Most Western styles are Asian now. Jazz is in its twilight here in America but the Japanese love it. The Chinese are just starting to discover it. America has been losing touch with classical and jazz because this country is so obsessed with youth. We'd rather discard something so enduring for something so fleeting. God forbid that we should educate our kids about jazz and classical. Let's just lower ourselves to their level and pretend like rap and tweeny singers are the most important music ever to be spawned in the mind of humanity. Well, you get what you pay for and we are cultural cheapskates.

Wow, that really says it so well! Hope you don't mind if I borrow that quote.

Of course it does. Unlike any new artists of these times, most of the composers were very talented in composing and they were writing eternal music, which stays forever.

I'd argue classical is the most relevant of all genres. It's timeless music that echoes our deepest emotions and most complex thoughts.

Most of us hear more classical music than we are aware of. Watch a movie or documentary, or play a videogame and chances are it uses classical music of some sort or another to add atmosphere and influence the emotional impact.

Every musical genre is relevant, always has been and always will be. Music can not be irrelevant.

I agree with Taxman.
Early music has influenced all the newer music genres in the end.
If we hadn't had had Ottaviano dei Petrucci, we wouldn't be able to write and read sheet music. If Arnold Schönberg hadn't developed the twelve-tone serialism, the Modern classical music wouldn't exist.
Classical music is basal and therefore highly important.

A world without classical is a world without art
 

I totally agree with this guy, I mean your talking about some of the greatest artists the world has ever seen, and if they weren't relevant still to this day, I feel as if kids would be totally lost and there would be no more prodigies anymore, all the good artists would disappear because of "music theory". I love classical and I love the art that it brings to the world as well!

My father used to force me to listen to classical music as a child. Besides the Messiah, and only at Christmas time, I rejected the entire genre. Then in my mid 20's I dabbled. Now in my mid 30's I'm completely immersed. I think the younger generations will come around in time, like so many things in life. Still, the farther you get from the flame, the less you feel it's warmth.

Yes!

Despite the Pop Culture Quick Fix and the Televised Hypes that are around, there are music scenes that uses Classical as a base, sometimes based in the Metal and Gothic, but mainly in Soundtrack music (which has it's fans, too).

It's rare for me to meet those who seriously like Classical, but when I do, it's great, but there should be more. I have a feeling that the pendulum will swing once again as usual as I'm sure a couple of generations from now will see the Idol-Drenched Pop Scene of today as a joke.

It will never leave, but for now a listener has to look further in order to hear those who still create music influenced by Classical or that which continues a tradition in modern style.

fur elise by beethoven that's the only music to my ears. with wine and chill by the fire.