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 Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: Ron Jr. 
Date:   2005-12-02 14:59

During the season, I often go to a concert a couple times a month: Carnegie Hall, Weil Recital Hall, Avery Fisher, among other venues. But they were often comp tickets. I either knew somone in the orchestra, someone in the business, or somone who managed the artists or orchestra.

Generally I only buy tickets to about 3 concerts a year for two reasons:

First, they are expensive. A prime ticket at the Metropolitan Opera costs $250.

Second, I am afraid to pay to hear new music because I am often disappointed. When I look down the program and see Beethoven, I say good; Schubert, good; Stravinsky, still ok; Corigliano World Premiere, no thanks!

The price is too high to actually pay for a ticket and be dissapointed.

Third, I have enough music: over 50 days of non-stop music. I have access to more music, more frequently than Fredrich the Great!

I know it's important to hear new music, so I listen to New Sounds on the radio.

What keeps you from going to live concerts?

Ron jr.



Post Edited (2006-03-06 17:13)

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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: William 
Date:   2005-12-02 15:40

My aesthetic musical "needs" are completely satisfied by all of the performances and rehearsals that I actually play in. When I'm not playing, I'm satisfied to enjoy the "other" half of music--silence.

(and it is nice to occassionally spend a little time at home with my wife, who thinks I am much too envolved outside of the house as it is)

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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: Gandalfe 
Date:   2005-12-02 16:07

The Seattle Symphony is hosting the Glenn Miller band this month. I can't miss that. The Seattle Opera's "Nutcracker" is fabulous because of the pit orchestra, who have to be ringers of the highest caliber. They had a harpsichord and killer English horn this year. The Seattle Rep is often supported by superb musicians. There is so much to see and hear, that it isn't painful to shell out the money to see these fine performances.

In the state of Washington many malls and local businesses host local musicians. The variety and quality of the performances are usually stellar. And they are free to all. Every year I look forward to hearing Tingstad and Rumbel. Nance Rumbel plays oboe, English horn, tenor and alto acarina.

Seeing the musicians as well as hearing them has a great appeal to my wife and me. I love checking out their kits, watching their performance styles, and sometimes, getting to talk to them. Last year I got to talk to Michael Brockman, the UW professor of saxophone and jazz studies, at a work related function. Life can be sweet.

Jim and Suzy

Pacifica Big Band
Seattle, Washington

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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: EEBaum 
Date:   2005-12-02 16:11

"Good" to Schubert and "No Thanks" to a Corigliano world premiere? We should arrange to swap tickets.

I go to *lots* of concerts.

-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com

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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: David Spiegelthal 2017
Date:   2005-12-02 16:18

Too much traffic.
Tickets too expensive.
Most orchestral programs too conservative (thus boring to me).
No time.

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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: ohsuzan 
Date:   2005-12-02 16:25

Well, I DO go to concerts -- largely because my husband is an avid classical music consumer.

For as long as I can remember, though, I have much preferred being a performer to being a spectator (auditor?) of things musical. To my mind, performing and listening are quite different experiences. Categorically different.

It's not a matter of getting paid - vs - paying, either. I would PAY to play (although I sometimes GET paid to play). Money isn't the issue. The enjoyment factor is. I would rather "do" than "observe".

Hmmm . . . .

Susan

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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: larryb 
Date:   2005-12-02 16:30

The expense is a problem.

Same reason why I no longer go to Knick games. I used to go a lot when I was younger and ticket prices were reasonable.

Maybe I'll go to one opera/year that I have to pay for. Definitely no more than that.

Funny thing, one makes so much effort to live in New York City, at the heart of great cultural offerings, but can't afford to attend any of it.

But I would have paid to go to the Mozart wind music concert at Zankel Hall last night if I didn't have another commitment already.



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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: RodRubber 
Date:   2005-12-02 16:59

Dave S. Said -

"Too much traffic.
Tickets too expensive.
Most orchestral programs too conservative (thus boring to me).
No time."

