What continues to impress me about the Columbus Symphony musicians is their understanding of the situation, their hope and most of all their willingness to put a human face on what is at best an uncertain future. Again they are connecting to their city in a way that can be understood and appreciated by everyone…….
When an article comes out during a situation such as this, there’s usually so much negativity attached. Let’s face it, when a feel good story comes out about anything, not nearly as many people will read it compared to something that’s given a negative or vitriolic spin. We’re all guilty of rubbernecking at train-wrecks, both the literal and the figurative ones!
This article Hoping for an Encore by Tim Feran and Michael Grossberg was published in the Columbus Post Dispatch last Sunday and spotlights three CSO musicians. This one short article puts the human face on what it all might mean if the orchestra downsizes. Here are some quotes:
“I don’t want to think about doomsday scenarios right now. I do what I always do. My primary job is the orchestra.” – Justin Bartels, Principal Trumpet
“At a lot of orchestras around the country, you hear about the feuds between people, but we really don’t have that here.” – Joyce Fishman, Violin
“It takes decades to build an orchestra, and it’s a special thing we’ve built here. . . . It’s like my own baby or child.” – Randy Hester, – Principal Flute
Often in such situations we hear about the abstract: how a city needs an orchestra, great art, artistic integrity and so on. Well, if less than 1% of a city’s residents subscribe or attend, then those messages will fail to resonate to any profound degree and might even backfire. However, when these musicians talk about doing their job, feuds between people, marriage, babies, children, mortgages, dedication, loss, uncertainty and hope, then they are potentially connecting with everyone.
We all understand and experience some or all of what they are talking about no matter what we do or what our interests are. A human connection will always resonate longer than even the finest instrument or the greatest acoustic!
Combos and bands come and go. They get an audience and sell tickets or they go out of business. Why no harmonica combo in Columbus? Why no consort of viols? Why no opera? Why no vaudeville? Is there a Gilbert and Sullivan Society? How could they endure such lacks?
If a symphony orchestra is somehow indispensable why not the rest?