Joel C. Rittle`s reaction to the newly proposed Ravinia-type music facility in Du Page County-and the classical music it would feature-would seem to be ludicrous to a great many of us.
As a lifelong musician by avocation, I take exception to his contention that classical music is the culture of the older people in the middle or upper incomes. I have noticed, while being an active instrumentalist of many years, that classical music does not especially claim any particular socio-economic group. Classical music is played and listened to by people from low to high income levels, of all skin colors and ages.
The only true comment in Mr. Rittle`s summation of classical vs. contemporary music is that ”it tells us more about our society than the music written in Europe centuries ago.” How right he is! As for the lyrics of many rock songs-they tell us that our present society is now prone to accept coarse language, sexual innuendos, even veiled lyrics condoning incest, drug use and, yes, suicide.
