Feature / One Question Interviews
Modest Midget

Words: Andy Armageddon • September 10, 2015

Modest Midget
Modest Midget

Lionel Ziblat (Modest Midget)

SPB: Which music by classical composers do you think has held up the best into the 21st century? 

Lionel: Great question! Since it's also a great passion of mine to write for Classical instances (choirs, orchestras and chamber), I try to keep in touch with contemporary Classical music as well. You'll be amazed how much good music was written since Purcell (17th Century) ‘til Ligeti (end of 20th Century).

I think that Classical music plays a much bigger role in our lives than many people realize. There are the few very famous tunes that everybody knows like the theme from Beethoven's 9th, which is one of the most popular tunes out there still(!) although most people don't even realize it. But there are also other influences that more modern composers like Stravinsky & Ravel have had on Hollywood film scoring throughout the 20th Century.

Still, I feel that nowadays well-crafted music, whether it's classical, jazz or anything else, is too often overlooked and neglected. Because we are enslaved to some amazing technology now in a way that our focus on details and on spiritual quality is getting very poor.

 

Modest Midget
Modest Midget

Related features

Mike Huguenor

One Question Interviews / What's That Noise? • July 8, 2025

Mike Huguenor Tell us about the primary guitars you used making Surfing the Web with the Alien? Read more

Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2025)

Music • July 6, 2025

We're halfway through the year: when did that happen?! Luckily for you, SPB is on hand to share the music we've enjoyed most in 2025 thus far. Read on to hear about the records that have made our top list for this year as it stands, and also some bonus … Read more

Shane Herrell: A Tribute

Music • July 6, 2025

Shane Herrell: Rest In Power(pop) (1980-2025) The Rocker I try to live my life with as few regrets as possible. Sadly I never got the chance to hear my friend Shane Herrell karaoke Thin Lizzy’s "The Rocker." As a singing bass player we don’t have enough heroes. It might just … Read more

Unseemlier

One Question Interviews • June 27, 2025

Mike Assatly (Unseemlier - guitar/vocals) SPB: Do you have a preferred model of van for touring? Assatly: Chevy G-20 Gladiator! It was my first van, I got it from my uncle with 115,000 on it. He got rid of it for a new van because it was "old" and would … Read more

Dollar Store

One Question Interviews • June 26, 2025

Dave Slaverave (Dollar Store - bass) SPB: This band hits a lot of styles, all kind of overlapping at the same time. How hard was it to find “your sound” when bringing these influences together? Slaverave: Not very hard at all actually. We're all old-ass adults who've soaked in a … Read more

Related news

Related reviews

Modest Midget

Crysis
Multi-Polar Music (2014)

Following the group’s ambitious 2010 debut The Great Prophecy of a Small Man, Dutch group Modest Midget returns with 2014’s Crysis, an album that’s equally as sprawling, eclectic, and generally cheerful as its predecessor. Admittedly, it took me a few listens to really get into what Modest Midget had to offer on their first album, and this second effort is … Read more

More from this section

Mike Huguenor

One Question Interviews / What's That Noise? • July 8, 2025

Mike Huguenor Tell us about the primary guitars you used making Surfing the Web with the Alien? Read more

Unseemlier

One Question Interviews • June 27, 2025

Mike Assatly (Unseemlier - guitar/vocals) SPB: Do you have a preferred model of van for touring? Assatly: Chevy G-20 Gladiator! It was my first van, I got it from my uncle with 115,000 on it. He got rid of it for a new van because it was "old" and would … Read more

Dollar Store

One Question Interviews • June 26, 2025

Dave Slaverave (Dollar Store - bass) SPB: This band hits a lot of styles, all kind of overlapping at the same time. How hard was it to find “your sound” when bringing these influences together? Slaverave: Not very hard at all actually. We're all old-ass adults who've soaked in a … Read more