Having returned from Ruidoso, New Mexico where the family visited to watch my Aunt get married, I am once again thinking about the complexity and joys of the musical world. A friend recently played an all Brahms concert with an orchestra where he experienced the Brahms Serenade in D, a movement of Brahms Symphony No. 4, and parts of the German Requiem. All great music and worth hearing for sure. I am encouraged that a community gathering wanted to hear music by the great master rather than relying on all popular music to reach the masses.
Sometimes I think we are too quick to find music that casts a wide net of influence and pleasure for people. It is nice to program great music that has withstood the test of time and is considered some of finest music written. So kudos to the community that supported the recent Brahms concert. May others continue to do the same. Keep Brahms alive!
But at the same time, whatever music was selected, I am glad that live music is still regarded for its emotional power and content. While we know that art music tends to reach an older audience, and that appreciation for it comes over time, it is mainly comforting to know that audiences will support the arts even if those occurrences are fairly rare. There are magnificent musicians working daily to hone their craft in order to have the opportunity to perform at a high level. Without those opportunities, the musicians will have no outlet and more importantly no economic support for their chosen profession.
But herein lies the dilemma: supply and demand will determine the course for the arts in the future and we must remain sensitive to this fact. The audience for classical art music is very small and the more trained musicians alienate themselves from popular music, the smaller the audience will be. It is time to draw eclectically from the vast array of music and present a mosaic of musical colors to the audiences of today. That may include a Brahms concert or it could include a Bach organ concert or Mozart or Beethoven. But it also may be some Stevie Wonder or Lady Gaga or Broadway musicals or Eric Clapton. All of it is worth exploring. Let's don't lose the Brahms, but let's also don't lose the audience.
Speaking of Lady Gaga, I am a fan. Taking away the antics, the trickery, the questionable moral fiber, the latest fad, the visual excesses, and you have a fine musician. She has a wonderful blues, velvety voice with great range and communication, interesting melodic lines, high energy, and intriguing harmonic motion in her music. I anticipate the day when she gives up on the crazed presentation and simply becomes a piano playing singer. She is really outstanding and will one day be a fine song interpreter of her own music as well as others.
New Mexico was nice but very dry and hot. Ruidoso feels generally dusty without the magic I once remembered from my childhood. A little rain would refresh that land, giving it the charm it had many years ago. For now though the people seem nervous about fires and the lack of water. But we still had a nice time with the family. Lots of good food, fun games, reading, and just being together. My aunt got married in a brief but very nice ceremony where she looked beautiful and glowed with joy. It was also great to see my very successful cousin at this celebration event. He exudes confidence and contentment in his demeanor and totally at ease with himself. Great guy in all respects.
Finished two books recently and nearing a third completion. Wrote two reviews and about to start a third one. Meanwhile I am working on a new piece of music, getting ready to play a horn concerto, continuing some research in African-American music, and trying to reorganize my book I am writing. Lots to do these days.
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