Video Game Music

Found an interesting article earlier today:

http://classicalmusic.about.com/od/classicalmusictips/a/videogamemusic2.htm

From the article, I learned that much of the music I have stockpiled on my iPod may be the future of classical music and may very well be what helps to introduce to the younger generations of today and the future the masterworks of generations and eras past.

This genre of music, video game music, has evolved into full orchestral scores and pieces as exciting and dynamic as the epic works of composers long past. It is proposed in this article that this music may appear in performances alongside works of Mozart, Beethoven, and Verdi, thereby exposing the presumably young audience members to the best of classical music.

I am a fan of this music and would love to see this new music become mainstream pieces performed by our beloved orchestras.

RE: Youth

To compliment my previous post, the youth in classical music is most definitely laying the foundation for a prosperous future in classical music.

In the dress rehearsal prior to this afternoons concert, many of the pieces seemed to be lack energy, precision, and clarity. The ensemble trudged through the rehearsal knowing that the performance was less than an hour away. We predicted a mediocre performance for the afternoon, but were pleasantly surprised.

These young people took the stage and delivered a wonderful concert and displayed professionalism. The group focused its energy on the music and produced fantastic music, well worth the $8 admission. It is with youth like this and performances like this that make me, at least, feel much more at ease about the future of classical music.

Youth

Its make me quite happy to say that it seems that while the present state of classical music and classical orchestras may look bleak, the future of classical music looks bright and is getting brighter everyday. Many of these struggling orchestras manage to maintain strong youth orchestras as well as community outreach programs which bring this music to the communities and the youth within them.

Our local orchestra, the Columbus Symphony, also maintains a youth and community outreach program, through the Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestra, which I am a member of, Cadet Orchestra, Chamber Strings Orchestra, Junior Strings Orchestra, and the All-City Orchestra. These programs are going strong and are growing stronger everyday.

On Sunday, October 17th at 3pm at the Capital Theater at the Riffe Center, the Youth Orchestra shall be performing a number of pieces, including The Freischutz Overture by Carl Maria Von Weber, Daphnis and Chloe by Maurice Ravel, Danse Macabre by Camille Saint-Saens, and Ruckert-Lieder by Gustav Mahler. Anyone who wants to experience the future of classical music shall join us and enjoy!

Why?

     Classical music seems to be on the back burner of today's musical world. The once powerful form of music is now an afterthought that, sadly, seems to be taken for granted. Many of our orchestras are suffering financial deficits which threaten their very existence. These financial deficits are the results of poor patron attendance, an unfortunate reality for many of our major orchestras.
    
     In Columbus, the local symphony nearly vanished beneath the green waves of debt and deficit due to poor attendance resulting in vastly reduced ticket sales during the 2007-2008 season. This deficit had been building over several years and it was only when the orchestra was doomed to sink, the community seemed to take notice. At the notion of losing this staple of Columbus, people from around the world worked to aid the musicians of the orchestra and the organization. Through editorials, blogs, and word of mouth, the symphony was given another breath ($500,000 donation from one of the Symphony's board members) and was allowed to finish its 2007-2008 season.

     Just this year the Cleveland Orchestra, what many people consider to be the finest orchestra in the world, struck over similar salary issues. Although the issue was resolved quickly, it still struck an ominous chord amongst the patrons of the Cleveland Orchestra and the classical musical world. This was a shocking occurrence to the musical community and it shed more light on this growing issue.

     Why do our orchestras struggle to bring in the money and the patrons to stay afloat and remain a part in our culture and our society? Some may point to the tough economy, but I believe there is something else, something bigger, going on.

Introduction

     My name is Aidan. I am a young professional bassist in the Central Ohio region. I perform in both the classical and jazz genres. Through watching the news on the topic closely as well as my professional experience I understand that classical orchestras are suffering in the current economic climate, as are many organizations. However, I believe that there may be another underlying cause for many of the hardships orchestras are facing in the modern world.
 
     Through my blog, The Manuscript, I hope to find and explore reasons for the struggles of classical orchestras and classical music as a whole. Understanding some of these reasons will leave me better informed on my art form from a professional standpoint and help in choosing a college major and career and hopefully anyone who reads my blog will becomes more informed on the matter.

Some facts about me:
1) Gustav Mahler, Camille Saint-Saëns, and Ludwig Van Beethoven are among my favorite composers.
2) I am an OSU Buckeyes fanatic.
3) I. LOVE. DONUTS.

International Society of Bassists