Klarinet Archive - Posting 000369.txt from 2003/03

From: "Anthony Wakefield" <tony-w@-----.uk>
Subj: [kl] Richard Bush`s Letter to Actor's Equity
Date: Sat, 8 Mar 2003 09:24:05 -0500

A worthy letter.

If the "virtual" orchestra succeeds the real orchestra, then I suggest that
we also have "virtual" actors. What`s the difference?
At the end of the day tho`, if your livelihood depends upon whether or not
the public comes in thru` the door, it should be recognised that EVERYONE,
not just the musicians, (but yes, including them too), should be offering
value for money at the box office.

We have just had CD released over here in London of a 100% "virtual
orchestra". Released by a record company that has only previously recorded
with real human beings. It is a serious attempt to sell (not rock music)
proper and original orchestral music, without one musician ever being
present. Our composers are two young computer programmers who (to me) cannot
score or orchestrate in the traditional sense. I have seen the scores, and
their idea of woodwind in twos is the same part i.e. unison, allocated to 2
fl., 2 ob., 2 clar., 2 bsn.

I believe ultimately that the Musicians Unions` will eventually become
ineffective. Our problem lies in the areas that has already been discussed
100`s of times in here - our present education of music systems. We have now
already in situ, (it might indeed be an already lost cause) a bunch of
younger music and theatre executive producers who do not know anything about
real music. They see four rock musicians in TV shows. They see one busker in
a pub, or one, 2 or 3 jazzers in a bar, all with *singers*. They see a full
symphony orchestra in a *classic pop* concert - Strauss polka etc without
any singers, and they immediately connect with the crass uneducated thinking
that singers can perform with a smaller backing. It`s there in everyday
living. It`s here to stay, and the MU won`t shift it. All you (we) can do is
try to make the excecs realise that ALL have to economise, in addition to
the musicians.
I wish you all the very best of luck. But I shan`t be coming to Broadway for
a while yet - - -
Tony W.

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