My match in said debate brought up some disturbing positions. While talking about the current state of classical music in Portland and the lack of education in area schools he stated that classical music is indeed dying and near death in our town. According to him, our town, although focused on creative arts, "is not interested in our European history" enough to find any value in studying the history of music. He predicted more budget shortfalls and waning ticket sales until the major arts organizations fall by the side of the road in Portland.
According to him, classical music doesn't hold the attention of the iPod generation and will therefore be forgotten. Unless it changes, he argued, it will dim into obscurity.
For obvious reasons this disturbs me.
Rather than go on and on about the merits of classical music, I'll direct you to this article. The last sentence sums up my feelings and gives me hope:
"....classical music remains deeply unfashionable. That's why it has lasted."
