The Difference between Formulaic Regurgitation and a Winning Formula

AT times, Classical music can be a very strange and unfathomable beast. I listen to it fairly regularly and on Saturday evenings my weekly itinerary includes a programme showcasing ‘new’ releases, although the vast majority of the content on offer concerns modern musicians performing very old and well-worn compositions.

Now, if that happened in any other genre you would be left with nothing but tribute acts. On the other hand, if you discount the lyrics in most other forms of music - all of which are becoming increasingly generic - this is exactly what is happening. At least Classical performers are more honest about it.