Hi Dave,

I agree with a lot of the stuff you said, and my newly formed chamber orchestra is trying to do something about it!!!

Seems like you are exactly the audience that the execs at the Kennedy Center or the other large concert venues around the country are unable to attract; The Culturely Aware NON ATTENDER!!

Im sure you could tell me a hell of a lot about Stravinsky, Beethoven, Etc. You likely know the music, own CDs, but DONT go to the concerts. Your reasons mentioned above are the main reasons that most people in your position don't attend concerts (aside from expense, because I really don't believe that people in DC or major US metro areas can't afford concerts, you should see how many DC area people were at circuit city last night waiting in line to buy some really high priced HDTVs).

1. In most cities, traffic is such that it is extremely difficult to make it to a concert which begins at 8pm. Leaving work on a friday at 5 pm or later, means you may not make it to your home until close to 7pm. At this point, no one is ready to engage the great music of beethoven or whoever, they are more concerned with eating, and resting. Thus, I propose a series of concerts that start at 9, or 9;30, also located in BOTH suburban and "Downtown" areas. This will give the culturely aware demo. a better chance to conveniently attend a performance of great music, likely on a full stomach. Also providing some high quality wine, cheese, and informal conversation prior to a concert doesn't hurt either. No one wants to scarf down a big mac at 7;30, or wait until after the concert and eat at 10. The 9 pm start time makes a lot more sense. NYC audiences have agreed, and late starting chamber music and solo recitals have been VERY succesful, and are a lot COOLER than most classical concerts, as they bring in different listeners. And as for those old ladies that ALWAYS attend concerts, for whom 9 pm is too late, Don't worry, we repeat the program Sunday at 4pm (or maybe 1 pm, depends on the Redskins start time - really effects attendance).

2. Programs - While large orchestras who continue to offer a music appreciation course each year take nose dives nationwide, smaller ensembles offering diverse programs are popping up everywhere. There is funding available for these maverick orchestras, and the audiences are taking their medicine and LIKING it (Music of Moran, Torke, Martinu, Takemitsuc New commissions etc are already in the upcoming programs). Considering the response my new ensemble got at its premeire concert series, im convinced that an appreciation of new music and adventurous programming is alive.

Thanks for your time all
Best -



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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: GBK 
Date:   2005-12-02 16:59

First- I'd much rather play than listen to someone else play.

But more importantly - the idea of stuffing oneself into formal attire, to sit straight upright, silent and motionless for 2 to 3 hours, only politely applauding when permissable is not the most appealing way to enjoy music.

It's not the way I (or most people) normally listen to music.

It's also not the way concert goers a few hundred years ago listened to music.

Sadly, ticket prices have taken most middle class patrons out of the market...GBK

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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: graham 
Date:   2005-12-02 17:01

As time goes on I find it increasingly unlikley that I will enjoy a concert which uses the same forces that I tend to play in on an amateur basis. Often, I feel too strongly as though I was sitting in the wrong place and should be joining in the playing. I imagine that must often be true of amateur sports people. They would rather kick a ball about themselves than go to a football match to watch, however great the players may be.

To get round this unfortunate syndrome I usually target piano recitals, string quartets, or orchestral repertoire that is sufficiently out of the way that I am unlikely to get the chance to do it myself.

Of course, I do not stick to this as a rigid rule, but it increasingly becomes the norm.

Another thing is that I increasingly buy tickets on the spur of the moment, when the fancy strikes me. Despite the woe often spoken of poor attendances, it is commonly the case that the most stellar programmes are sold out many weeks in advance. So I tend to target the less likely performances where there will be tickets still available 10 minutes before it starts.

One thing that is striking in the English amateur musician culture is the absolute failure to go to listen to recitals or orchestral performances by other amateurs, even (perhaps especially) those with whom one often plays or are friendly. This is a snobbery thing. It just isn't done.

