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Entry: The Death of Music by the Spirit of Government Subsidies Link: http://www.takimag.com/site/article/the_death_of_music_from_the_spirit_of_government_subsidies#15401 Post contents: I have been studying music history for several years now, and it seems like there are always times of ebb and flow, as well as total disgust of the 'new' music of the day. Also, we only know the music of the past which survived -- surely there was more which ended up on the ash heap, just as much of today's eventually will. One teacher introduced us to the music of local (Fairbanks, Alaska) composer John Luther Adams. He said we did not have to like his music, we just had to listen to it. He writes very long, minimalist pieces which require a different listening style. Not analytical. Some of them I didn't like. But when we heard the world premiere of his piece "The Light that Fills the World" in our own fine concert hall, performed by our own very fine volunteer symphony, on a cold but bright early spring day at the end of our dark season, I felt exactly what he was saying. Our teacher said that he would be one of the few composers of this time to be appreciated in the future. Don't know where his funding comes from, but he has said that his inspiration comes from the deep silence of the far north. Sent at: 2008 07 09