Comments on: The end of classical music? http://www.pierre-arnaud-dablemont.com/blog/end-classical-music-245 Official website of pianist Pierre-Arnaud Dablemont Mon, 07 May 2012 17:12:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Jaemi http://www.pierre-arnaud-dablemont.com/blog/end-classical-music-245#comment-2680 Jaemi Fri, 25 Jun 2010 16:49:46 +0000 #comment-2680 While many orchestras (such as the Atlanta Symphony) are making great strides in the department of adding exciting new works to the repertoire, I think few are addressing the underlying barriers to concert attendance. I don't mean ticket prices, since those probably can't go much lower and many orchestras have many free ticket outreach programs. What I mean is the sheer formality of the event. What is so horrible about clapping after an exuberant and well played first movement? Why shouldn't the players come meet the audience members after the show? Why must the orchestra wear tuxedos? While I believe that great art deserves respect, and therefore there is necessarily some ritualized formality to be observed at concerts, I think that many possible enthusiasts are deterred from the concert hall more because of it's air of upper class elitism than anything else. To be clear, I don't believe the concert hall always is or has to BE elitist, but that many groups cultivate that ethos as a way of seeming important or profound. I just don't think such things are helpful. While many orchestras (such as the Atlanta Symphony) are making great strides in the department of adding exciting new works to the repertoire, I think few are addressing the underlying barriers to concert attendance. I don’t mean ticket prices, since those probably can’t go much lower and many orchestras have many free ticket outreach programs. What I mean is the sheer formality of the event. What is so horrible about clapping after an exuberant and well played first movement? Why shouldn’t the players come meet the audience members after the show? Why must the orchestra wear tuxedos? While I believe that great art deserves respect, and therefore there is necessarily some ritualized formality to be observed at concerts, I think that many possible enthusiasts are deterred from the concert hall more because of it’s air of upper class elitism than anything else. To be clear, I don’t believe the concert hall always is or has to BE elitist, but that many groups cultivate that ethos as a way of seeming important or profound. I just don’t think such things are helpful.

]]> By: Dale http://www.pierre-arnaud-dablemont.com/blog/end-classical-music-245#comment-2667 Dale Sun, 09 May 2010 20:58:02 +0000 #comment-2667 Rather I think it's the marketing. Classical music is holed up behind ivory towers and younger people do not think it's accessible to them. If everyone was exposed to someone playing, say, a Paganini caprice, they should at least be mesmerized by the virtuosity, which will lead to higher curiosity about classical music. Rather I think it’s the marketing. Classical music is holed up behind ivory towers and younger people do not think it’s accessible to them. If everyone was exposed to someone playing, say, a Paganini caprice, they should at least be mesmerized by the virtuosity, which will lead to higher curiosity about classical music.

]]> By: Dale http://www.pierre-arnaud-dablemont.com/blog/end-classical-music-245#comment-2666 Dale Sun, 09 May 2010 20:55:54 +0000 #comment-2666 The classical music repertoire is so deep and rich. Furthermore, while the giants have been performed, recorded, and analyzed greatly, there are many lesser known Baroque, Classical and Romantic composers waiting to be discovered. Furthermore, I think the modern repertoire has yet to be explored fully by the audience. Bartok, Stravinsky, Ravel and Prokofiev are giants of the 20th century and yet only a handful of their works are explored. There's also minimalism, which I have no really listened to. But just from Bach to Bartok lies vast repertoires just waiting to be unleashed. I don't know if we really need "new" classical music to continue its popularity. The classical music repertoire is so deep and rich. Furthermore, while the giants have been performed, recorded, and analyzed greatly, there are many lesser known Baroque, Classical and Romantic composers waiting to be discovered. Furthermore, I think the modern repertoire has yet to be explored fully by the audience. Bartok, Stravinsky, Ravel and Prokofiev are giants of the 20th century and yet only a handful of their works are explored. There’s also minimalism, which I have no really listened to. But just from Bach to Bartok lies vast repertoires just waiting to be unleashed. I don’t know if we really need “new” classical music to continue its popularity.

]]> By: Crescent http://www.pierre-arnaud-dablemont.com/blog/end-classical-music-245#comment-2662 Crescent Wed, 05 May 2010 13:05:08 +0000 #comment-2662 Hi I think it's important to note that there is no new classical music, certainly none that is any good. Classical music ended, for me after the minimalism of Glass,Reich et al. To improve concerts I think Classical music performers should share the stage with musicians from other music genres. Of course this has been done (Nyman, etc.) but it should be done more often. "World music" is important as well and tends to get overlooked. Simon Hi

I think it’s important to note that there is no new classical music, certainly none that is any good. Classical music ended, for me after the minimalism of Glass,Reich et al.
To improve concerts I think Classical music performers should share the stage with musicians from other music genres. Of course this has been done (Nyman, etc.) but it should be done more often. “World music” is important as well and tends to get overlooked.

Simon

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