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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: Bob Phillips 
Date:   2005-12-02 17:15

Add to the litany of challenges already mentioned, add communing distance. "Locally," the Spokane Symphony is a wonderful group and intellignetly selects their programs. But, they are 60 miles away (and we've got 15-inches of fresh snow on unplowed roads between here and there).

Generally, we need to dine in Spokane, go to the performance and then hole up in a hotel and return in the morning. Attempts to car pool have failed as one after the other would be participants drop out.

Irritating, because I missed a wonderful performance of the Mozart Bassoon Concerto a few weeks ago.

I think the musicians are underpaid, but find $500 for two tickets to be a bad trade-off at my subsistance level.

When good groups come to town, we go!

Bob Phillips

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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: RodRubber 
Date:   2005-12-02 17:15

GBK, you wrote

"the idea of stuffing oneself into formal attire, to sit straight upright, silent and motionless for 2 to 3 hours, only politely applauding when permissable is not the most appealing way to enjoy music."

Think about this scenario:

You show up at one of the nicer restuarants in town and enjoy a nice meal, some good wine etc. However, instead of paying the bill and leaving, you are then already in place for a performance of classical music, perhaps a piano, violin duo, a string quartet or whatever. You can enjoy this performance from your table while continuing to eat, or drink. Do you (and all BBoarders) feel that this could possibly be a more enjoyable way to hear a recital, than GBK's accurate description above?



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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: Sylvain 
Date:   2005-12-02 17:20

I remember going to a concerto competition concert and being reprimended by the person next to me for reading the program while the performance was ongoing.
I remember going to the Montreal Symphony Orchestra a lot because I had cheap tickets through school.
I remember being badly seated and complaining about the bad acoustics of the hall.
I remember being looked at when not applauding for an encore of a piece I didn't like.
I remember feeling the urge to clap and bravo at the end of a cadenza but restraining myself to do so.
I remember being told I shoudl dress up to go to the opera.
I remember programs that are way too long for my own enjoyment.
I remember the person seating next to me snoring.
Who would pay for this?

I am now organizing chamber music concerts which cost less than $10, last just under an hour in a venue where people can come in and out, drink coffee or eat a sandwich, wear sneakers and talk to the musicians. There is no screening or audition for the performers. Their only constraint is to talk to the audience and explain what they are about to do. I have heard the most boring and the most interesting music there. I go there every week, sometimes I even force my own out-of-tune clarineting to the audience.

Classical musician often complain the audience needs to get educated to learn to appreciate classical music and come to concerts. This board is full of educated musicians and they know better than to go to the symphony. Reducing the price, the length of the program and loosening up a little would go a long way.

--
Sylvain Bouix <sbouix@gmail.com>

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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: RodRubber 
Date:   2005-12-02 17:24

Amen to Sylvain, sounds like ur group has the right idea. Are you getting decent audiences?



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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: FrankM 
Date:   2005-12-02 17:26

For those of you who mentioned expense as a reason for not going to concerts, may I suggest a local college? I live within a 45 minute ride of a college with an excellent music program....student groups are excellent, and the faculty perform recitals too. It's a rare week that does not have some program of musical interest go by and they are almost all free....and the atmosphere is usually informal.

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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: archer1960 
Date:   2005-12-02 17:43

Rod Rubber said:

-------------------------------
Im sure you could tell me a hell of a lot about Stravinsky, Beethoven, Etc. You likely know the music, own CDs, but DONT go to the concerts. Your reasons mentioned above are the main reasons that most people in your position don't attend concerts (aside from expense, because I really don't believe that people in DC or major US metro areas can't afford concerts, you should see how many DC area people were at circuit city last night waiting in line to buy some really high priced HDTVs).
-------------------------------

I think you're under-estimating the effect of ticket prices on the middle-class audience. I make decent money, but it's still a lot less than $100k, have a mortgage and two kids in high school. When people buy high-priced hardware, they expect it to last several years, while people like to go to concerts fairly frequently. For me, $25 is steep for tickets to a concert or show. The only time I have ever paid $50 was for Phantom; that was about 3 years ago and I haven't been to one since. There is no way I could ever justify (even to myself, let alone my wife) paying $100 for tickets to anything. I like your idea for your chamber orchestry, though a 9:00 show is too late for me. I need to be in bed by 10:30 because I have get up before 6:00AM.

