Klarinet Archive - Posting 000097.txt from 2005/08

From: "Kevin Fay" <kevinfay@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Robert Schoen
Date: Sun, 07 Aug 2005 00:55:34 -0400

Bruce McGarvey posted:

<<<I happened to be at a concert of the Shiphills Brass Band from the U.K.
the other night, and though the conductor nicely but persistently and
frequently mentioned that they were recording for a new CD release, a crying
baby and loud conversation were audible to me in the middle of the
auditorium, and the baby and parents were in the front row not six feet from
the left channel mic. The parents never removed the baby and the others
never quit talking, despite several too-good-natured prompts from the
conductor

Did these people intend to be rude? I think not. They just didn't know what
they were doing: their frames of reference did not include the performers or
the other audience members. They were clueless.>>>

I don't mind much when people applaud between movements - gives a little
more time to turn the page and swab the horn, even. There are pieces where
it is musically inappropriate to do so - breaking the mood after a lento
etc. - but generally those aren't where the incognocenti tend to whoop it up
anyway.

Carrying on a conversation during a concert, on the other hand, should be a
capital offense. Preferably by strangulation - it'll shut them up, and I'm
told it's quite painful.

I tend to play more in "community" groups these days, where the ticket
prices aren't so high. As a result, we've had more than one recording
marred by the squalling of infants. I'm sure that it bothers folks in the
audience, if only becuase it makes me play less well. (Perhaps I should
practice more.)

I think it'd be a bit unfair to kill the children, though. Their parents,
on the other hand, deserve a good whipping. What would possess someone to
bring a two-year-old to a symphony concert? It's not unreasonable to expect
a two-year-old to behave like a two-year-old. It *is* unreasonable to put
the child in a situation where they can't help but "misbehave."

I know that this might be unpopular amongst those who want to give their
children the best life experiences and all that. Sorry - there are other
ways. I have three kids (cuter than yours, IMHO); the oldest is eight, the
youngest just five. I've taken them to parks concerts (outside) and motion
pictures, and am working mightily on getting them prepared for a day when
they can come to a concert to see Mom and Dad play.

. . . until I am 100% certain that they will sit in the chair for the whole
concert hours peepless (but for applause, of course), I won't inflict their
childlike behavior on the rest of the audience or my fellow performers. My
eight-year old can do it, and is welcome. We're still working on the other
two.

Concerts and children are like pizza and maple syrup. Both are marvelous,
just not together.

kjf

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org