> -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf > Of Phil Daley > > At 1/27/2006 12:39 PM, Lee Actor wrote: > > >> At 1/27/2006 11:40 AM, dhbailey wrote: > >> > >> >It's time we start celebrating the LIVING composers, those who are > >> >chronicling OUR TIMES in their music, reflecting OUR LIVES > in their art. > >> > >> The trouble with LIVING composers is that they don't write > music that the > >> "average" concert goer wants to hear. > >> > >> You may not think that is a problem, but, in reality, the > >> "average" concert > >> goer likes to hear music they are familiar with. > >> > >Chicken, meet egg. Egg, chicken. > > > >How did this supposed average concert goer ever become familiar with any > >music, if they only listen to music they're already familiar with? > > Excellent point. I believe the original listening happens in the home. > > So, people hear the music that their parent's listen to. > > This puts modern composers off by 1 generation, just to start. > But, if the > children don't branch out, this becomes a multi-generational experience. > > When I was a young child, I absolutely wore out the 78RPM record > my parents > had of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto. > > My record collection consists primarily of Classical music written before > 1900. Another big section is of 1940-50's big band. > > The only new composers I have are Hindemith and Ives. Oh, they wrote in > the old style, right? > > In my Music Composition class (taught by Charles Whittenburg, some of you > may recognize the name), my final composition was a very nice > instrumental > (we had to compose for the instruments that the class members > played) fugue > in the style of Bach, my favorite composer. > > My favorite recent CD purchase is "Christmas Carols as written by Mozart". > > Mostly I buy CDs like "Canadian Brass" and other groups that play > old music. > > Phil Daley
Remember how exciting it was when you first discovered pieces that later became some of your favorites? With the wide diversity of styles currently being employed in "serious" music nowadays, I think it's likely you can continue the rewarding experience of discovery, though admittedly not without some effort. For contemporary music with something of the traditional dramatic aesthetic that you enjoy in earlier music, I suggest with all due humility that you check out some of my stuff at http://www.leeactor.com/works.htm. I'm all for listening to what you like, but most living composers are just asking for a fair hearing. Lee Actor Composer-in-Residence and Assistant Conductor, Palo Alto Philharmonic http://www.leeactor.com _______________________________________________ Finale mailing list [email protected] http://lists.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
