[Trombone-l] Cleveland Orch Trombone Article in newspaper

[Eric Edwards]

Well said, Daniel!!

I LOVE that CD!  The Spanish Harlem Orch. is a real gas to listen to.

It still amazes me the difference in attitude toward the music environment
between the US and the rest of the world.
I'd be willing to bet that in your example in Oaxaca,  there were townsfolk
taking the time to stop and listen to the group.
You go just about anywhere in Europe and play a noontime concert and you'll
get some kind of crowd.
Here?  Yeah right.

I just wonder,  where the hell did we go south with our attitude.

And on a side note,  why does just about everyone make themselves so
inaccessible.
If you try to go backstage after most symphony concerts,  you get run over
in the race to the parking lot,  BY THE MUSICIANS!!!!
No one just "hangs out" anymore.



Sorry for the rant.

Eric


Eric, Leandra, Sara, Jared & Lily
Edwards
"The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low
price has faded"

-----Original Message-----
From: trombone-l-bounces at server5.samford.edu
[mailto:trombone-l-bounces at server5.samford.edu]On Behalf Of Daniel Pliskin
Sent: Friday, May 25, 2007 10:30 AM
To: trombone-l at server5.samford.edu
Subject: Re: [Trombone-l] Cleveland Orch Trombone Article in newspaper


Have any of you seen Man Facing South West?  Theres a scene in there where
this man, from outer space, takes over conducting the local orchestra,
which is trying to play some classical piece.  Only he conducts it as a
waltz instead of in 4/4.  The piece comes alive and so does the crowd.  Its
also a cool movie.

There was a time, not too long ago, when there was no radio, no television,
no CDs, LPs, etc.  And in those times, every town had its own orchestra.
These groups consisted of anyone who could pick up an instrument.  And most
of the classical music that we hear today was written for such a group.

I was sitting in the zocalo, in Oaxaca, having my morning cafe con leche,
when the local band started playing at the other end of the square.  They
were playing a bandified  [sp? 8?) ] version of a Boradine piece and it was
fabulous.  It was kind of like the scene in Man Facing South West (just in
case you thought that I couldnt keep on topic for more than a paragraph).
And the crowd loved it.

Im also reminded of a CD, Un Gran Dia En El Bario, by The Spanish Harlem
Orchestra.  The CD is HOT, but perhaps the best thing about it is that they
are playing together, as a group.  Contrast that with Cubanismo, where Jesus
Alemany is always a little too sharp and a little too loud.  Granted, hes
the leader of the group, but hes always a bit too in your face, for me.

In conclusion, for those who have put up with my rambling, I think that
orchestras have lost their mission.  If a fight amongst the audience makes
news, its because not enough commoners get to hear orchestras.  Orchestras
have become too big and too precious.  And their sound has become
monolithic, in the process.  Its sad that those few really good classical
musicians dont get to play with other really good classical musicians in
those select orchestras, but it doesnt surprise me that the major
orchestras are having trouble making ends meet.  They have failed to play
for the masses for so long that there arent enough people who know and like
orchestras, to support orchestras.  They operate as if selling enough CDs is
going to keep them afloat and thats not going to happen.

DanP

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