Danny Elfman criticizes modern classical music as lacking melody
Composer Danny Elfman, known for his film scores, criticized contemporary classical music for being devoid of memorable melodies. In an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, he stated that much modern classical music is just "sound" with nothing for audiences to grasp. Elfman's comments come amid ongoing debates about the accessibility and direction of classical music.
Key facts
- Danny Elfman is a composer known for film scores.
- He criticized modern classical music for lacking melody.
- The interview was published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on July 9, 2026.
- Elfman said, 'In too much classical modern contemporary music, there’s just sound.'
- He added, 'Nothing sticks. You’re not giving the audience anything to hold on to.'
- The article is titled 'Danny Elfman: What Classical Music Is Missing'.
Entities
Artists
- Danny Elfman
Institutions
- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Locations
- Pittsburgh
- United States