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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: RodRubber 
Date:   2005-12-02 17:50

Archer,
Thanks for your thoughtful reply! You must serve the Demo. in the area you operate. All four of the surrounding counties to DC are in the top 10 highest income in the USA, 2 are in the top 3. Senators, reps, lobbyists, CEOs etc. They live here. There are plenty of people in the area with loads of extra cash. Clearly if i was in another part of the country, these claims may not be accurate.
Best



Post Edited (2005-12-02 17:51)

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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: crnichols 
Date:   2005-12-02 17:50

Someone hadn't mentioned this, but if you live in the DC area and don't go to any concerts because of expense, you are absolutely insane or ignorant of the resources available to you. The 5 military bands there are comprised of some of the best musicians in the country, and the concerts are free. Also, believe it or not, the marine band, army band and air force band all employ string orchestras, and join forces with wind players and give chamber orchestra concerts. The programming is similar to that of any other orchestra and of superior quality. In addition to this, there are numerous chamber music concerts with incredible diversity both in programming and instrumentation, also of superior quality. Also, most of the venues are accessibile via public transportation if parking isn't available or you hate dealing with traffic. Many of the programs take place on Sunday afternoons as well. Check it out, you won't be disappointed. Furthermore, hearing outstanding live music is very important to the development of any musician, regardless of age or ability. I'm blessed to live in Bamberg, Germany, which is home to a world class orchestra, and am also blessed with time and money to go learn everything I can from hearing them play several times a month.
Christopher Nichols
1st Infantry Division Band

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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: tictactux 2017
Date:   2005-12-02 18:41

GBK,

100% ack.

As an additional excuse, we have two smallish kids and can afford a babysitter only every two weeks. And then we prefer an uninterrupted meal in a nice restaurant over blasé people in a music hall and the gazillionth Messiah.

From what one shells for a concert ticket here I can feed my family for nearly two weeks...and those kids are hungry.

--
Ben

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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: Bnewbs 
Date:   2005-12-02 18:45

I do go to a fair number of concerts, of course living in a smaller market that is a lot more resonable financially. The Minnesota Orchestra may not quite be the CSO or the New York Phillharmonic, but they have been doing some pretty impressive stuff lately, especially with Beethoven and Sibelius (not quite as great with most Russian repotoire though). Really good seats are maybe $40-75 apiece, decent for $30 and fantastic acustics. Way more casual than New York or Chicago too. The concerts here rarely excede 2 hours, and they do some fantistic chamber stuff during the summers. Last year I saw them premier of Rihm's double concerto for clarinet and viola (which makes Corgliano look conservitive, really kind of weird, but not in a bad way). I certainly agree that colleges are a great place to go hear a performance, way cheaper for sure and often pretty good. I just wish I had more time for music in general.

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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: Steve Epstein 
Date:   2005-12-02 18:57

I get an internet Fun-Saver every week for the Philly area. There's classical, non-classical, music and other theater. If it looks interesting and it's cheap with the Fun-Saver, I go. I saw one actual Phil Orch performance at the Kimmel Center Verizon Hall listed, though, that was still $50 or $75 US bucks even with the Fun-Saver. Forget that!

