sounds and the intricate musical structure of the work are nothing new. It is yet another product if re-invention.
Of course much attributes due to the musicians and the audience's capabilities. Such efforts may seem to be of different meaning and value to different individuals.
However, we cannot disregard the fact at children as young as 5, are able to hum the first few passages of the First Movement of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony (remember deng deng deng dennnggg?) and Mozart's Eine Kleine Natchmusik.
So where does that leave us?
Has all the talent been released in the past millennium such that fresh ideas no longer exists today?
Have reached the pinnacle of creativity?
Will I hear another Beethoven's 9th?
