Klarinet Archive - Posting 000965.txt from 1998/01

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: Music: Modern vs. 'Old'
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 1998 20:05:34 -0500

On Thu, 22 Jan 1998, David McClune wrote:

> Medium and large University bands and wind ensembles are the leading edge
> musical ensembles of the end of this century. Many excellent pieces are
> being written which better reflects the 1990's etc. In a sense, this is a
> reversal of the 1800's where the bands tended to play "military" concerts of
> light military music (re. French Bands) or the late 1800's with the touring
> bands of Sousa and the like playing transcriptions. At the same time you
> have the radical composers of the 1800's writing for the Orchestra, which
> was the dominant ensemble of the century. Remember that Berlioz was quite
> controversal, let alone Beethoven. Compare a generic Mozart or Haydn
> symphony the the Beethoven Third. What a shock that would have been at the
> time.
> If YOU can find a way of selling/educating the public to understand let
> alone enjoy the music of Colgrass or Harbison, et. al., then you will do a
> tremendous service to the musical community.

I am quite certain the poster did not mean a Mozart
Symphony......especially if it was to challenge the brasses. The bottom
line on the entire repertoire thing for bands, including the university
bands, is the fact that many bands have played wonderful music that is
ONLY inclusive of the music of Colgrass or Harbison, or Schueller, or any
other composer whose music is a challenge to listen to (good, but a
challenge nonetheless). This is how we lose audiences, and this is why
our musical audiences are turning elsewhere.....they either get Mozart,
Beethoven and Mahler from their local or regional symphony orchestra, or
they get commercialized band music from their university ensembles, or
they get strictly recent, newly commissioned contemporary literature from
their college bands. I was at CBDNA (College Band Director's National
Asssociation) regional and National conventions a couple of years in a
row....and all I heard was contemporary stuff......and I am a hard core
band music champion! I simply couldn't tolerate much more after two days
of concerts......I was dying for something interesting and soothing.....my
ears required it.

So.....here we are.....do we support the notion that the community band
SHOULD NOT entertain? My father, a professional horn player and teacher
of the finest high school band in Oregon in the 1960's has told me that
many college band directors are in the ivory tower.........do we have a
responsibility to uphold the contemporary music only? It is the opinion
of this expereinced band performer/teacher/conductor that....we have a
responsibility to everyone....including our regional audience.....and THAT
is what determines our philosophy.

Roger Garrett
IWU