Composer Máté Bella on metamodernism, artificial intelligence, pop hits, and the role of the piano. PODCAST.
https://gondolatkerteszet.substack.com/p/dead-elvis-frankenstein-cheerleaderek
HOW DO CHEERLEADERS END UP ON THE CONTEMPORARY STAGE?
In the audience’s mind, the idea of contemporary new music is still largely shaped by the intellectual legacy of the 20th century—modernism and other “isms” accompany us. But today, the situation is different: 21st-century new music represents other music-aesthetic principles, says composer Máté Bella. He embodies a new kind of convergence in both his person and work (he is a professor at the Liszt Academy, the author of nationwide pop hits, a composer for renowned classical music ensembles, and a teacher of trained composers from Hungary’s leading pop/rock scene). In their work, the worlds of classical and popular music meet.
This conversation provides a perfect insight into the intellectual and musical background of a “contemporary” modern work, making it equally interesting for both professionals and casual listeners. As does the discussion of other topics we touch upon:
- What is metamodernism and what does it mean for music?
- How was Cheerleaders created?
- Loops, grooves, and what’s considered uncool
- The impact of artificial intelligence on contemporary/classical music composition
- How one of the biggest pop hits of the early 2020s was born
- What collegial advice helped a classical composer write a pop hit?
- The encounters and potential future collaborations between pop and classical music scenes
- Where does the piano stand in the 21st century?
The conversation features an excerpt from Cheerleaders and presents the composer’s piano piece Judas in full!