Klarinet Archive - Posting 000289.txt from 1994/11

From: James Sclater <sclater@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Contemporary orchestral music
Date: Mon, 21 Nov 1994 08:43:20 -0500

Mr. Leeson's statement about contemporary music seems to ignore the fact that
there is a lot of good quality contemporary music out there which does not
require mega-hours of rehearsal and would be accepted by most audiences. I
fear there is too much generalization about new music. Much of it is
difficult, much of it is not. Much of it would please an average audience,
much of it would not.
One of the biggest problems I have experienced as a composer is the
reluctance of conductors to give a new work a chance. One conductor
even refused to do a work of mine once because he considered it "too
conservative." He thought the piece was of good quality but seemed to have
a bias in favor of extreme forms of new music. Many conductors and
performers will not even acknowledge receipt of muwsic sent to them.
We might all strike a blow for contemporary music if we were
willing to work with composers to create works which will challenge
everyone...performers, composers, and audiences. Just please don't lump
"contemporary music" into one big incomprehensible mass. It's just not
that way.
Jim Sclater
James Sclater inet: sclater@-----.edu
Mississippi College (601)925-3445
Clinton, MS 39058