At the first rehearsal evenything went smoothly: the oboist sounded Concert A, the players tuned-up and then all looked toward … the Concert Master; it seems that, even in this most egalitarian of ensembles, someone needed to indicate when to begin!

Thus, that little “experiment” had a brief & unremarkable life…

Does anybody else think that Sarah Palin would make a good McCarthy-style witch hunter general?

“I saw Goody Proctor dancing with the NEA!”

Youbetcha.

With regard to the demon, Technology, I remember the early days when the objective of “stereo” sound was to capture, as closely as possible, the sound of a performance. Nowadays, musicians can create so much layering in the “studio” it is almost impossible to recreate the same sound in a “live” performance. It was sometime in the 80s when the artist, formerly known as Prince, released an album on which he played ALL the instruments; try recreating THAT in a “live” show!

What should actually be the topic under discussion is: Ethics in Musical Performance & Recording.

As for the Death of Classical Music, well I have been hearing that litany for over half-a-century; yet, no one has even prepared the coffin, so I think announcing a wake is certainly premature.

“Art”, in both high and low forms, has existed for millennia. Most often, it is the High form that continues through the centuries; though the Low form can certainly influence the High form. A perfect example of that is the (once) Popular Tune “L’homme arme”, which was so celebrated by the public it was incorporated into several Renaissance masses. Though we continue to hear the masses, nobody is singing the popular tune; a similar comparison can be made with Copland’s “Old American Songs”. When was the last time you heard someone belt-out the “popular” versions of the melodies that comprise “The Boatman’s Dance” or “The Dodger”? Never, would be the correct answer.

Record Companies and Symphony Orchestras may be in difficult financial straits, but, they will consolidate – not evaporate.

I contribute to this problem. Over the years I can’t begin to tell you how many Beethoven Fifths I have purchased: 12 inch vinyl, various cassette forms and now digital. To hell with that! I borrow them from my public library now and rip them into MP3s for FREE; the recording industry has gotten all they’re gonna get from me for the same recording produced in a different form.

“Technology” may well change how we enjoy the Arts, but it will not erase them. One day (soon probably) we will sit in front of our 75 inch TV screens and listen to Philharmonic concerts via our 5000 watt speakers without the interruption of crying babies or the person behind you coughing on the back of your neck.

As I said, for over 50 years I have been hearing that the “Sky is Falling”! And, lets not forget, “There’s a Commie behind EVERY Tree”!

Fuggedaboutit …

Does it matter who paid Lang Lang? If nobody buys classical music any more, they’re never going to see their money again.

I’m not against new technology at all – I’m just tired of reading about products that promise to solve non-existent problems. Paper programs are pretty effective if you leave the lights (or candles) on.

A whole bunch of people thought Joshua Bell’s busking was newsworthy enough to set up, write about, and print. A slow news day isn’t an excuse for anything. Perhaps this article was a bad example, though. I could have gone with any number of “classical musician also has rock on his iPod” stories.

Nobody owes classical musicians a living. They have to earn it by creating beautiful things that affect people’s lives. Exactly what that means is a moving target. It always has been. In the past, we’ve called it progress.

The “young people stop buying music” story has been written, many times.

I’ll own up to inconsistent, but I don’t see where I’ve contradicted myself.