Klarinet Archive - Posting 000218.txt from 2003/09

From: "marlene davis" <fivem1msn@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Documentary on London Philharmonia Orchestra on Ovation Channel
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2003 01:08:38 -0400

what state do you live in and when did you see it around what time of the
day ? I live in CA. and we dont have an Ovation station. I would love to
show it to my son who is longing to be an musician....... Thanks Marlene
----- Original Message -----
From: <Tom.Henson@-----.com>
Subject: [kl] Documentary on London Philharmonia Orchestra on Ovation
Channel

> I saw a three part documentary last night on the Ovation channel (U.S.)
> which documented the London Philharmonia Orchestra over a single season
and
> focused on some of the musicians and their lives with the orchestra. It
was
> called "The Phil".
>
> The documentary is not new; I believe it was made in 1999 or 2000. Each
part
> was one hour in length and chronicled the life of the orchestra as a whole
> and some of it's members.
>
> It was a honest and gritty behind the scenes view of daily life in a world
> class orchestra. Needless to say, it was quite revealing. I think watching
a
> documentary of this sort should be mandatory for anyone aspiring to become
a
> professional orchestral musician. I would also recommend watching all
three
> episodes at the same time for maximum effect and continuity.
>
> It brought back my experience playing in an Army band for almost three
years
> non-stop. I could empathize with many of the problems that the musicians
> were going through. Mainly a lack of time to have a life outside of the
> orchestra with family and friends. Burn out was another one. One member
> admitted to being a recovering alcoholic and said that alcoholism is very
> common among professional musicians and orchestral players. Wow!!
>
> At least two or more players said that they did not want their children to
> become professional musicians and had they known what was in store for
them
> would have had second thoughts about it themselves. Yet all had a love for
> music that was a driving force in their life. One even called it a ball
and
> chain.
>
> I talked with my wife about this (who also has a professional music
> background) and she agreed. Burnout and boredom (repetition) can be a
killer
> of your love of music. The demands of performance can take the fun out of
> it.
>
> In addition, it is a sad fact that classical music is on life support
today
> in many places. The commercial side of maintaining a world class orchestra
> is becoming harder and harder. I fear that many music directors are
finding
> the commercial aspects of classical music the main and only driving force
> anymore. Let's face it, a professional orchestra can not exist unless
there
> is a paying audience and sponsors. I know this may not be a new trend, but
> it certainly hit home with me.
>
> Has the time come where the business model for an orchestra needs to
evolve
> or change? Maybe so. Are we perhaps progressing back to the point where
the
> orchestral music was only for the wealthy and elite? For those nobles that
> could afford to have a court orchestra? I suspect that even in the days of
> the court orchestras the musicians had many of the same problems as they
do
> today.
>
> I would love to have the money to create a new type of orchestra. One
where
> the musicians and family traveled together. Where non performing spouses
> worked behind the scenes helping out. One where the children were allowed
to
> apprentice and participate at some level of involvement. One where social
> needs were balanced with commercial ones. After all, music is social in
> nature. One where commercialism was not the driving force above all else,
> but art for art sake. I know, I know; this is pie in the sky. But someone,
> somewhere, will find a way to change the business model of the orchestra
and
> hopefully create new opportunities that do not exist today.
>
> Van Morrison of the rock group the Doors said, "Music is spiritual. The
> music business is not".
>
> Tom Henson
>
>
>
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>
>

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