To RodRubber and Sylvain, food and music ideas:

If it were plays, not concerts, you were putting on, they would be called Steakspeare [grin]

Steve Epstein

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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: 3dogmom 
Date:   2005-12-02 20:40

I'm seconding what GBK and Sylvain said. I attend and perform at local musical venues, but in my case Boston and its environs are quite a hike. I've brought my kids to the BSO and other similar events, including Boston Ballet's Nutcracker (excuse me, aren't you supposed to bring children to the Nutcracker?) and been treated with scorn for doing so. I've discussed this here before, no need to rehash. Don't get me started.

So much for exposing your children to all classical music in the city has to offer. It's very, very expensive, they're uncomfortable, I'm uncomfortable and poor. When the school has trips I chaperon with whichever of my kids are in the group that's attending. I'll probably go alone when they're grown.

Now I take them to Broadway shows. Nobody gets angry there when they look at the program. They will never forget seeing Wicked and meeting John Moses! What a great night.
Sue Tansey

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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: Sylvain 
Date:   2005-12-02 20:42

RodRubber,
The concerts are in an underground art gallery that is known for organizing eclectic folk and jazz concerts. It's called the Zeitgeist Gallery in cambridge MA. The venue is small and can hold maybe 50 seats. We have just started this classical series and we get anything from 5 to 50, with an average of just about twenty 20 people. For a sat 1pm gig in such a venue it's not bad but you certainly can't expect to make money :)
I saw the coolest percussionist there, but I also suffered a horrible renaissance music experience.
-S

--
Sylvain Bouix <sbouix@gmail.com>

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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: Ron Jr. 
Date:   2005-12-02 20:44

EEBaum,

I heard the New York premiere of Corigliano's orchestration of the song cycle Mr. Tambourine Man: Seven Poems of Bob Dylan. During the entire concert I had the tunes the way Bob Dylan sang them blowing in my head. I just hated Corigliano's vocal acrobatics with the soprano singer. When asked if he had ever heard Bob Dylan's rendition of the songs he said never.

So I'll gladly swap tickets.

Ron Jr.

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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: Kevin 
Date:   2005-12-02 22:59

Too little time to regularly dedicate over 2 hours of music plus travel time to concerts.

Too much money to spend, although I can usually take advantage of cheaper tickets with my student ID.

Too difficult to find peers who are not only also interested in the music, but also happen to be free and happen to want to fork over the ticket money. It's boring to attend concerts alone and without an aquaintance.



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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: Katrina 
Date:   2005-12-03 04:02

I don't go because I usually have students or a gig myself.

The last classical concert I attended was Burt Hara playing the Nielsen last year with the MN Orch. It was fabulous, and I would have paid to go, but a friend of a friend scored some tix for us.

The last non-classical show I saw was the Ivo Papazov/Yuri Yunakov show here. I had no qualms about paying $24 a ticket for that, in addition to parking.

For me, if I'm free, I'd rather watch tv or a movie, cause I'm either playing/teaching clarinet or semi-listening to bad overhead play choices at the B&N that provides me with health insurance for a mere 22 hours a week...

Katrina

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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: susieray 
Date:   2005-12-03 04:36


I do attend concerts occasionally, but like others have said, I'd rather play.
I also get kinda antsy sitting in a cramped seat with little leg room.
Plus it's rather embarrassing to sit next to my husband since he
gets really involved in the music....taps his feet and moves his hands as though he were directing.

When I ask him to stop he just says I'm an old fart.

Sue

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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: EEBaum 
Date:   2005-12-03 06:30

Sue... I quite agree that the "concert hall" venue is very stifling to the concertgoing experience. Were it more varied and listener-friendly, I think a lot of people would go to more concerts. As it is, it's downright uncomfortable and oppressive.

-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com

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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: Brenda 
Date:   2005-12-03 14:08

I do go! I enjoy going so much I volunteer for the orchestra - yes, I pay my dues as well besides volunteering. But the venues here have way more leg room than most, from the sounds of the above posts. Also since this is a factory town the hall isn't encased in marble or anything fancy like that, but it's been designed so well that you can hear everything from each of the 1,900 seats across 3 levels of seating, and I've been up in the 2nd balcony to know. There are very few people wearing tuxes or gowns - it's a working class city.
Of course the hall is so close I could walk if necessary so it's not like we were in NYC or LA., plus it's on one of the principal thoroughfares of the city that's one-way, with syncronized street lights. The traffic moves.

