Klarinet Archive - Posting 000895.txt from 1997/11

From: "Edwin V. Lacy" <el2@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: professional wind ensembles
Date: Mon, 24 Nov 1997 16:12:11 -0500

On Thu, 20 Nov 1997, Andrew Thompson wrote:

> This scornful attitude you exhibit towards bands [.......]

Where did I express a "scornful attitude" toward bands? I started in
music in a school system which had only bands, no orchestras. I have
played in college and professional concert bands, and have been a band
director at the elementary, high school, college and professional level.
I happen to love the sound of a good band playing good band music. Once
you get the sound, for example, of Sousa marches, played well, in your
blood, you never get over it. However, that does not mean that I have to
totally turn off my sense of musical discrimination. The fact remains
(yes, I said "fact") that most of the greatest composers have preferred
the orchestra. In part that is because that is what was available to
them, but there is a reason why the orchestra became that predominant
medium, and that is because of the range of expressiveness which it
provided to composers (and players and listeners).

> "art music" (a term i disagree with, as i feel that all music is art by
> definition)

In my view, and that of all the musical aestheticians I have read, this is
demonstrably untrue. Many examples of what might be called music, such as
commercial music and "background music" have nothing at all to do with
art, and the creators of it never had any intention of making an artistic
statement. Just turn on your radio or TV. You can hear plenty of music
of various utilitarian types which does not exist because of an urge of
some composer or performer to express themselves artistically.

> Skill or depth of composition or musical value doesnt determine musical
> success - playing what people want to hear, does.

You are mixing two completely different concepts. One is music - the
other is commerce. Many people fell for Liberace's line that he "cried
all the way to the bank" when people criticized his lack of taste. His
blatant implication was that because he made money, he was a musical
success. In fact, the two have relatively little to do with each other.

> Too many orchestras forget this, because we teach people that the orchestra
> is "a superior medium for music." Maybe if we didn't show so much snob
> attitude about it, orchestras might do a little better.

You have chosen to believe that anyone who dares to express any
reservations about the band as a medium of musical expression is
automatically showing snobbery toward the orchestra. Many people who wish
to support the band fall into this trap, and it doesn't benefit the
development of the band. "Superior medium for music" is your term, not
mine. We don't have to teach people anything about this. Those who have
some degree of musical discrimination will decide for themselves which
medium or media they prefer. "Snob attitude" has nothing to do with this
discussion. You have shown far more snobbery concerning your preference
for what you regard as the superiority of the band than anyone has for the
orchestra.

In my case, I don't arbitrarily choose to prefer the orchestra, the band,
jazz, organ music, choral music, the accordian band or the Indonesian
Gamelan orchestra. What I choose is great music.

Ed Lacy
*****************************************************************
Dr. Edwin Lacy University of Evansville
Professor of Music 1800 Lincoln Avenue
Evansville, IN 47722
el2@-----.edu (812)479-2754
*****************************************************************