http://www.sequenza21.com/2006/09/roll-over-beethoven-philadelphia-orchestra-goes-digital/ The Contemporary Classical Music Community Sun, 19 May 2013 04:27:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 http://www.sequenza21.com/2006/09/roll-over-beethoven-philadelphia-orchestra-goes-digital/comment-page-1/#comment-119 Scott L. Hines Sat, 23 Sep 2006 02:14:20 +0000 http://www.sequenza21.com/index.php?p=25#comment-119 I’m glad to see the Phillie orchestra moving toward the future, but my concern is the same one I’ve had about the record/CD stores in the last 10 years. They start out as gangbusters with lots of product and within a year or two, the selection is down to Mozart’s greatest hits, or The Most Relaxing Classical Music Ever, etc.
This may be rather simplistic, but what if, just what if, the reason fewer people are buying classical music or art music is, we already have 5 copies of Beethoven’s complete symphonies. I don’t need another copy of that. I would like to have a couple of different performances of Carter’s Clarinet Concerto or Schnittke’s Third string quartet. I have money I want to spend on NEW product or recordings of pieces that are rarely if ever recorded or performed. I’ve heard about some of these pieces, I’ve read about them, but since I don’t live in God’s city and don’t get to enjoy the performances of all NY City’s various new music groups, I must get my music on disc. If it is available that is. Amazon doesn’t have EVERYTHING.
Is another cycle of Beethoven’s Symphonies really going to help the Philadelphia Orchestra? Or save Tower Records. I doubt stocking the complete works of Berio or Boulez or Chen Yi will do that either, but I’d buy everyone one of them — twice if they’re recorded by different groups.
It shouldn’t amaze anyone that students in Music Appreciation class get turned on by new music. They’ve never heard it. And, except for those of us who try to promote it anyway we can, they never will. Except as a gag on South Park or the Simpsons.
This is an old and tired subject, but it is worth mentioning again. Hopefully word will get around about the links on this site (maybe get the orchestra(s) to provide a link to NEW music on their site. Maybe there will be some nice new music on their concert rebroadcasts. New, of course, meaning within the last 10 years. Startling music from 1913 is not new anymore no matter how awesome it was and still is. Hell, something from 1968 would be refreshing.
I love you Beethoven, but I’d rather hear Henze right now.

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