 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: BelgianClarinet
Date: 2007-02-20 18:07
Some of the news on this forum is not too positive (the decline of interest in what we are doing - as an hobby or as a profession - and e.g. the replacement of real musicians by tapes or other stuff).
But as a firm believer of life, 'accoustic' music where fun and beauty are always close, I just want to share this :
http://www.harmonie-schelle.net/leden/downloads/2006_making_of/index.php
it' s a short 'the making of' of one of the most wonderful concerts I've ever played (and hope to do so for many years to come).
It's completely organised by a local community band, and in a 2 days event - two concert evenings - attrackted this year 1750 people. The movie shows lot of the 'show' aspect, but also the level of the music played is quite high (life recording is Alfred Reeds Armenian dances). It takes 1 week to change a 'sports hall' into a concert hall, but it's worth every second of it (we don't have a decent concert hall for this kind - any kind actually - of concert in our community)
Just to show that music, life music is still alive and kicking, and that it can be great fun.
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Author: Mike Blinn
Date: 2007-02-22 03:52
BelgianClarinet,
Very entertaining film! I wish I could have attended your concert. Here in America, most community band concerts are simpler affairs. My community band performs mainly in churches or high school auditoriums, and certainly without the lighting display your band used. During the summer, most of our concerts are outdoors in parks, and if we are lucky, we have a band shell to protect us from the sun and to help project the sound.
Can you tell us where in Belgium you are from? I was born and lived in Liege for ten years, and I visit my relatives and friends occasionally.
Mike Blinn
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Author: BelgianClarinet
Date: 2007-02-22 20:29
Mike, Schelle where this community band has its roots, is slightly south of Antwerp, so in the north of our country.
The concert is not really typical, because it's quite an achievement what these people (I'm only involved since 2 years) have realized over the last 20 years (next year is the 20th celebration of 'Klankkleur' - meaning Colour of Sound).
It however shows a bit the climate for community band over here. Originally there were several bands in each village, but now a lot have disappeared. Some go for 'high quality' (I think they will survive) others just try to keep alive.
High quality however means a lot, not only high level of musical performance, but also 'finding' the formula that attracts the public (and this does not always mean high grade music). Mostly it's a balance between keeping the 'major part of the big audience' happy ('easy music') and satisfying the die hard musicans (' far more complex music').
Of course there is also a 'die hard' audience that really appreciates 'real music' - whatever that is, but it's not enough to fill the concert halls.
So this concert is a lot of show, some 'popular music' and where possible music that make has just a bit 'more'.
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