Comments on: classical 1 initial thoughts http://www.nobleviola.com/2009/10/04/classical-1-initial-thoughts/ Life on the working end of the viola. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:01:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: curtis heikkinen http://www.nobleviola.com/2009/10/04/classical-1-initial-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-14221 curtis heikkinen Tue, 06 Oct 2009 01:23:49 +0000 http://www.nobleviola.com/wordpress/?p=3200#comment-14221 Thanks for your thoughts, Nancy. Thanks for your thoughts, Nancy.

]]> By: Nancy Ives http://www.nobleviola.com/2009/10/04/classical-1-initial-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-14220 Nancy Ives Mon, 05 Oct 2009 23:58:34 +0000 http://www.nobleviola.com/wordpress/?p=3200#comment-14220 We do tend to feel crestfallen when people leave and don't hear what we've worked to bring to them, but we don't expect everyone to want the same things out of the evening. Not everyone is as serious about the music as you are, Curt! I don't only mean activities like being a member of the Symphony and participating in conversations like this one. You exemplify what a dedicated audience member and listener can bring to the concert experience itself. Your commitment to fully engaging in the music at hand, taking in what's happening at each moment, is part of the equation in the concert hall, part of the energy flowing back and forth from the stage to the seats. We feel it, that's for sure! The most exciting concerts are when a critical mass of the audience pays attention at that level and plugs in to that energy, really joining us in the experience. That's what we're all hooked on! More people in attendance isn't just about paying the bills; it's about increasing the power of those magic moments. We do tend to feel crestfallen when people leave and don’t hear what we’ve worked to bring to them, but we don’t expect everyone to want the same things out of the evening. Not everyone is as serious about the music as you are, Curt! I don’t only mean activities like being a member of the Symphony and participating in conversations like this one. You exemplify what a dedicated audience member and listener can bring to the concert experience itself. Your commitment to fully engaging in the music at hand, taking in what’s happening at each moment, is part of the equation in the concert hall, part of the energy flowing back and forth from the stage to the seats. We feel it, that’s for sure! The most exciting concerts are when a critical mass of the audience pays attention at that level and plugs in to that energy, really joining us in the experience. That’s what we’re all hooked on! More people in attendance isn’t just about paying the bills; it’s about increasing the power of those magic moments.

]]> By: Curtis Heikkinen http://www.nobleviola.com/2009/10/04/classical-1-initial-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-14213 Curtis Heikkinen Sun, 04 Oct 2009 23:03:43 +0000 http://www.nobleviola.com/wordpress/?p=3200#comment-14213 Charles, I have some thoughts about last night’s concert that I am anxious to express, so forgive me for going off topic (if it is possible to transfer this to a subsequent post directly related to last night’s concert, please do so). First, let me say that I enjoyed the concert immensely. As much as I enjoyed the Brahms, for me, the highlight was the Bartok divertimento, which, from where I sat, was delivered in a richly expressive manner. My compliments to all the string players in delivering a wonderful perfomance of a fascinating work. I was aware of some concerns about the amount of reharsal time, but you all came through with flying colors. Parker was magnificent as expected, even though I will always prefer the second concerto of Brahms, which I believe is more consistently inspired and better balanced. Finally, the Hungarian Rhapsody was a most appropriate ending to a marvelous evening and surprisingly interesting as well. Now I come to the more sobering part of this post. I was disappointed with attendance last night, especially considering the quality of the program. What disturbed me most, however, was the mass exodus of listeners at intermission. I will never understand why someone would leave at intermission after paying for a ticket but what others do with their money is their business. However, I would urge anyone who did leave early last night and may contemplate doing so in the future, to please consider the message it sends to the musicians, who rehearse and give their all in concert to persuade us of the merits of a work. If I were a musician, I would be very hurt that I was not given the chance to demonstrate my skill and to persuade you of the worth of a piece. One of the most frustrating things I have observed about Portlanders is their unwillingness to open themselves to unfamilar works. Sure the Bartok is not as easy a listen as say Mozart or Beethoven, but I submit that such a work is far more rewarding when given the quality of the performance that I heard last night. I have had the pleasure over the years of getting to know some musicians such as Keiko Araki , Nancy Ives and most recently, Erin Furbee. They all strike me as hard working, committed artists who work diligently in rehearsal and in concert so that we as concertgoers may experience a rewarding and worthwhile musical experience. If anyone who reads this post left early last night, I urge you to give them the courtesy of staying and listening with an open mind. It won’t kill you and you might just enjoy it. I am sorry, Charles, for the rant, but I had to get this off my chest Charles, I have some thoughts about last night’s concert that I am anxious to express, so forgive me for going off topic (if it is possible to transfer this to a subsequent post directly related to last night’s concert, please do so). First, let me say that I enjoyed the concert immensely. As much as I enjoyed the Brahms, for me, the highlight was the Bartok divertimento, which, from where I sat, was delivered in a richly expressive manner. My compliments to all the string players in delivering a wonderful perfomance of a fascinating work. I was aware of some concerns about the amount of reharsal time, but you all came through with flying colors. Parker was magnificent as expected, even though I will always prefer the second concerto of Brahms, which I believe is more consistently inspired and better balanced. Finally, the Hungarian Rhapsody was a most appropriate ending to a marvelous evening and surprisingly interesting as well.

Now I come to the more sobering part of this post. I was disappointed with attendance last night, especially considering the quality of the program. What disturbed me most, however, was the mass exodus of listeners at intermission. I will never understand why someone would leave at intermission after paying for a ticket but what others do with their money is their business. However, I would urge anyone who did leave early last night and may contemplate doing so in the future, to please consider the message it sends to the musicians, who rehearse and give their all in concert to persuade us of the merits of a work. If I were a musician, I would be very hurt that I was not given the chance to demonstrate my skill and to persuade you of the worth of a piece. One of the most frustrating things I have observed about Portlanders is their unwillingness to open themselves to unfamilar works. Sure the Bartok is not as easy a listen as say Mozart or Beethoven, but I submit that such a work is far more rewarding when given the quality of the performance that I heard last night.

I have had the pleasure over the years of getting to know some musicians such as Keiko Araki , Nancy Ives and most recently, Erin Furbee. They all strike me as hard working, committed artists who work diligently in rehearsal and in concert so that we as concertgoers may experience a rewarding and worthwhile musical experience. If anyone who reads this post left early last night, I urge you to give them the courtesy of staying and listening with an open mind. It won’t kill you and you might just enjoy it.

I am sorry, Charles, for the rant, but I had to get this off my chest

]]>