Klarinet Archive - Posting 000816.txt from 1999/10

From: Sheldon Sper <sperintl@-----.es>
Subj: [kl] Jeering and booing in Philadelphia
Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 10:13:03 -0400

Jeering and booing at concerts is a complex issue, but nevertheless I
will venture a few thoughts.

Responses to explicit content (lectures, speeches, librettos) is moral,
philosophical and political and cannot be compared to reactions to
solely musical content which is a matter of personal taste. Passionate
reactions to ideas (e.g. speeches) are appropriate, booing in a concert
hall is not.

Booing reflects as much on the boo-er as on the performer. When done by
a spectator it is attempting to show good tast through bad taste.

And the boo-ing is imprecise as it can mean many things. Is the boo-er
reacting from conservatism (as at the famous Rites of Spring premier)?
Is he commenting on the composer, the performer, the conductor?

Convinced performers can easily shrug off boos. If Pogorelich really
believes in his interpretation (and it appears that he does as he played
the same piece again elsewhere at the "offending" tempo) he should not
mind some jeers from those in the audience that do not agree.

Or should performer and conductor stick to safe and conventional
material? This is sometimes called "pandering to popular taste.

Behavour is class related and it seems out of context to boo at a
concert, but not at prize fight. Although I would make my feelings
known if I were offended by material content, e.g. a racist speech,
musically I would withhold my applause and vote with my feet; if I
didn't like a performer or a work. I would leave the hall and not
support those musicians by purchasing tickets or CDs.

But most important, booing behaviour has no effect. There are more
suitable places, mostly literary, for people of refined taste to
critique musical performances, trends and compositions. It is really
through the latter that serious changes in the arts are effected.

Finally, Pogerelich might now agree that W.C. Fields was correct :
"better here than in Philadelphia!"

Sheldon Sper

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