oboeinsight

From someone else’s blog … I hope I’ve not posted this before. It was written a while back, so if I’m repeating myself I do apologize!

Recently, I had dinner with some lovely people and the conversation turned, as it so often does these days, to politics and economics. I mentioned the importance of arts funding, and one of my companions — an artist herself — said something like, “I care about arts funding, too, but jobs are more important.”

Yes, indeed, what I do is a job. I’m just sure of it!

RTWT

To use today’s marketing parlance, classical music needs to rebrand itself. The moniker, “classical music,” simply does not have the snap and pop of active, evocative terms like “jazz,” “rap” or “rock.”

So what to call it? A few names have been floated, and all of them have obvious flaws. They include “serious music” (All the other genres are frivolous?), “art music” (Could that be any more pedantic?) or “concert music” (Isn’t most music performed in concerts?).

Man, we are sure hearing a lot about needing to change our name. I’ve read this over and over. So what … are we attempting to trick people into liking us now? I wonder.

Churches are doing this too. Have you noticed how the local denominational church might now not even show that denomination on the sign in front of the church. You might see “New Life” or “Radiant Life” instead. “Community” plus something else is another popular church name. Go figure!

I laugh at both, really. Just like I laugh at parents who call some food something different to trick kids into eating.

I just think people are smarter than that.

Is this middle school? I’m not sure pointedly trying to be cool helps anyone or anything.

-Hilary Hahn

Thanks, Ms. Hahn!

But, that being said, I know that there are a ton of people who disagree strongly with me. And I’ll admit I can be wrong about some things. So what do you think we should call “our” music? Hmm?

And, for the record, I think Hilary Hahn is incredibly cool. But then I’m old so my thinking that really doesn’t count.

PS Here is what the newspaper I pulled the quotes from automatically adds when I cut & paste. I do like to give credit (or blame) where credit (or blame) is due!:
Read more: Orchestras, opera companies must make splash to be heard – The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/music/ci_16877740?source=pkg#ixzz1CHR8ClPs
Read The Denver Post’s Terms of Use of its content: http://www.denverpost.com/termsofuse