"Music is a continuum and the modern and avant-garde composers of today will be part of the standard repertoire 30 years from now"

Music, like all living arts, evolves through an unbroken succession of ideas, styles, and creative innovations. Neville Marriner’s assertion captures the essence of musical history as a continuously flowing river rather than a collection of isolated, fixed moments. Just as the works of Mozart and Beethoven were once considered contemporary, and even radical in their day, today’s modern and avant-garde composers stand at the forefront of progress, pushing boundaries and challenging conventions.

The concept of a "continuum" in music underscores the ongoing dialogue between the past, present, and future. Composers build upon traditions while also reacting against them, creating new forms and languages that redefine the possibilities of expression. Initial resistance to such innovation is a recurring motif in musical history; groundbreaking pieces are often met with skepticism, confusion, or even outrage. Over time, as audiences acclimate and tastes broaden, what once seemed foreign gradually becomes familiar, and the music integrates into the collective repertory.

The standard repertoire, those pieces frequently performed, taught, and cherished, did not emerge instantaneously. Every era introduces works that transform perceptions and expand the canon, but this acceptance is a process requiring time, reflection, and advocacy. The composers we now canonize were pioneers who confronted the unknown, just as today’s avant-garde creators do.

Marriner’s words encourage listeners and musicians to remain open and receptive to new musical expressions, recognizing that the unfamiliar music of today may well become tomorrow’s classics. They suggest an optimistic belief in the organic growth of art, sustained by curiosity, exploration, and the passage of generations. The cycles of acceptance and innovation ensure that music remains vibrant, relevant, and deeply human, a continuum where each voice adds a unique thread to an ever-evolving tapestry.