The 21st Century Orchestra
Very little has stayed the same today as it was one, two, three hundred years ago; the clothes we wear, the food we eat, the technology we use. So if everything else has changed, how can we expect our symphony orchestra to thrive, unaltered?
The answer is we can’t.
We are at a time within symphonic music where the definition of the orchestra has room for change, and diversity is absolutely necessary. Everywhere you look, there are statistics and figures displaying the decline in audience members, forcefully stating that the orchestra is dying, outdated. We can challenge this though, the orchestra can continue, all that is required is a little innovation. But what should a 21st century orchestra look like?
The
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For me, the answer is all of the above. Every orchestra can and should be doing more to connect with their audiences, finding solutions to all of these problems; after all, these organisations exist not selfishly for the musicians, but to serve their communities.
If it was in my control, the first thing that I would do is redesign how the orchestra displays itself to the public. Traditional, classy and sophisticated are all words that would describe many orchestras’ current media presentation, although realistically these are quite interchangeable with stuffy, outdated and elitist. The effect that this has on potential audiences is: “classical music is for posh old people”, however most symphonic musicians would argue this is not the case. Symphonic music is for everyone, from babies to the baby-boomers, and all of the organisations’ media productions should reflect this blatant truth. Rather than
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Lack of engagement in someone’s formative years has a huge influence on their engagement in their adult years; hence the key to success here is striking early. Fortuitously, many professional Australian orchestras are beginning to play their part in music education, and play it loudly. For examples we can turn to the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, who just completed their ‘Education Week’, collaborating with Benjamin Northey and Paul Rissmann in a huge variety of children and adult education sessions. Similarly, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra make an example of their Professional Pathways program, providing insight into many aspects of a career in professional music in aspiring musicians, and their school tours, playing both for and with junior primary students. It is both thrilling and relieving to see these organisations make the changes to their community involvement in education to sustain interest in such a challenging and meaningful art form. The change that we are already seeing needs to continue and must receive the support which is crucial to its
Peyser, J. (1986) The Orchestra: Origins and Transformations. New York: Charles Scribner’s and Sons. Sadie, S. (1980) New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians.
As the late Baroque period morphed into the new period known as the classical period, technological advances and new compositional techniques and ideas created new opportunities for the musicians of the period. The changes allowed for new performance techniques, forms, performance venues, and newly available compositional orchestrations to be improved and evolved into something new and improved for the new period.
TitleAuthor/ EditorPublisherDate James Galways’ Music in TimeWilliam MannMichael Beazley Publishers1982 The Concise Oxford History of MusicGerald AbrahamOxford University Press1979 Music in Western CivilizationPaul Henry LangW. W. Norton and Company1941 The Ultimate Encyclopaedia of Classical MusicRobert AinsleyCarlton Books Limited1995 The Cambridge Music GuideStanley SadieCambridge University Press1985 School text: Western European Orchestral MusicMary AllenHamilton Girls’ High School1999 History of MusicRoy BennettCambridge University Press1982 Classical Music for DummiesDavid PogueIDG Books Worldwide,Inc1997
The history of the Concert Band and Wind Ensemble will be reflected through a timeline of events, including an analysis of significant events, groups, composers, and advancements. When society envisions a Wind Ensemble, talented musicians, grand music halls, and difficult arrangements typically come to mind. However, a modern-day Wind Ensemble includes a variety of musicians, each with positive and negative aspects. In society today, music is greatly appreciated and accepted. It is considered an honor and a privilege to expose our ears to the music.
... middle of paper ... ... A majority of her staff is on contract and generally works less than the symphony does. This provides a great opportunity for the opera employees to increase their potential performances and network with a much more renowned organization.
When music began to become structured as a part of civilization around the 13th century, the only place one could go to hear music was a concert hall or royal palace. This tradition lasted all the way until the mid-20th century, when jazz and rock spun off as new “genres” from traditional classical themes. Before this, classical music was the popular music; going to the symphony was a common activity among both the upper and middle class. One could argue that modern popular music is simply a revolution of classical music; for classical music has s...
The Symphony Orchestra concert was preformed by The OU School of Music with Jonathan Shames as a conductor and they presented Sutton Concert Series. In addition, the Orchestra concert performed at Paul F. Sharp Concert Hall in October 12, 2015.There were like forty-one performers on the stage including the conductor using different types of instruments and and all of them were wearing a nice black clothes. The stage was a quite large with wooden floor and there were two floors for the audience with a comfortable seating. However, all the performers were on round shape and against the conductor.
What would the world be like without music? The world would be a very silent place. Music is in many ways the material of our lives and the meaning of society. It is a reminder of how things were in the old days, a suggestion of how things are, and a view of where society is leading to. Music is the direct reflection of the picture of art, music, and literature. Music can be a way to deliver messages, being poetic, a fine art, or it can just be for entertainment. No matter what it is used for, music is the perfect art there is and there are various types of music; such as classical and romantic. This paper will discuss how classical music and romantic music had a turning point in humanity’s social or cultural development, and how they have
That brings us to the last segment of our concert, the Modern Era. Traditoinal musical instruments in the modern period have not changed nearly as much as they have in the 18th and 19th centuries. There have been gradual iterations of musical instruments within the 1900’s, such as updates to the violin family. There were many new instruments created in the Modern Era, all of which focused around electricity. This evening’s selections do not include any such selections with electronic instruments; however, there are arrangements available for the electric instruments such as the organ, keyboard or syntehsizer, or electric guitar.
The pianist and concert conductor, Christian Zacharias opened the Los Angeles Philharmonic Classical Music concert with a fascinating performance that left the audience in party mood and in happy f...
Music has evolved in too many different forms that we recognize today. We trace this development throughout time. Beginning in the middle ages, we have seen advancement from the Gregorian chant all the way to the Jazz of the 20th century. The current events, politics, religion, technology and composers can shape musical eras during time. Here I will be looking at the Classical through Post-Modern for a better understanding that can be reached to why, when, where and who are the reasons for musical evolution.
Today, around the world, music creates an impact on our culture and history. Specifically, in the Middle Ages, music was used in such a way, that society grew around it. Many things have changed about this subject, including instruments, vocals, and style, but the impact that still reaches our society today remains the same.
Great classical composers like Franz Joseph Haydn was an epitome to the classical era. The “Father of Symphony” began building his legacy from early endeavors to working for a wealthy family who later sets out on his own continuing to strive.
...d in the history of the world. It harvested amazing musical composers who shared their music with the world. The future is indebted to Beethoven, Mozart, and Handel for their hard work, courage, and eagerness. On tv, in the stores, on the radios, and everywhere you go, music from the Classical Period will always be heard by fresh ears and will always be remembered!
The result of this was many opportunities for composers. Not only could they have theirtraditional occupations as servents to various noblemen who served as their patrons, but they could also make a fair living performing their work at public concerts, an innovation of the time.