New book episode

Episode seven of my in-progress book on the

future of classical music is now

href="http://www.artsjournal.com/greg">

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK2'>online

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK2'>. After some introductory

stuff, it goes in a new direction (well, not so new to those of you who read

the first, now discarded version of the book). Everything up to now has been

the introduction to the book. Now I’ve embarked on the first main section, which

will give chapter and verse, in considerable detail, of how classical music is

in trouble. But I start with a look at the distant past — at the days when Bach

and Mozart were composing, but classical music (as we know it today) didn’t

even remotely exist.

I’ve also put a

href="http://www.artsjournal.com/greg/2006/05/book_20_summary_of_the_introdu.html">

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK1'>summary

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK1'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK1'> of the

introduction online (a summary, in other words, of episodes one through six).

It’s especially meant for newcomers, but might also be helpful for anyone who’s

followed the book, but has read all the old episodes, or might quickly want to review

what I’ve written up to now.

The next episode should be online May 29. It’ll offer some fun and

maybe even startling data from history.

And by the way…why not

href="mailto:greg@artsjournal.com">

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK2'>subscribe

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK1'> to the

book? Subscribers get more information than I’m posting here. This time, for

instance, I mentioned something I’d left out of the new episode, but which

surely should have been there. And I also linked to the latest post on this

blog. There’ll be more extras like that — so click the subscription link, and

when the blank e-mail form appears, just put “subscribe” in the subject line

and mail it off to me. And to make me even happier, add a note to your e-mail, and tell me something about yourself

class=GramE>.. I’m always curious about who’s subscribing, and why everyone

is interested. That often leads to an e-mail exchange, and often enough to some

sharing of ideas (from which I learn a lot). I’m going to dedicate the book to

everyone in classical music who’s working for change, everyone in the audience

who wants change, and especially to the many, many people who’ve helped me in

endless ways (which include telling me when I’m wrong). So subscribe, and write

to me—and the book will be dedicated to you, too!