heh, you can see which side I fall on... 

 

That said, I do think the music business is doomed, and we may not even experience music in a way that is familiar to us. I shudder to think of the day that the CD dies out officially, because that, I believe, is the long-anticipated end. But that's neither here nor there.

 

*locked*

 

Even if prog is a minority music, I can not follow up all what's coming out, PA is a great example of it, there's so much music in PA which I can not catch up with. So even if no more prog would be released as from today, I have no problem, I know there's more than enough already to keep me discovering new things until the day I die.

 

And in any case there will always be a minority group of people who will continue appreciating the classic 70's prog, even in the new generations, although probably they will become less and less.

Along side the artists who make mediocre ditties for radio there will always be an undercurrent of skilled musicians who make complex music. It has always been this way, though the style is not always the same. I am excited for whatever well composed and tallent driven music is produced, be it prog, jazz, folk, metal, alternative, bluegrass, classical, whatever.

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. :)

Teach them flute too, and how to play piano whilst stabbing it with knives and riding it like a horse.

I'm ok with this. But it makes me sad to see it.

 

The main reason why, is that it's like you and I saying something like this ... my child is stupid and he doesn't know music! ... and you only say that because you are in a bit of a time warp, and saw The Rocky Horror Picture Show one too many times! 

 

There is good music today. A lot of it. However, the Internet tends to show everyone and their ma and pa and granny and chickens ... and this means that there is so much stuff out there that it will be very difficult to come up with a concensus as to what might be considered better or worse.

 

In general, all generations have music in one form or another ... we just prefer something over another and that's that ... but please ... do not go tell your child that he/she can not date someone because they have spiked hair and you don't like the music they play ... that hurts the ability to get better and create better music or art!

 

We need to give all generations their chance ... we had ours ... and it is "progressive" and then some ... and it was by far some of the best stuff of the whole century ... we got nothing to complaint about! But please, don't prevent your child/generation from getting into music and doing their own thing ... we got into "ours" with drugs (originally), a little mystic here and there and some people fighting the establishment that stood out ... most generations do not have the benefit of a counter culture to work and learn with! And simply become ants in an ant farm as a famous American writer said, or another judge used an even rougher term!

Haha, a retro purist, eh? To each his own...