tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060605.post5575813469559448304..comments2024-03-26T15:57:13.443+00:00Comments on On An Overgrown Path: The innocent earUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060605.post-57117980399729534522008-10-17T20:44:00.000+01:002008-10-17T20:44:00.000+01:00Quite by chance we watched Murray Lerner's film Fe...Quite by chance we watched Murray Lerner's film <I>Festival</I> last night. This documentary, which covers the 1963-66 Newport Folk Festivals and which was nominated for an Oscar, just confirms what can be achieved when the distorting filters between the audience and the musicians are removed.<BR/><BR/><I>Festival</I> has no talking heads, no voice-overs, just performance footage linked by <I>vox pop</I>. Murray Lerner lets the camera linger on the performers instead of endless changes of camera angle beloved by today's directors simply because technology allows it.<BR/><BR/>Another classic example of music advocacy. Available on DVD and not to be missed.<BR/><BR/><I>'In 1980, Lerner produced and directed FROM MAO TO MOZART: ISAAC STERN IN CHINA that chronicled violin virtuoso Isaac Stern's 1979 goodwill tour of Red China. The best scenes involve Stern's tutoring and coaching of gifted Chinese students, and Shanghai Conservatory of Music director Tan Shuzhen's recollections of his travails in the less enlightened China of the 1960s. The film is extremely well balanced, treating Eastern and Western musical culture with equal respect and (sometimes) awe. FROM MAO TO MOZART won the Academy Award.'</I> <BR/><BR/>http://theoscarsite.com/whoswho5/lerner_m.htmPliablehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10616598845886342325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060605.post-79587382475539163722008-10-17T20:25:00.000+01:002008-10-17T20:25:00.000+01:00>>It's also what is needed today, and th...>>It's also what is needed today, and the current generation of personality presenters are singularly failing to provide it.<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.overgrownpath.com/2008/08/dedicated-follower-of-fashion.html" REL="nofollow">I quite agree.</A>Stephenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07964829751591000554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060605.post-34694161746971452042008-10-16T15:49:00.000+01:002008-10-16T15:49:00.000+01:00Stephen, thanks for those thoughtful comments.I ag...Stephen, thanks for those thoughtful comments.<BR/><BR/>I agree that some form of intermediation is probably necessary in 'innocent ear' events. But the problem comes when the intermediary sees her/his role as putting their own stamp on the event, and that is exactly what is happening today.<BR/><BR/>Facilitation of meetings is a skilled and very productive function. But only if the facilitator stays in the background while drawing the best out of the participants.<BR/><BR/>That is what Robert Simpson did with <I>The Innocent Ear</I> on Radio 3 and it worked. It's also what is needed today, and the current generation of personality presenters are singularly failing to provide it.Pliablehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10616598845886342325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060605.post-37438444260329852432008-10-16T15:28:00.000+01:002008-10-16T15:28:00.000+01:00I like the concept of the "innocent ear". However,...I like the concept of the "innocent ear". However, to encourage audiences to participate, they need to have trust in the editorial decisions governing the music selected, i.e. will this be a worthwhile experience for me?<BR/><BR/>The lowest cost way for the audience to evaluate that level of trust is to have some known quantity - a brand if you will - that is already recognised associated with the event.<BR/><BR/>That almost certainly means a well known presenter/conductor/commentator/broadcaster any of which potentially runs contrary to the disintermediation you mention above.<BR/><BR/>In the case of the innocent ear, I suspect we do need intermediaries.Stephenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07964829751591000554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060605.post-47952379057335177802008-10-16T14:08:00.000+01:002008-10-16T14:08:00.000+01:00Now here is my first nomination for disintermediat...Now here is my first nomination for disintermediation (and a few other things).<BR/><BR/>Norman Lebrecht talks about the <I>'unaccountable whimsy of bloggers'</I>.<BR/><BR/>On BBC i-Player until Oct 23 if you really must -<BR/><BR/>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5C99JyP2nsPliablehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10616598845886342325noreply@blogger.com