England: What are you guys doing?

[Despina41]

Originally Posted by Herzeleide

It can come at the expense of new music, which gets neglected, thus producing an ossified concert culture dedicated to rehashing the same old pieces.

Or something like that.

I posted (so I thought) a long response to this, but it's missing, so... perhaps it's a sign from the fates that I shoulnd't be grandstanding


I agree with you, Herz. My original response is summarized in three main points that I hope will generate more conversation:

1) I meant within the pop classical realm it's refreshing to have new personalities because part of the experience IS the spectacle of going to the concert and "being there." Would you have us gather around and listen to the same One recording (which one!?)-- or do you think the piece resides in the score -- we should just gather around a gigantic screen projection of the score? Or should we sit at home and study the score? Or slog through those Chopin etudes at the piano by ourselves? Isn't the enjoyment of this music somewhat communal? I hope so, it's why we're on a music forum in the first place, no?


2) I think the LL phenomenon is ok because there's the chance that it will expand the audience for classical music, hopefully destructing the tired stereotype that only old, rich white people listen to Classical. HOWEVER, my Q is:
Is this class-based stereotype even prevalent in countries such as China or Russia?


3) Let's say promoting the LL phenomenon marginalizes new music.
Should we conceive of the audiences for "mainstream" classical as the same audiences for "avant garde/new music" in the first place?? Aren't Pink Floyd fans more likely to get into electronic music than Bach fans? Are we (advocates of new music) courting the wrong audiences??



I have to stop now or StLukesGuild or Balthazaar might get involved.. Surely they are not reading this thread in the first place, though.

[Mambo]

You got that right. I think that when people look at a concert
program, and at least see some of the "4 B's", they will consider
attending straight away. But if they start seeing Stravinsky,
Hindemith, or someone they have not heard of, they will be more
hesitant to go.

[Despina41]

Not live, but finally the tubes got on it. There's been some Syllabub playing decent standard rep posted there recently.


Chopin




In general, I like it. The technique is there, color, contrast, whimsy, etc. My reservation is that at times it seems a bit affected. You know, like a kid who's so excited to show you what he can do that he loses sight of The Music Itself. "Just let it play itself, buddy!"

I hope that kind of maturity will come with time, though. I mean, I assume it will.

So I'll keep an ear out.

[Treestump]

The particular music competition shouldn't be taken too seriously. The fact that someone won doesn't mean that they were the best player throughout the competition. Who wins is more like a lottery than a competition. The best teachers and players in the UK know this and don't enter their pupils.

[Despina41]

So, to celebrate the return of Florestan, I thought we needed a little photoshop humor.

Cue the inspiration
http://www.benjamingrosvenor.co.uk/

the bold font, the garish colors - a friend said it brought to mind whatever American football team logo. Another said "1970s movie poster..."
I said, "yes."