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Classical music is no more deceased than any other form of art, kept alive by those who seek it out.

It is a living thing, woken from its deep slumber only when performed.

With the exception of dance and vocal repertoire, classical music holds a unique place among all forms of art. Unlike painting, sculpture and literature, one cannot just walk up to a music score and enjoy it. It must be performed. And while all forms of art are participatory by nature, the music lover is truly at the mercy of the performer.

Want to enjoy some Van Gogh? Go to the museum and there it is. You are seeing it live.

Want to enjoy the writings of Poe? Visit the library or fire up your Kindle. You are reading the words just as Edgar wrote them.

Want to enjoy visceral thrill by hearing a symphony or concerto performed live- as the composer wished it to be offered? Good luck. You'll have to buy some tickets and wait.

Of all the arts, music is the most cerebral. There is nothing visible or tactile to experience. It's all sound waves: melody, tone, dynamics and rhythm- and the only way to experience it is to bring it back to life, either by playing the music yourself, attending a concert- or, as a last resort, listening the recorded version.

Some will argue that the musical experience is no different from other art forms. After all, there's a big difference between reading someone's book and hearing the author read his or her own words. Same for seeing the sculpture molded and formed. Likewise for painting.

The difference is that the finished product for most of these forms is stationary: on a canvas or a pedestal or printed on paper. And yes, music too is printed on paper- but it cannot be appreciated in that form (unless one is a conductor).

Having played in orchestral percussion sections during performances of such thrilling works as Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto #2, I can testify that not only does the music come to life, every performance is a little different- as if each time we played through this movement or that, we were hearing a slightly different version of the same work. This holds true for rehearsals, as well.

And if you want further proof of the living nature of classical music, look at any listing for Debussy's "Clair De Lune." There are more conductor's arrangements of that single piece of music than there are composers. Some play it fast, others slow. Some play it louder, while others soft-pedal the whole thing. Some involve a full-blown orchestra while others recreate the piece by way of a small chamber group.

Try doing that with the Mona Lisa or "A Streetcar Named Desire," or the statue of "Venus de Milo." They are one of a kind, and rightly so. But don't try selling the "one-performance-fits-all" line to Mozart, Bernstein or Copland. They may tell you or I to keep our paws off the melody, but that would be the extent of their meddling.

Not only is classical music a living thing. It is eternal.

Learn more about this author, Dan Hiland.
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