In case no one has been paying attention the last couple of years I’m here to give you the final score: we lost.
Bill Eddins
Kicking the Dependency, Part 1 – Saving the Past
There is a petition circulating on causes.com that should be a no-brainer – “President Obama, save the house that Ives built.” I hereby officially state that I am against this petition. Read on.
IT’S BEETHOVEN’S FAULT!
I did an interview with a reporter from Minnesota Public Radio recently exploring the difficulties being faced by the Minnesota Orchestra and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. After a thorough dissection of the mistakes that led up to this current mess with both orchestras, and much of the classical music industry thereto, I have come to one undeniable conclusion – it’s Beethoven’s fault.
No One Expects the 12-Tone Inquisition!
The worse thing that can happen to any art form is Orthodoxy, that awful suggestion that there is only one true way. Orthodoxy is quite possibly the major reason why there are so many problems in classical music today. Orthodoxy impedes free thinking, feeds the idea of believer vs. heathen, and attempts to suppress dissent. In my most recent post I set out to highlight an example of doctrinal thinking that feeds the perception that classical music is elitist. The easiest way to expose said orthodoxy, of course, is to challenge it publically by throwing out an outrageous idea. Looks like I succeeded.
IT’S SCHOENBERG’S FAULT!
I did an interview with a reporter from Minnesota Public Radio yesterday exploring the difficulties being faced by the Minnesota Orchestra and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. After a thorough dissection of the mistakes that led up to this current mess with both orchestras, and much of the classical music industry thereto, I have come to one undeniable conclusion – it’s Schoenberg’s fault.
Dueling Band-Woes
Hot fun in the summertime seems like a lost cause in the Twin Cities. Instead, it looks like we will be treated to a summer of great discontent, followed by only the Gods know what. There’s only one guarantee – this is not going to be pretty.
Amateur Hour
Every once and a while I find the need to write a blog that will garner me a whole bunch of hate mail. I can’t wait for the inbox once this one is published. Those choir people are going to be up in arms.
Better Late Than Never…..
This is a post for all young conductors out there. Let me tell you about the day I was invited to conduct the Cleveland Orchestra….. and turned them down.