Wow, that Roberto Sierra Mass really stirred thing up with our loyal readers! All I can say to all of your comments (see the previous post) is that as many opinions as our audience had, our musicians also had. You guys out there are just a good a sampling of musical opinions and tastes as any group of people would be, "classically trained" or not. Keep up the dialogue guys! (and for my part, I liked the La Bamba section, the Oye Como Va section, and a lot of the other sections but agree it was a bit long-winded!)
See below for highlights from our readers:
"It’s not often when, before the concert, the usher stands in front of your section and announces that going to the rest room during the intermission is probably going to be a good idea. At that point I knew this was not going to be a typical evening with the HSO."
"It was brilliant and the HSO’s performance was superb."
"I'm not a musician, so I can't really appreciate the 'technical' aspect of the piece. In all honesty, I haven't quite heard the entire piece ... I left during intermission!!. But what I have heard of it did not sound like anything I would pay to hear again--or even want to hear again. If I was new to the symphony that night (especially considering how Beethoven was first on the program), I probably wouldn't have gone back."
"The way I see it; it is the responsibility – even duty – of a major symphony orchestra to perform all major classical works of significance for the general public to hear. In the last few decades Roberto Sierra has immerged as one of the major classical composures of modern times. Even though entertainment is a very important part of any “for profit” musical organization; education also falls under the parameters of what a symphony orchestra is to provide."
"to put it in a form of musical theatre jargon; one might look at this concert as the Beethoven being the spoon full of sugar that helps the medicine - Missa Latina - go down. But let me tell you; Roberto Sierra’s Missa Latina is on fine piece of modern day classical composition. And… the HSO’s presentation of Beethoven’s Eight was truly a spoon full of sugar."
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2 comments:
Hi Rita!
Thanks for your comments. I had a chance to speak with one of your colleagues from first violin, and he had perhaps harsher words for the Missa Latina than myself!! So I'm sure there are a very wide range of opinions within the HSO itself.
In my previous comments I mentioned several works by Beethoven which do not receive very much attention. Do you know the works? If so, why are they not performed more often? There are so many pieces of music within these works that are "classic Beethoven," that are never played.
It is with regret that I'm not at the performance tonight. The last time I heard The Pines of Rome by the HSO it was brilliant! But being the father of a 1 year old son compels me to limit my evenings with the symphony.
Well I may as well add my two cents, and I hope I don't sound too much like James as we agree on quite a bit when it comes to music. And I am as musically-illiterate as James.
I realize that music is nearly always evolving, and that new pieces will never make everyone happy. I recall hearing for instance that Mendelssohn said he wanted to wash his hands after he picked up a Berlioz score-- I hate to break it to you Mr. Mendelssohn but I find Berlioz quite exhilarating. And I also recall a review of Beethoven's 2nd symphony-- surely one of his most gentle-- at its premier as saying it was a 'hideously writhing dragon waiting to be killed' or something to that effect.
But I tend to believe that there is a limit to the type of music that is truly enjoyable. I mean that music can only become so weird, and then the human brain ceases to like it. Maybe a person's intellect finds some aspects of it interesting, but as far as actual pleasure like Tchaikovsky or Haydn, I doubt it.
And it seems to me that starting with, oh, I guess Stravinsky and onwards, composers have undertaken a systematic disassembly of everything beautiful in music. And what has been the result? I think very few in concerts today find much enjoyment in modern classical music. (I am not referring to the period of music called "classical" as opposed to Romantic or whatever.) There are a lot of exceptions of course, but on the whole those are my thoughts on modern music.
I might add-- what appeals to the masses nowadays? Well, besides the purely intoxicating--as opposed to beautiful-- rhythms in rap and some rock, I think that good old fashioned melodies and harmonies give people the most enjoyment. Besides the slightly intellectual simplicity of country, some of the harmony can be quite appealing sometimes. And how can you expect someone to appreciate the music in question (missa latina) to the same degree he or she would appreciate a country song?
This topic reminds me of a debate I once had on some radio station's forum about music. I said that rap was not music. Someone replied to me that if music was organized sound, then rap was music. I felt like telling him, If music is organized sound, then your microwave makes music. Beep beep beep--it's organized sound! In the same way, I think a lot of modern music is no longer music.
Wow, if you're still reading Rita, please tell me how the Pines of Rome went-- I am VERY upset with the HSO for scheduling THREE GOOD PIECES in THREE WEEKS. I could only make two concerts. Every time I hear the finale of the Pines I feel like the whole world is marching. [I didn't proofread so pardon any grammatical mistakes etc]
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