How Do We Bring in The Next Generation of Prog

It has been growing strong and stronger for ever and ... that is the history of music for the last 2000 years. Nothing has changed.

 

Kinda strange that you would think something like this ... and I guess this whole "progressive" thing is not music, or a part of any music history!

 

All music comes and goes. That simple.

 

There is one difference. You forget that up until 1950 (let's say) music was an uppser class thing. The advent of the LP and then cassette and then CD changed the history of music forever ... it will never again be something that is decided by the upper classes as to what is good or not good that they can see and enjoy and no one else can. Popular music blew out the history of music forever ... and it will take another 50 years before it gets defined and clarified. I, personally, do not see how they will be able to separate a "composer" from a "group" anymore ... it's literally impossible to do so today. And add to that the fact that the number of "single person" composers is dwindled down to literally nothing and if you can name three of them (not the classics) ... it's a real miracle!

 

Essentially, I don't think that we need to bring in the next generation of prog. We need to help usher in the next generation of music regardless. As such it will be different, and some things might fit into the prog mold and some might not.

 

But, to be honest with you ... what scares me most, is that your term precludes a format that we would consider proper, and your children are going to say ... dad, you stink! ... that is not what I want to do, and that is not progressive. What we're doing is this, not that! ... and you gonna tell them they are wrong and help ruin their musican career? Because it doesn't sound like Beethoven, Stravinsky, Beatles or ELP? ... now look at the mirror and make a call as to who is not being very progressive! That would be you!

 

You don't bring in the next generation, except meet a woman, and have a child. And do your best. The rest is all about your love and care ... instead of your ideas! Just remember that!

 

even opera was originally a form for the great unwashed and only later became elite

You did it wrong!

 

It's not quite dead, just mortally wounded.

Too bad that you can not see the higher picture on this ... the majority of the histories of music that you read is pretty much the opposite and there have been many efforts over the centuries to break through it. Opera was indeed one of these, and many instrument were built away from the "classical music" concepts and eventually became accepted.

 

But in general, the musical/academic/conceptual definition of music still considers a lot of popular music not worthy and of valuable musical content, otherwise it would be taught more and discussed far more, than giving you what Bach and Beethoven are all about! In high school if you are stupid enough to take violin, they give you classical music pieces, not Ponty, or Way, or Shankar, or even Daniels or Kershaw!  Does it make you wonder why so many end up in rock bands or somewhere else, but not in an orchestra?

 

Basically, the last 100 years music has changed ... it is no longer something only for the upper classes ... end of story, and you know it as well as I do, but you think your words are more important than mine. We're saying the same thing!

Bands like Spock's Beard, the Flower Kings, Magenta, IZZ and Magic Pie are all pretty well known in prog circles(especially those into the newer symph prog scene) but none of them have really made a dent outside the prog world unlike say Porcupine Tree, Muse or Dream Theater. So as far as mainstream popularity goes I would say yes prog hasn't really made the big comeback yet but imo it doesn't really need to and I don't necessarily think that would be a good thing if it did. Right now it's not quite underground anymore but not mainstream either. It's sort of in some weird place in between but it seems pretty comfortable where it is. :)