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Date: | Fri, 25 Feb 2005 22:06:17 -0400 |
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Kevin Sutton:
>NPR has a duty to serve the entire public. Not just the high brow members
>of this and other mailing lists. I don't mean to lecture (and since I
>make my entire living as a professional musician, I think that I have
>some authority to make this statement), but music simply doesn't interest
>everyone. There is a diversity of opinions, a diversity of talents and
>interests, and several million paying customers to entertain (yes, that's
>what I said, entertain) in the listenership of National Public Radio.
No disagreement there- the problem is that many stations are eliminating
all classical music, and for that matter, all jazz. That is true of
WBUR in Boston. WGBH in Boston has mixed programming- that's fine. All
of its classical programming happens to be home grown. Kevin has it
turned around- classical music (characterized by Kevin with striking
originality but lack of accuracy) as the work of dead white guys, is
often dropped completely- that has been well chronicled.And most of us
don't just listen to music- that is a misrepresentation.. I recall
having read a book or two lately. And painted a picture or two. And
I don't feel particularly unique.
Music on the radio is a unique resource because it is available to
everyone, even those who don't have an enormous number of cds. It
can open doors and ears.
Incidentally, I strongly recommend that listers take a look at the many
really excellent blogs on classical music, many of which are run by live
guys and girls- no knowledge of skin color. Most have very wide musical
interests. You can start with Alec Ross - he lists a host of others,
many run by living, breathing composers.
Bernard Chasan
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