 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Klarnetisto
Date: 2011-01-22 12:59
I thought I should pass along this news from the DSO players group:
Congratulations, we are now almost 4000 members strong! Keep spreading the word, we are becoming a powerful voice!
http://saveoursymphony.info/sign-to-support/
As of this moment, the DSO Musicians and Management are still negotiating. Let's all hope for successful negotiations that result in a mutually acceptable contract that does not compromise the artistic integrity of our beloved orchestra.
In case you need a shocking example of how our reality will change if we lose the orchestra, check out next weeks DSO Tiny Tots Concert:
http://www.detroitsymphony.com/ShowEventsView.aspx?id=2975
The tiny tots concerts USED to feature the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. These concerts were an amazing way to expose young children to the wonder and joy of Symphonic Music.
Instead, this concert will feature : "....four metro Detroit moms that infuse rock into traditional nursery rhymes, original tunes and other children's favorites".
While we are sure that Candy Band is excellent, we have to ask: Is this what the DSO tiny tots concerts are supposed to be?
If you feel, as we do, that the DSO Tiny Tots Concerts should feature symphonic music played by musicians of the DSO, let the DSO Board of Directors know at:
DSOBoard@SaveOurSymphony.info
Thanks for all you do. Keep your fingers crossed for the negotiators on both sides!
Regards,
The Save Our Symphony Board of Directors
Judy Doyle - President
Denise Neville - Vice President
Dave Assemany - Secretary
David Kuziemko - Treasurer
Klarnetisto
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2011-01-22 15:20
I remember taking our daughter to some of these concerts and the "young people's" concerts with the DSO as she was growing up here in Detroit. They definitely got her even more interested in orchestral music than she already was. Two years later, we started taking her with us to the regular DSO concerts.
She ended up studying for the four years she was in high school with the assistant principal of the DSO, and continues with him for lessns each summer when she''s back from college. She's doing a double major (one side is performance) ND Ha a true love for must types of music.
Our family has been attending the concerts the DSO musicians have been putting on in the general community while the strike has continued. We want to support these fine musicians every way we can!
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: William
Date: 2011-01-22 16:09
Tiny tots (young minds) benefit more from a variety of stimuli than a whole lot of one. Live music is best no matter what form it takes--rock band, nursery rhyme or symphony. This need not be a "one or the other" situation. Why couldn't--or why can't there be, more often--shared live musical events featuring symphonic, jazz, folk and rock (just to name a few) on the same program for young people to hear. They may come to realize, like I hope a lot of us do, that there is beauty and meaning to be found in all forms of music. Music is ageless and timeless and should not be confined to "classical or not".
It is sad that so many great symphonic orchestras and their musicians are experiancing economic hardship and I think that may be the main reason for this posting--loss of a playing gig rather than the artistic welfare of the "tiny tots". I would venture a guess that the average DSO musician's main concern in playing any concert is the paycheck and not the ears of the listener--and that may be at the very heart of why symphonic music is loosing favor with so many live audiences. Stuffy concert situations, aloof musicians, poor accoustics, fees and prices in general. How about less a less formal format with cheerful, smiling musicians acting like they enjoy playing their music. How about more smiles of appreciation from the concertmasters and principals--and there is nothing like a patron being able to shake the hand of the musician they most admire, so how about the orchestra actually mingling with the audience directly after the performance. Do away with the curtain and get personal. Radical idea--but why not?????
FWIW--even the biggest rock stars spend time with the fans. Some years ago, after a large, sold-out gig here in Madison, Elton John when back to the hotel and instead of going to bed and resting, went down into the piano lounge and sat in with the local piano gal for a set of his favorite hits. Back in the day, jamous jazz musicians used to do the same at their "after hours" gigs. Might be time to bring back that tradition and "upgrade" it to a modern day concert hall. Just my randon thought(s)...
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2011-01-22 17:43
"Instead, this concert will feature : "....four metro Detroit moms that infuse rock into traditional nursery rhymes, original tunes and other children's favorites"."
I wonder if this could be at all interesting to children. I find that there are generally two kinds of children. One is too young to know the difference between this and that kind of music, and the other is old enough to think, "They are trying to make baby songs 'cool'."
Sorry to say it this way, but I think these things are more interesting to parents than to children themselves.
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2011-01-22 18:03
Nail on the head, skygardener. From a very early age, I clearly remember thinking "what is this lame crap?" about these sorts of things (especially anything that necessitated a schoolwide assembly), and that the sentiment was common among my peers. Heck, I very clearly recall us all being bored out of our minds singing in one of those cheeseball kids' plays in first grade, substituting various bathroom lyrics to keep sane. People underestimate kids' ability to appreciate real art. They may not have as deep an understanding as someone with years of experience, but they can tell when something's been dumbed down for them, and it's lame.
The parent acts excited because he wants to see the kid excited, and the kid acts excited to make the parent happy. And thus, a vicious cycle of awful performances ensues that NOBODY in the audience actually wants to see.
I heard a recording of Le Tombeau de Couperin at the public library when I was maybe 5 years old (they put it on as people filtered in to the "librarians read to the kids" sessions). Almost twenty years later, I heard the piece again, thought "THE LIBRARY MUSIC!!!" and was able to listen to about 20 clips on Amazon and locate the same recording.
Kids are sharp. They know what's up.
