tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post1255240371968241857..comments2024-03-26T07:58:59.761+00:00Comments on I'll think of something later: Sophia Rahman and friends on special festivalsDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-55835521261773831942016-01-06T13:39:08.375+00:002016-01-06T13:39:08.375+00:00Neurological studies have been done, of course, an...Neurological studies have been done, of course, and Mozart always comes out well. But even more important as a positive, I'd say, is the communal act of playing in an ensemble or even - and this interests me as a tutor of music appreciation - the communal act of active listening. <br /><br />El sistema is rightly cited as a model for the former, and it can be re-enacted on any level to enormous social benefit. Even the very act of introducing children to music they'll rarely meet at school is vital - they can say it's 'uncool' at the time, but it will have served a purpose to let them know it exists and can always be returned to later in life. But I'm sounding preachy now. Just re-read Sophia's introduction for demonstration of some of the benefits in action. Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-4660413331631959032016-01-06T06:32:37.196+00:002016-01-06T06:32:37.196+00:00One vital element in the teaching of music is that...One vital element in the teaching of music is that there is clear evidence that music speaks to certain basic elements in the brain, deeper than language. I wonder if popular music music has an effect as positive as classical? I do not know and maybe a distinction can be made between some popular music and some otherDavid Damantnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-42156230707448625342016-01-05T23:10:49.118+00:002016-01-05T23:10:49.118+00:00Couldn't agree with you more, Laurent, which i...Couldn't agree with you more, Laurent, which is a way of saying I think that's the 'right' and fair response, not that I can tell commenters what to write (but the recent sequence has warmed my heart like the piece itself). Such generosity needs to be met with a like response. And yes, it doesn't always work, and money is in short supply, but let's focus on what is here, a cluster of 'stories of success', as you say, and of different kinds of resourcefulness.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-54870996729185822392016-01-05T21:23:55.022+00:002016-01-05T21:23:55.022+00:00What an interesting post, so many people getting i...What an interesting post, so many people getting involved in communities with music. It really is refreshing and shows that there is an interest out there from a public who might not go to big hall concerts. We have very similar problems here in Canada and it is nice to read that you can start from scratch and attract a following. Thank you for sharing these many stories of success.Laurenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03297393116796129135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-32367852153890097512016-01-03T19:12:22.541+00:002016-01-03T19:12:22.541+00:00So genuinely pleased to hear from you again, Eliza...So genuinely pleased to hear from you again, Elizabeth - you've always been one of the most generous commenters, and it's always disconcerting when a friendly 'voice' vanishes for some time. That's the good side of things which you cite - anyone COULD go and hear this sort of music-making for next to nothing. But sadly too many people won't, and this is where the education projects come in useful, since with any luck the parents will then come to the concerts too. <br /><br />Yet it doesn't happen often enough: at thewonderful youth festival I attended in Setubal, Portugal, for example, the 'grown-up' concert on the last night was all too poorly attended. More music education from schools is essential (or even any, these days); more government funding is needed. But in the face of a lack, I'm so proud that a younger generation can be so resourceful. The fact remains, though, that they need to be paid decent wages.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-68985100993942623282016-01-03T17:02:10.085+00:002016-01-03T17:02:10.085+00:00David, this is a fascinating and completely deligh...David, this is a fascinating and completely delightful article. As comprehensive as it is, I keep returning to the wonderful note in your introduction. "Privileged" is exactly the right word, when we have a chance to listen to live music in small venues - especially when it's great music, played by excellent musicians. What a fortunate time, when anyone can go and listen! I have thoroughly enjoyed this and look forward to another year, filled with your own wonderful writing! -- ElizabethAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-3248068974215719742016-01-01T23:21:51.925+00:002016-01-01T23:21:51.925+00:00Oh, yes, moving and incredibly inspiring. How inte...Oh, yes, moving and incredibly inspiring. How interesting your choice of New Year's Day listening--coincidentally I'd gone back to the Sibelius tone poems in the last few days, too, though yesterday and today I started in on my latest CD purchases: Gardiner's St. Matthew Passion (which we thought we owned but can't find) and the Rattle/Berlin Phil 4-movement Bruckner 9th.Susan Scheidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09250142489341777926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-65792227096099214142016-01-01T20:57:14.848+00:002016-01-01T20:57:14.848+00:00Solid, certainly, but also, from my perspective, q...Solid, certainly, but also, from my perspective, quite an emotional read. J thought so and I hope readers will agree. I'm sure Neyire Ashworth, the clarinettist who took the photo of the dancers in West Malling, won't mind my quoting a sentence of what she wrote to Sophia: 'it's great to highlight what individual musicians are making happen in our communities, very moving actually'.