Klarinet Archive - Posting 000869.txt from 1997/11

From: George Lin <glin@-----.org>
Subj: Re: professional wind ensembles
Date: Sun, 23 Nov 1997 19:10:50 -0500

On Thu, 20 Nov 1997, SEAN TALBOT wrote:

> Ok, I'll trow out a question. I realize that the armed forces
> probably have the premier professional wind ensambles, but how many
> (if any) paid professional wind ensambles exsist? I realize the prestige
> falls in orchestra work, but I will take a David Maslanka, Granger, or
> a David Gillingham over Beethoven any day. There are a number of good
> orchestrial pieces out there but many orchestras don't jump to play them
> because they have done them many times or they are "pop". Then some
> wonder why the crowds don't come and professional orchestras fall under.
>
> I'll get back to my original question. Is there many paid professional
> wind ensambles out there? If not....why not? If so, why don't they ever
> get much publicity and become house hold names like the major orchestras?
>
> Sean Talbot
> uw-Whitewater
>
Good question. My guess is that wind ensembles just never caught on. It
seems that string instruments are more popular with the public and
composers. The Canadian Brass is the only well known popular ensemble
group w/out strings that mass merchandises recordings w/a major label -
at least that is all that I know of. The service bands play good
contemporary music. I like listening to new stuff & recordings; the
classical warhorses (ie 1812 can become tiresome)

George Lin