Now, maybe the moms are good, but I suspect they're not the type of act that would ever be allowed to perform anywhere but on that stage at the local community center park on weekends. If it was a legit band playing kid-friendly stuff (They Might Be Giants comes to mind), that's another thing.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2011-01-22 21:03
William, the DSO actually plays a varied selection of classic sy,mphonic literature,as well as more modern music, including pops and jazz cconcerts. I have been quite pleased with many of the more "accessible" programs the DSO has put on over the past ten years or so,as well as the pieces from the classical repertoire.
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2011-01-23 03:54
On a slightly separate note, the DSO musicians played a wonderful concert this evening at a church in Grosse Pointe. As has been the case with all their concerts while they have been on strike, this concert sold out. They played Brahms' Academic Festival Overture, Beethoven's Romances for Violin1 and 2, and the Saint-Saens Organ Symphony.
The audience was EXTREMELY enthusiastic (including me and my wife).
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2011-01-23 03:55
Alex, there are already many concerts of that type in the Detroit area on a regular basis. If I am paying Orchestra Hall ticket prices, I expect to hear the DSO.
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2011-01-23 09:47
After looking back at the concert schedule, I have to ask- what is the big deal?
It looks like this "Candy Band" only perform this one time. It hardly seems to be taking up the entire concert season.
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2011-01-23 16:11
Actually, the DSO board is meeting on Wednesday, January 26,to decide whether to cancel the rest of the entire season. That would be a real tragedy. The musicians asked last night if their supporters would set up outside of Orchestr Hall at 7:30 in the morning that day, to respecfully request that the board NOT cancl the rest of theseason.
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: William
Date: 2011-01-24 16:20
Cancelation of the season is not good, but if the orchestera's income does not cover the operating costs, what is the alternative?? Management and musician working for free while the box office regains some loss? Lower ticket prices or some freebies thrown in to attract patrons to orchestra hall?? There has to be some way to rejuvinate the symphonic concert and bring the crowds--and money--back to orchestra hall. Com'on, people, let's problem solve!!!!!!!!!!!!! The musicians cannot simply say they "deserve to be heard", they have to somehow make themselves more "listenable". I still think that more audience interaction--get rid of the stage and curtains--and more variety on the program would help immensely. Give the audience more "bang for their buck" and shake hands with the patrons after the show. More variety, substance and personallity--less formality.
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2011-01-24 18:35
The only practical way to make a symphony orchestra solvent, while playing only orchestral music in traditional concert halls with acceptable salaries, is to have a sufficient pool of patrons.
Too many mouths to feed, too few tickets to sell, even if the hall sells out. It's simply not feasible to salary 80 high-level musicians plus hall staff, management, ticket-sales personnel, equipment (that percussionist ain't schlepping his OWN timpani), insurance, sheet music, hall rental (or hall cut of ticket sales), marketing, etc. to play in halls that seat a few thousand. High attendance would reduce the necessary donor load, but is not likely to eliminate the need.
Very hasty napkin math here... Say a top-tier orchestra pays its 80 musicians $80k/yr and has 80 performances. That's $80,000 in musician salaries per concert, before you consider any of those other costs.
A rock band of 4 or 5, with crew and staffing, can make a nice take on halls that size. An 80-piece band? Not so much. A touring band might also take their salaries as a portion of the ticket sales of the night... try telling an orchestra "attendance was low today, so you'll each only get $3.89." (instead, you tell the orchestra, "sorry, season's canceled")
I agree, William, that your suggestions will likely boost attendance and support for an orchestra. With any luck, it would boost the patron donations as well.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: K622
Date: 2011-01-26 22:16
Interestingly enough, the whole reason why I got interested in playing clarinet was thanks to a symphony concert I was brought to as a second or third grader. I was already playing piano and knew some stuff about music but hearing an entire orchestra live was unlike anything I'd been exposed to before. Not to mention that before the concert the musicians allowed everybody to listen to the instruments, try them, and ask questions. It's so important for kids to be exposed to classical music... I know a lot of people who never were and they are very narrow minded about it and can't appreciate all sorts of different types. Especially at a time when many orchestras are facing financial difficulties and aging audiences, giving young people the opportunity to hear great music is crucial!
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2011-01-27 11:21
>> Especially at a time when many orchestras are facing financial difficulties and aging audiences, giving young people the opportunity to hear great music is crucial!
>>
Yes! And not-so-great music works, too. No doubt in my mind that my interest in music began in the cradle, literally. My earliest memory is of my parents singing. My mom was a former pro musician (in the 1930s, she'd sung in a radio group, the Wrany Trio, and had taught piano and choir) but my dad wasn't (good ear, no training). They were sitting up in bed and singing, "The Eddystone Light." Not exactly the Met! But I loved hearing them sing, and in that memory I'm looking out at them through wooden slats. When (as a teenager) I described the wallpaper, they realized I'd been listening to them from my crib in the flat they moved out of when I was less than 6 months old. They taught me to sit still and listen silently and started taking me to classical concerts, including small, local freebies, when I was a pre-schooler. Same with my brother as soon as he could walk on his own hind legs. Mom and Dad used to brag that they could take their kids anywhere without any ill-behavior. Well, a lot of that had to do with our really wanting to *hear* that music. Give kids music any way you can get it -- "Build it and they will come."
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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