From Dottie Case Posted from 69.179.61.212 on October 4, 2008 at 2:05 PM (GMT)
Karen...I took a class this summer in my graduate program that required me to attend a number of concerts and write reviews on them. Because of what was offered here in my area in the available time frame, I ended up going to concerts of everything from Rock Groups to a Classical Piano Trio, and in venues ranging from a High School multi-purpose room to a Concert hall, to an outdoor lakeside venue, as well as Historical churches and an old theater in renovation.
What was most striking to me (and something I'd paid almost no attention to before that) was how crucial it was that your concert style match your venue. I was shocked by how 'wrong' some perfectly acceptable concerts felt when held in the wrong place/setting, and how a right setting could greatly enhance the works.
One concert was a choice of 'night' pieces, by piano, organ, flute and English horn. The setting was a lovely old historical church at dusk, with poetry reading between pieces. It was a stunning partnership.
Another concert was a set of rock bands, sort of 'battle of the bands'...only it was set in an 'in-renovation' historical theater. Bad choice. Electric instruments fought with the room acoustics, there was no place for enthusiastic fans to gather or dance (no mosh pit:) in the room filled with theatre seats, and the 5:00 start hour seemed incredible unsuited to the first metal group. What would have been well received in a club became almost an embarrassment in a theater.
Seems like your experience mirrors mine. Definately made me realize that it'd be good to consider setting/hour and amibience carefully when planning performances.
From Karen Allendoerfer Posted from 96.233.73.236 on October 4, 2008 at 9:20 PM (GMT)
Dottie, that's very interesting, thanks for your input. What you write makes a lot of sense. This concert I wrote about was overall a good concert, but the venue just wasn't good. It's a more challenging problem than people think.
My son (the 5-yo) this morning said, unprovoked, that he liked the HS orchestra the best. According to him, "the songs the grown-ups played were too long." But he really liked a the high school "songs". So he got more out of it than I thought he did.
I'm of two minds here: sure, we should keep working to make these kinds of things more accessible. But on the other hand, even when the venue is not right, good music still can shine through and touch people.
From Kim Vawter Posted from 68.229.163.69 on October 5, 2008 at 4:28 AM (GMT)
Having attended many high school concerts, there is nothing worse than an overheated auditorium! Glad you blogged about your experience here. I am sure that the kids probably got some fun out of going with you on a musical outing. It must have felt "special" to them non the less.
From Juergen L. Hemm Posted from 62.154.222.235 on October 6, 2008 at 9:33 AM (GMT)
Hi Karen,
you're blog entry is right on target. Fiddle music is not made to be listened to - it's made to be danced and/or sung to. By the way, I believe this is true for the timeless "traditional" music all the way up to the Strauß and Lanner waltzes.
André Rieu always makes a point of encouraging his audience to get up and dance in the aisles.
Sorry you had such a bad experience. In my opinion, the only appropriate occasion for listening to fiddle music while being forced to sitting still is in the car where I use energetic fiddle and bluegrass pieces to protect myself against "highway hypnosis".
Comments
Posted from 69.179.61.212 on October 4, 2008 at 2:05 PM (GMT)
What was most striking to me (and something I'd paid almost no attention to before that) was how crucial it was that your concert style match your venue. I was shocked by how 'wrong' some perfectly acceptable concerts felt when held in the wrong place/setting, and how a right setting could greatly enhance the works.
One concert was a choice of 'night' pieces, by piano, organ, flute and English horn. The setting was a lovely old historical church at dusk, with poetry reading between pieces. It was a stunning partnership.
Another concert was a set of rock bands, sort of 'battle of the bands'...only it was set in an 'in-renovation' historical theater. Bad choice. Electric instruments fought with the room acoustics, there was no place for enthusiastic fans to gather or dance (no mosh pit:) in the room filled with theatre seats, and the 5:00 start hour seemed incredible unsuited to the first metal group. What would have been well received in a club became almost an embarrassment in a theater.
Seems like your experience mirrors mine. Definately made me realize that it'd be good to consider setting/hour and amibience carefully when planning performances.
Posted from 96.233.73.236 on October 4, 2008 at 9:20 PM (GMT)
My son (the 5-yo) this morning said, unprovoked, that he liked the HS orchestra the best. According to him, "the songs the grown-ups played were too long." But he really liked a the high school "songs". So he got more out of it than I thought he did.
I'm of two minds here: sure, we should keep working to make these kinds of things more accessible. But on the other hand, even when the venue is not right, good music still can shine through and touch people.
Posted from 68.229.163.69 on October 5, 2008 at 4:28 AM (GMT)
Posted from 62.154.222.235 on October 6, 2008 at 9:33 AM (GMT)
you're blog entry is right on target. Fiddle music is not made to be listened to - it's made to be danced and/or sung to. By the way, I believe this is true for the timeless "traditional" music all the way up to the Strauß and Lanner waltzes.
André Rieu always makes a point of encouraging his audience to get up and dance in the aisles.
Sorry you had such a bad experience. In my opinion, the only appropriate occasion for listening to fiddle music while being forced to sitting still is in the car where I use energetic fiddle and bluegrass pieces to protect myself against "highway hypnosis".