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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2006-05-29 01:39
The article seems very New York-centric to me. Perhaps the writers should check out the rest of the world and see how well their premise holds up.
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Author: ClariTone
Date: 2006-05-29 03:29
Nice article GBK. I too am interested in the global outlook of classical music. Any ideas on where to look???
Thanks
Clayton
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Author: Alexis
Date: 2006-05-29 09:12
I'd be curious to know what the situation is like in mainland Europe where art-music plays a greater role in their history and tradition.
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Author: bawa
Date: 2006-05-29 10:44
I think the trend here in Spain has been that while number of cds sold has been falling (but I don't the exact figures for classical music), the number of people going to classical music and especially symphonic concerts is rising, (about 7.1 rise in 2004); attendence for opera/zarzuela (Spanish light opera) are stable.
The numbers of students going in for artistic degrees is rising, and 53% of those being music related.
And in the music school that my children attend, a few years ago it was half empty and admitting anyone from any other town roundabouts-it is run by the town hall- now, it is packed to capacity and they have discovered that the theoretical capacity (625) doesn't work well in practice, and this year they are actually going to cut down the number of people being admitted. If you not from this town, you have little chance of getting in.
This seems to be the general trend in all music schools here; music being seen as a "good & meaningful" after-school activity, if not a profession. More parenst have the income to spare for music and instruments. In fact, more private music and ballet schools have come up to cater for all those who don't get into the public ones.
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2006-05-29 11:28
The classical music radio scene has deteriorated so badly in Washington, D.C. that my husband and I finally broke down and bought an iPod this spring, so that in the car, we can listen to our CD collection instead of the "heavy rotation" faves on the one remaining local classics station. That station changed locations and now broadcasts so feebly that we can't hear it most of the time anyway.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: LarryBocaner ★2017
Date: 2006-05-29 14:22
Lelia, I share your disgust at the turn of classical music broadcasting in the DC area. My own solution: I equipped my car with an XM satellite receiver. Not only is the audio quality superior to FM and/or MP3, but the music content is admirable. Three full-time classical channels, moderated by some of the same personalities who used to grace the airways on WETA. Live weekly broadcasts of the NY Phil's subscription concerts, operas from the BBC, such out-of- the-ordinary fare as Stravinsky's "Rake's Progress" and Bartok's "Bluebeard". And very little of the ignorant dynamic compression practiced by the local radio outlets -- when the music crescendos to a climax, it really crescendos!
And besides I have fun telling the telemarketers for public radio/TV that my membership contributions have now gone to pay my satellite bills, due to their unfortunate policy change.
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Author: clarinetist04
Date: 2006-05-29 16:55
Coincidentally I'malsofrom the DC area (Virginia) and, although WGMS (104.1) does play well here, the music leaves much to be desired.
I would also take care to use this article as a generalization. New York has the continuous input of tourists and [for] a variety of other reasons doesn't compare well with the rest of the country. Here in the Washington, D.C. area we have seen the closeof yet another orchestra this year due to ticket sales, the Arlington Symphony. They were a very good orchestra although the music was the same routine music that everyone plays.
The major orchestras are not going to die, it's these smaller orchestras. Arlington is a professional orchestra, they used to pay their musicians and all (if I'm not mistaken) of the musicians had degrees in music.
Pittsburgh Symphony, the other symphony I now frequent, plays to good audiences, but sold out? HA! Not in a million years. I haven't been to a concert yet that sold out there and I go to a lot of their concerts.
In a university setting, I have yet to see the interest in classical music rise. Carnegie Mellon's symphony, a really fantastic group of students who play virtually professionally, played at Heinz Hall this year to a dismal crowd. Similarly, they played at Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland to a crowd of, I would estimate at, less than 250.
Yes, this article is certainly NewYork-centric.
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Author: rgames
Date: 2006-05-30 03:21
Regarding orchestras in the DC area - keep in mind that DC has the largest commuter base (as a percentage of actual population) of any metro area in the US, so there are not a lot of people who actually "live" in DC and the surrounding areas. This is especially true in the Arlington area - look at all the hotels in Crystal City! It's all about access to the fed. government (many thanks to Reagan, I suppose)
With that in mind, think of all the orchestras in the DC area: NSO and BSO, of course, but also Arlington Sym., Alexandria Sym., Maryland Sym., Richmond Sym., and many others in Maryland and Virginia (and even W. VA). That's a lot of orchestras!
I moved up to the DC area from Atlanta about five years ago and, admittedly, DC/Baltimore is a larger metro area but there are a lot of orchestras around: the Atlanta metro area only has three or four. So I think it's not surprising that DC is losing some orchestras - it's just supply and demand.
By the way, I find it extremely difficult to listen to classical music in the car, so I don't think a lack of classical radio stations is a problem. Could you imagine sitting in a concert hall (or at home in front of your stereo) where the ambient noise level was something like 80 dB? One of the characteristics of classical music that makes it so wonderful is its dynamic range - don't rob it of that property by cranking up the volume for the quiet parts...
rgames
____________________________
Richard G. Ames
Composer - Arranger - Producer
www.rgamesmusic.com
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Author: RodRubber
Date: 2006-05-30 06:58
I think the washington classical music scene is similar to a lot of cities around the country where smaller, more diverse, chamber orchestra (or smaller) type groups are popping up all over the place. While large orchestras (such as the afore mentioned arlington symphony), who offer the same music appreciation course each year take nose dives, smaller groups are happening, and believe it or not, there is money out there to support them.
best regards
Post Edited (2006-05-30 07:00)
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Author: Avie
Date: 2006-05-30 23:36
I enjoyed going to Wolf Trap, Va. when I was in the Reston area. Its more about the performers that make the classical music. The general concensus on the BB seems to me that the classical performers are not compensated fully for their talent and hard work. Its a very inspireing article GBK about the future of classical music. One of many others but this one I liked!
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Author: diz
Date: 2006-05-31 00:29
Hm, the world's press. Self serving egotistic journalists, answer to no man (except maybe Murdoch or Paker).
I'm constantly amazed how much credance people place in their articles!
Without music, the world would be grey, very grey.
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