The other advantage is that the tickets don't cost as much as in other places, and our children are grown. I agree with that argument of either buying groceries or tickets.

For me there's no comparison between hearing music on a great sound system or hearing it live. The only time I get bugged is when the orchestra is performing with a small band and someone decides that the whole orchestra needs to be amplified. Violins amplified? Sounds like nails on a blackboard! Fortunately the hall allows for even subtle sounds to be heard. The diminuendos can be delicious.



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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: bass9396 
Date:   2005-12-03 14:48

No to Corigliano!? Stravinsky is ok!?!?

I once drove from SC to Cincy, picked up my friend and drove to Chicago to see a premiere of a new Boulez piece and a lecture. Loved it! But I got student tickets...so pretty cheap. The rest of the program had a Mozart Piano Concerto(ok, definitely the best played Mozart I've ever heard) on it and a Bach piece, also nice.

Diverse programming is nice. If you're swearing off Corigliano and Stravinsky then you're wasting the orchestra's effort to play new music to draw younger folks like myself, and if I swore off Mozart(boring, in general) and Beethoven and Bach and Handel and Haydn then I would be wasting the orchestra's effort to draw purists and older folks. At least I'm willing to keep trying Mozart.

Just support the orchestra. They need it worse than you think, and the reason ticket prices are so high is because we say no to Corigliano and Mozart because we only like what we like, instead of giving each piece a chance. You never know what you'll find.

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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: David Spiegelthal 2017
Date:   2005-12-03 17:39

The last orchestra concert I attended as a spectator was that of a local semi-pro orchestra for which a friend had given me free tickets. I took my three young daughters. The first half of the program was all-Mozart, a symphony followed by a piano concerto. After ten minutes ALL THREE of my girls were fast asleep, and I would have been too, except for having to stay awake to keep an eye on my kids. I woke them up at intermission and we all gratefully went home (fighting heavy traffic both coming and going, of course). So much for exposing my children to classical music.....there's GOT to be a better way!

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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: susieray 
Date:   2005-12-03 20:29


LOL Dave, that's been my experience when taking my kids also! It makes us all verrrrrrrrrrry sleepy.


Sue

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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: marcia 
Date:   2005-12-03 20:53

I do go to concerts. Much as I love to play, I do enjoy occasionally listening to the pros do it the way I would LIKE to do it. Also in recent years I have attended a number of chamber choral concerts. I am not a singer at all, but I LOVE listening to those who are, especailly at Christmas. It is exquisite, and a welcome relief from the busy-ness of the season.

Marcia

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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: EEBaum 
Date:   2005-12-03 22:38

The pros almost never do it the way i would *LIKE* to do it... but then, the pros seem averse to playing Sousa marches in 3, Christmas songs modally displaced, quartets for Eb clarinets, Tchaikovsky in the style of Terry Riley, wind quintets with beatbox, or Adagios at quarter=140. :P

-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com

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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: ginny 
Date:   2005-12-04 04:55

I'd rather do most anything than watch it being done, so I'd rather play music 4 or 5 times a week and dance a couple of times a week than go watch most anyone do those things. I really enjoy masterclasses though.

We currently have a very small entertainment budget to top it all off.

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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: Tom A 
Date:   2005-12-04 07:16

In a thread a few weeks back, someone mentioned that in their youth they were introduced first not to Bach or Mozart, but to Janacek and Stravinsky. Maybe the solution to falling asleep is to start with something like the Janacek Sinfonietta, Pictures At An Exhibition, The Firebird, or The Miraculous Mandarin. A bit of colour. Not by amateur orchestras, I admit.

