Re: [Hornlist] Re: Inquiry on another topic
Your points are all well taken, but certainly more pessimistic than mine. When I was in grade school, in Maryland, in the fifties, segregation was the accepted norm. As a kid, I never thought to question it. it just went on mindlessly. Now, the major barriers have been brought down. I try not to categorize in black and white, good and evil. Rather, I look at any situation as whether it is getting better or worse. As individuals, we can each do our small part to keep diminishing racial difference, and learn to cherish cultural difference. No matter how desperate a situation is, if we keep it improving, the problems can be solved. As far as the cultural aspects of classical music goes, it remains to be seen how the music of this era will be taken into the classical repetoire. From my own perspective of playing and listening, I suspect many who lament the decline of 'classical' music have left the mainstream and are wandering off into oblivion. Of the people I played with when I was young who have gone off to be top professionals, the ones who have gone the pop route seem much more sophisticated today. They haven't left their classical roots behind, they've learned to deal with the beat in a much more flexible way. This past year, my wife and I have been the horn section in the brass section of an orchestra/band backing vocalists in performance and recording. The musicians are all classically trained, but the arrangers expect the the brass to play with style. This is great fun on a horn, but you have to learn to take the real beat from the bass and drum interplay. When you've got a good bassist and a good drummer, everyone locks in and adds to the momentum. So far they haven't been able to computerize this kind of timing. ___ post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] set your options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
Re: [Hornlist] Re: Inquiry on another topic
I think it was either Howard Wall or Alan Spanjer. Did you notice the big guy seemed not so big? Still quite a bit like Jessie Ventura, but not as much as he used to. paxmaha Leigh Alexander <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Mark, And yet, last night the NYPhil, on the roof, playing Mozart, on David Letterman; whoda thought it? I'm guessing it was a repeat from last month? I saw "the big man", Phil Myers;-}, but who was the guy next to him? Leigh On Friday, October 24, 2003, at 03:03 AM, Mark Louttit wrote: > I think we all realize that there is a larger problem here, and that > is the > fact that support for western classical music is declining among all > demographic segments of the population. I tend to be somewhat > pessimistic > about the future (just my nature, I guess, the glass has always been > half-empty for me). I fear that I don't share your optimism. The > United > States is a much bigger country than the area south of Los Angeles. > Caveat lector > Mark L. ___ post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] set your options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/paxmaha%40yahoo.com - Do you Yahoo!? The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search ___ post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] set your options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
Re: [Hornlist] Re: Inquiry on another topic
Clayton Whetmore, here: Mark Louttit wrote: "We musicians have always been in the lead when it comes to ignoring race." B.B. Bill, Maybe yes, maybe no. Even as recently as the late 1940's it was impossible or next to impossible for an Afro-American to get a job in a major orchestra. The musician union locals were also segregated. I suppose that one can say that the glass ceiling has cracked and that today we have more of a meritocracy based on talent, still the fact that significant numbers of Afro-Americans have not flocked to the western classical music ranks in itself, says something. Maybe we'd like to think that we ignore race. However, even on hornlist it appears there are plenty of prejudiced people who look at lip size and steer young aspiring musicians away from playing any brass that doesn't have a big mouthpiece, in spite of the likes of Louis Armstrong, Wynton Marsalis, Freddie Hubbard, Dizzy Gillespie,... ___ post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] set your options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
Re: [Hornlist] Re: Inquiry on another topic
Mark, And yet, last night the NYPhil, on the roof, playing Mozart, on David Letterman; whoda thought it? I'm guessing it was a repeat from last month? I saw "the big man", Phil Myers;-}, but who was the guy next to him? Leigh On Friday, October 24, 2003, at 03:03 AM, Mark Louttit wrote: I think we all realize that there is a larger problem here, and that is the fact that support for western classical music is declining among all demographic segments of the population. I tend to be somewhat pessimistic about the future (just my nature, I guess, the glass has always been half-empty for me). I fear that I don't share your optimism. The United States is a much bigger country than the area south of Los Angeles. Caveat lector Mark L. ___ post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] set your options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
Re: [Hornlist] Re: Inquiry on another topic
> I suppose one could ask: Ah, but how is this horn related ? It is > horn-related in that if western classical music is to endure, then we must > broaden the audience, and the fact remains that persons of color do not > represent in any great numbers those who patronize western classical music. Nor those who play it. 2 cents, Jennifer Jennifer Presar Instructor of Horn and Music Theory Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL 62901 [EMAIL PROTECTED] 618.453.5809 This message was sent using IMP, the Internet Messaging Program. ___ post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] set your options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
Re: [Hornlist] Re: Inquiry on another topic
On Friday, October 24, 2003, at 06:28 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In case you haven't noticed the change over the years, good Americans have learned to note cultural differences, not racial differences. Here, South of LA, it couldn't be more obvious. Just walk around the fashion malls. The crowds appear to be international, all sizes, shapes, and colors. The stores clearly cater to cultural differences, not racial differences. The shoppers all get along, Because they *know* there's a gun in the other persons bag. Tom -- My ol' grandaddy taught me to always; post in plain text, quote only that portion to which you are replying, post replies at the bottom. ___ post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] set your options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
Re: [Hornlist] Re: Inquiry on another topic
"We musicians have always been in the lead when it comes to ignoring race." B.B. Bill, Maybe yes, maybe no. Read Willie Ruff's autobiography "Call to Assembly". Even as recently as the late 1940's it was impossible or next to impossible for an Afro-American to get a job in a major orchestra. The musician union locals were also segregated. Opportunities for Afro-American singers were limited to roles such as Othello and in Porgy and Bess. I suppose that one can say that the glass ceiling has cracked and that today we have more of a meritocracy based on talent, still the fact that significant numbers of Afro-Americans have not flocked to the western classical music ranks in itself, says something. In the Big Band Era, it was the white bands that by and large got the lucrative recording contracts (yes I know that there were exceptions) and the bands themselves were organized along racial lines (Benny Goodman gets credit for integrating his band in a time of segregated bands). I know that you said "good Americans" implying to me, anyway, that there are still many out there who assume postures of racial superiority. Still, I think that there is no denying that racism is alive and well in the United States. It manifests itself today much differently than in past times but it is still there, without a doubt. In the last several years my family has become multi-racial and I am surprised at how some members of my family are treated, even in Boston and New York City. I suppose one could ask: Ah, but how is this horn related ? It is horn-related in that if western classical music is to endure, then we must broaden the audience, and the fact remains that persons of color do not represent in any great numbers those who patronize western classical music. I think we all realize that there is a larger problem here, and that is the fact that support for western classical music is declining among all demographic segments of the population. I tend to be somewhat pessimistic about the future (just my nature, I guess, the glass has always been half-empty for me). I fear that I don't share your optimism. The United States is a much bigger country than the area south of Los Angeles. Caveat lector Mark L. ___ post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] set your options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
Re: [Hornlist] Re: Inquiry on another topic
In case you haven't noticed the change over the years, good Americans have learned to note cultural differences, not racial differences. Here, South of LA, it couldn't be more obvious. Just walk around the fashion malls. The crowds appear to be international, all sizes, shapes, and colors. The stores clearly cater to cultural differences, not racial differences. The shoppers all get along, and cross culture mingling is comfortable and common. But the different cultures are clearly defined. We musicians have always been in the lead when it comes to ignoring race. Musical evolution is fueled by cultural differences. There is no need to be sad that there are only a handfull of black classical musicians. The barriers are down and they are staying down. We just have to get used to the feel of it. ___ post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] set your options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
