tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060605.post604501347505030937..comments2024-03-26T15:57:13.443+00:00Comments on On An Overgrown Path: How classical music squandered its golden opportunityUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060605.post-18953424153914103512017-01-18T17:15:56.966+00:002017-01-18T17:15:56.966+00:00Goodness knows, I try, but the problem is that I (...Goodness knows, I try, but the problem is that I (and other people trying to bring more music, different music and new music to people) are obscure and have a very limited audience. I did not go a big school,I have very few connections with famous musicians, I conduct a couple of obscure orchestras (although one of them is really pretty good!) and have no connections in the media world to get people to pay attention to what I am trying to do. Previn, Bernstein and Monrow were well connected, famous musicians with an ability to reach vast numbers of people, and, more important, they were allowed to do what they thought best. When Hindemith died Bernstein devoted an entire Young People's Concert to him the very next month-an hour of Hindemith for 9 year olds-and he was allowed to do it. No 'marketing expert" would permit such an outrage today. These are the people who determine what we hear, and, because they think in such a short term way, they cannot tolerate anything that might take a while to grow. Even I am repeatedly told that on every concert I need to have a "name the public will know"- but there are literally only about 10 names on that list, which means we continually recycle the same repertoire. The irony is that because of my limited reach and outsider status, I still have more freedom than the people who should be the ones bringing new music, new ideas and new people to the music world. Instead, they play the Emperor Concerto again, because...Beethoven. It's depressing.<br />Warren Cohenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03475756726154856505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060605.post-81250889942030274262017-01-17T14:03:48.462+00:002017-01-17T14:03:48.462+00:00There is something akin to a latter-day animateur ...There is something akin to a latter-day animateur at work somewhere. I'm listening to a mix or sequence of pieces, whether assembled by human or by algorithm I know not, on YouTube. This mix has so far included Bach, Vivaldi and Praetorius as well as much early music, some Jordi Savall, Scottish and Irish traditional music, lots of recorder music — and a segment by David Munrow about the rackett, with a piece played by the Early Music Consort. This and previous mixes in jazz, early music and, er, prog rock have introduced me to players and composers I didn't know and I've already bought several recordings as a result.<br /><br />I do not suggest that this replaces what is being lost, but I mention it to show that there are some good things happening.<br /><br />bjgAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060605.post-42963546528286962182017-01-16T20:27:07.455+00:002017-01-16T20:27:07.455+00:00A reader's comment on my post about the closur...A reader's comment on my post about the closure of Prelude Records includes this:<br /><br />'As an ex member of staff, this is especially sad news. It would not be an exaggeration to say I learned as much or more working there than on my 3 year classical music degree at UEA. Listening to hours of quality recordings would inspire me to explore this music in the library in greater depth, taking me on many 'paths' I wouldn't have known otherwise.'<br /><br /> http://www.overgrownpath.com/2017/01/requiem-for-record-store.htmlPliablehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10616598845886342325noreply@blogger.com