In Sydney, things may be more relaxed. The orchestra wears penguin suits, but our chief conductor (an Italian) and some other conductors and soloists just wear black tunics.

------------------------------------------

Racket? Racket? That's Brahms! Brahms' Third Racket. - Basil Fawlty

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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: EEBaum 
Date:   2005-12-04 17:17

Pictures at an Exhibition is a surefire way to get me to sleep. If that's the wake-you-up piece, I'll lose it for sure by the end.

-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com

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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: 3dogmom 
Date:   2005-12-04 18:07

Well, different strokes. If there's a piece guaranteed to get me to a concert, it's Pictures at an Exhibition. I get goose bumps. That Great Gate of Kiev, wow.
Sue Tansey

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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: Bnewbs 
Date:   2005-12-04 21:08

Personaly, I don't know how Pictures at an Exhibition could put anyone to sleep. The only russian piece I like better is Scheherazade, but not by much. The living stereo SACD with the CSO and Reiner is almost unbeatable by recording in my book.

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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: EEBaum 
Date:   2005-12-04 21:41

If you'd like to see how, just accompany me to a performance of it. :P

Seriously, though, I think it's a matter of personal taste. Most people I know love Pictures, but it does absolutely nothing for me and is, in my opinion, way too long. Just like the Stravinsky Octet.

-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com

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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: Tom A 
Date:   2005-12-04 22:47

Yes, I understand. My point is as Alex just said. It may be counter-productive to "introduce" people to orchestral music by starting with "simpler" genres, as the development of this music is based on themes, and this generation isn't known for innate attention span. If you're choosing for yourself, you know what you like. If you're choosing for someone else, you may just need to think of what they'd find exciting.

Alex, how about any of Respighi's Roman trilogy? :)

------------------------------------------

Racket? Racket? That's Brahms! Brahms' Third Racket. - Basil Fawlty



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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: EEBaum 
Date:   2005-12-05 01:11

Can't say I know that one, William. At least not by name.

-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com

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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: Lani 
Date:   2005-12-05 01:28

I love this idea!!
I reckon the era of live bands for dining and dancing should come back.

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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: Brenda 
Date:   2005-12-05 03:27

Sleeping at concerts - my husband swears it's because the music is so enjoyable that it relaxes him. That's why, if he comes, we purposely get the seats in the last row of the orchestra level. But I draw the line at snoring!!! I try to get him to get a nap before the concert.

I thought this was so disrespectful until I spoke with a long-time subscriber who freely admitted that he has the same opinion of sleeping at the concerts. OK, I still don't think that's necessary, but nodding off doesn't always mean it's boring.



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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: ginny 
Date:   2005-12-05 03:49

Cartoon Classics get most kids interested in classical music. Rhasody Rabbit and such.

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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: 3dogmom 
Date:   2005-12-05 22:41

I would love to get that for my younger classes. Does anybody know where to find it? (Kill the wabbit, kill the wabbit). Maybe it's too violent.
Sue Tansey

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 Re: Why don't you go to concerts?
Author: marzi 
Date:   2005-12-05 23:32

WORK!

I go when i am not working the day of or the day after, and since i work regular scheduled weekends(every other),12 hr shifts into the evening, thats a challenge, i showed up once at opening night in black jeans, everyone else in jewels, one older patroness was not amused and complained to an usher(who happened to be a friend of mine anyway). The friend I was with(an excellent pianist herself) still kids me about that.
I don't mind listening to others play, but i'm not pro and therefore like to hear how it should be until i might get a chance to try a piece in our group.
our conductor was insane enough to throw us Roman Carnival with only a couple of rehearsals, it was wonderful to hear a pro bunch play it live with much excitement from them that THEY got thru it.

It seems theres quite a few of us amateurs in this area whodon't mind going to listening to others play., tickets are not outrageous in this smaller market , well, except if its joshua bell or perlman, then forget it , only the bejeweled ones are affording that.

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