The Future

On September 4, 476, millions of Romans went to bed in Antiquity and woke up in the Middle Ages. Just like them, we would never know if a new era had dawned overnight.

It is difficult, if not impossible, to judge one's place in history. Events that seem of minor consequence today may one day be considered key turning points in the human story. What from our perspective seem to be monumental crises and world-changing developments may one day be no more than a footnote glossed over by a bored student hundreds of years from now.

Some things, of course, will be remembered as events of great importance. Here are some humble guesses:

• The Reign of Queen Elizabeth II. She was the longest-reigning monarch in English history. The Second Elizabethan Era was actually a rather graceful transition for Great Britain from global superpower to still-significant player in a more multilateral world.
• Vladimir Putin. He has effectively been the dictator of Russia for over 20 years, and is more readily compared to Peter and Catherine and the other mighty tsars than any democratic figures of today. His ambitions are similar, and his legacy remains to be seen.
• The Pro-Life/Pro-Choice Debate. Not since slavery has our country found an issue so divisive.
• SpaceX. The privately owned company plans to land people on another planet by 2029. If they succeed, Elon Musk will be remembered in a single breath with Christopher Columbus and Neil Armstrong.

The history of music for the last 150 years has been one of colliding cultures and synthesizing traditions. It may continue in that direction with new developments coming hard and fast; on the other hand, current styles and genres may apotheosize, or it could all veer off in a totally unexpected direction. Who is to say?

The answer is you. History is shaped by people, and music history perhaps even more so. It doesn't matter who you are. Some of the great composers have worked for kings and emperors; others have battled against poverty and discrimination. Some had distinguished careers spanning decades; many never made it to 40. Some were taught by other musical giants; others never received any formal training at all. Your circumstances are a given; what you do with them is up to you.