<br /><br />But you're right, there's such a pool of bright ideas which might inspire folk and point them in the right direction. The essential thing is connecting with the local community in presentation as well as the sheer excellence of the performances. <br /><br />Waa very careful with New Year's Day choice of listening - you might be please to know that as I wanted a sense of space and big skies, I settled on Sibelius 7 but couldn't stop going on to Pohjola's Daughter, The Bard and Tapiola, which it struck me would make an excellent sequence in half a concert, played consecutively with no breaks for applaus. Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-69593513766479462792016-01-01T20:02:11.680+00:002016-01-01T20:02:11.680+00:00This post forms a solid basis for a terrific prime...This post forms a solid basis for a terrific primer on "how to" develop a successful regional chamber festival. I'm curious, particularly, about efforts to build audience in relation to the ability to mount adventurous programming. (When I've looked for local chamber concerts/festivals in my area, my impression is that the programming is pretty unimaginative, particularly in the summer months, and I've suspected it's symptomatic of the age-old problem of drawing audience.) One example given here I thought particularly interesting was the one in which "James MacMillan has appeared to hear his works as well as choose his favourite chamber music in a ‘Desert Island Discs’ Live concert." Even without a "name" composer, I think that could be quite illuminating. Susan Scheidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09250142489341777926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-91782075421103931712016-01-01T16:04:49.496+00:002016-01-01T16:04:49.496+00:00I can't pontificate about grants and finances ...I can't pontificate about grants and finances with any authority, but the main point about most of these festival founders, as these IMO very moving article attest, is how they've tapped into local funds and sponsors so certainly not at the expense of London. And the other thing to emphasise is the amount of unpaid work these young people all put in - the current climate means more for less for everyone, but the younger generation is prepared to put it in. Which makes me enormously optimistic for the musical future.<br /><br />As for country house opera, I find it hard to believe that it's syphoning funds away from London - again, surely all the money raised is from local benefactors. What's been grim to read is how a certain house has lived beyond its means by paying a ludicrous salary to a star visitor. I'd be interested to read John's piece as I don't think he's a speculator who writes without checking facts.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-65975484297113804432016-01-01T13:47:16.975+00:002016-01-01T13:47:16.975+00:00David, you write of regional festivals for chamber...David, you write of regional festivals for chamber music (etc) and I appreciate that opera in this context ( called usually country house opera) has differences. Also, grants from many sources may not be as large for chamber music as for opera. But the Editor of Opera, John Allison, writes in the January 2016 that the grants to out of London opera are unfortunately "syphoning off private funds" from ENO etc. How far is this true of the festivals such as you describe?<br /><br /> Mr Allison's view goes against the usual argument ( with which one can agree in many ways) that too many cultural funds are committed to London as opposed to other parts of the country. Also, his remarks on country house opera are petulant, though that does not necessarily set aside his main contention. <br /><br />"Come June and July, wherever you turn there will be a muddy field overrun by dinner-jacketed patrons putting up with damp performances for the sake of a champagne picnic, and far more operas than anyone can reasonably take in" " ....the folly of building a mini La Scala on the estate of a newly inherited stately pile " [West Horsley Place]<br /><br />Rather a pity to read this sort of thing in such a journal<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-45241024575215676862016-01-01T01:35:02.019+00:002016-01-01T01:35:02.019+00:00Thank you, Mister Bob - it's always encouragin...Thank you, Mister Bob - it's always encouraging to hear from readers whose existence one didn't know of (unless I do know you and didn't 'get' the moniker). Locations do matter, especially for chamber music - and maybe churches will be used increasingly more for such events, and even plays. Swaledale is lovely. Happy 2016 to you and everyone else.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-53074615526795856112015-12-31T22:49:58.153+00:002015-12-31T22:49:58.153+00:00As with all your other posts this year David, very...As with all your other posts this year David, very interesting. Many years ago I heard the Lyndsays perform in a small church in Reeth as a part of the Swaledale Festival. And here I am still thinking about it!<br /><br />Thank-you for your blog, I always look forward to a new post. Travel, music, and occasionally food, wonderful! Have a full and enriching 2016 David.Mister Bobnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-54597992784082779052015-12-31T14:41:05.243+00:002015-12-31T14:41:05.243+00:00Of course, Sebastian, I'm happy to hear of any...Of course, Sebastian, I'm happy to hear of any such 'appealing mouthfuls' and no, I hadn't heard of them, other than the names involved. Isn't it a wonderful world where all this quality goes on with such devotion and love? But we don't hear about enough of it. For example I didn't even know of the Jigsaw Playeres' existence, and yet their festival is only a couple of miles from here. Outcome: website excellent, publicity minimal. The nationals don't help, with their refusal to cover much outside the major cities.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-91391699756228886602015-12-31T14:19:51.777+00:002015-12-31T14:19:51.777+00:00David please can I add a couple of very appealing ...David please can I add a couple of very appealing mouthfuls into your stew / bouillabaisse / Smörgåsbord for 2016 (on reflection you are almost certainly aware of them?) <br /><br /><b>Viviane Hagner and her festival in Lower Silesia</b> <br /><br />http://europa.krzyzowa-music.com/index.php/EN/<br /><br /><b>A stellar Gilels centenary in Freiburg</b> <br /><br />http://festival.emilgilelsfoundation.net/en/concerts/Sebastiannoreply@blogger.com