Judith L. Zaimont wrote: >Gentlemen: Please don't say classical music is dying! > >This is -- as a body -- the only music that speaks to me. It goes >beyond the routine in every way, deeper, more stirring to the soul and >to the intellect. It (mostly) doesn't have a damnably irking, repeated >drumcell. It's not forever 'in your face' -- it's more subtle than that. >And, among its chief glories: its bandwidth keeps changing even within >movments or sections; it does not present a steady-state cell that invites >listeners to go ahead and tune out for awhile because you can tune back >in and not have missed much.... > >In every way, classical music invites close, attentive listening. > >And because I'm a composer, its evolution is what I'm devoting my life >to. At least in this little Arizona house, classical music flourishes! Wonderful thoughts, beautifully expressed. But alas, from my perspective, if classical music is not dying, it is not as well served as it has been. I remember growing up in the suburbs of New York City and being able to hear broadcasts of most of the major US orchestras. We had classical music on WQXR, WRVR, WBAI, WNCN, WKCR, etc. Up until three years ago we had a local station here in Austin Texas that was serious about classical music. It is now classical muzak. We used to have informed writing about classical music in our newspapers. Even now, the New York Times writers acknowledge that they must write to level far below that once enjoyed by a Harold Schoeberg, or Paul Bowles, or Virgil Thomson. I look at the repertoire of the major orchestras from the days of my youth, back in the 1960, and 70s. I heard a composers like Walton, conduct concerts devoted entirely to their own music. When we hear new music by a major performing ensemble it is more often something vapid from the pen of a Torke. I find many of our soloists to be of the cookie cutter variety of note perfect "perfectionism." I remember when the City Opera offered Ginastera's Don Rodrigo as its opener for the new hall. It was real music full of depth, strength, and great character, not fluff like Tan Dun. The chart topping classical album is currently Yo Yo Ma "Appassionato." No.2 is Sting doing Dowland! Looking back at the New York Times, as I write this, I chose a month from 1965, October to be exact. During that month the Philadelphia Orchestra did an all Bartok program including the 1st piano Concerto (a thorny work for sure). Kabi Laretei offered Hindemith's Ludus Tonalis, the Boston Symphony offered music of Bartok, Sydeman, the Detroit Symphony, music of Rorem ;The Contemporary chamber Ensemble, music of Carter, Berio and Ives... In that same month Lenny wrote an article in the Times telling us that the Symphony as a form was dead and had been dying since the beginning of the 20th Century. Not that I agree with him, nor did I agree with him at the time I read that article 40 years ago, but that tonic dominant relationship, which was the basis of the form, had passed. For me his thesis was not as important as the content...that such thought about classical music was what we might find in a newspaper. I am encouraged when, as the result of some recent postings, I have explored the classical radio station in San Paolo. It seems to offer a well balanced approach to programming. The BBC still offers new music of substance, same for Bavarian Radio and other internet stations. I look at the salaries of some of our highest paid musicians and find the salaries absurd, even those in some of our major orchestras. So, they must play wall to wall standards in the hopes of making those payrolls...and yet I wonder, how long can that last...and what does it say about the true art of classical music. There are some pockets of hope, but I cannot help but wonder about the future since, by the standards that I use for measure, classical music is not being served very well in the US and only marginally better in other countries. I remember (I am probably one of those old F**Ts, but not one who would program my radio show with the standards) when the BBC offered a series of the music of Gerhard and Schoenberg. Yes, there still is some relatively daring programming...the BBC recently offered Ginastera as composer of the week (yes they played our CDs and Barbara Nissman, who recorded them was the featured guest-just getting in a small plug there)...so there are some bright spots. But I would ask, where are our great young composers? There are some who work seriously and write fine music, but they are often placed on the sidelines with an occasional performance by a major ensemble. Are Torke, Paulus, Adams, Glass, Tan Dun great art? Not for me. Is it dying...well for me, it just isn't what it once was. I can remember awaiting, with great anticipation, a new piece from the pens of composers like Harris, Schuman, Copland, Tippett, Shostakovich, Britten, Mennin, Diamond, Barber...I still hold out for a new work by a Benjamin Lees, and perhaps a few others, but who is there? I should add that I have found great imagination in Judith's work, especially that work done by the Philadelphia Orchestra...as I recall it was a Symphony. But look to what we hold up as our major composers these days...for me it is not encouraging, not so much that there aren't good composers, but that we keep playing new works of little substance. Sorry for going on, but not unlike another set of recent posts, I passionately believe that classical music, at its best, is one of the finest expressions of our species and as such, it needs to be treated with the greatest respect and nurtured. I guess I don't see us nurturing great expression as much as I can remember from even the times of my youth, some 40+ years ago. Karl *********************************************** The CLASSICAL mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's HDMail High Deliverability Mailer for reliable, lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html