The internet is a wonderful place. It’s an open hub for ideas and discussions that would otherwise rarely see much attention. One particular discussion had nothing to do with how classical musicians sound or what they play; rather, the topic focuses on how they look.
I’m glad to say that the conversation isn’t about wearing tuxedos on stage. Although that’s a good discussion to have, it’s a bit long in the tooth. Instead, this discussion centers on the type of image classical musicians project.
You mean there’s more to classical music than just performers and dead composers? There sure is and if you take the time to look under some of the more fascinating rocks within the classical music environment, you’ll eventually unearth something besides decaying Mozart manuscripts and another recording of Beethoven 7.
The ugly side of classical music’s business has been in the news quite a bit this past year, such as the coverage related to labor problems in St. Louis and Baltimore. However, there’s one example of how small ensembles, such as a quartet or trio, are beginning to realize there’s much more to making music than making music. The Audubon Quartet saga started when the members began to quarrel over money and control. They past the point of no return in February 21, 2000 when three of the members presented their first … Continue Reading
The ugly side of classical music’s business has been in the news quite a bit this past year, such as the coverage related to labor problems in St. Louis and Baltimore. However, there’s one example of how small ensembles, such as a quartet or trio, are beginning to realize there’s much more to making music than making music. The Audubon Quartet saga started when the members began to quarrel over money and control. They past the point of no return in February 21, 2000 when three of the members presented their first … Continue Reading
There’s a battle raging along the front lines of classical music over the use of recorded and synthesized music to replace live musicians, particularly those who perform for ballets and musicals. Of course, the war itself is very old; musicians have long fought against technological advancements which threatened their livelihood. At the early part of the 20th century, it was radio and phonographs which began to displace live musicians and even today, recorded music continues to be used in that capacity. However, the most recent participants in the war are “virtual orchestra” … Continue Reading