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13Comments

  2. 2.

    burnspbesq

    In-house record labels are all that is keeping a number of famous orchestras alive, and they are recording pieces that commercial record labels wouldn’t. To cite only one example, commercial labels weren’t exactly falling all over themselves to release another recording of Richard Strauss’ “Ein Alpensinfonie.” So the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra released one on its in-house label — and it’s the best recording of that work evah.

    The audience for classical music, at least in the US and the UK, trends older and affluent. They don’t mind paying – particularly when everything above actual production costs goes straight into the coffers of their favorite orchestra.

    You young whippersnappers need to get with the program.

  3. 3.

    burnspbesq

    To clarify: I am in favor of almost anything that increases the public awareness of classical music and makes it more readily available. In my view, the smartest thing the Metropolitan Opera has done in my lifetime was instituting live HD-to-movie-theaters broadcasts of selected Saturday matinees.

    I worry about the unintended consequences of this Musopen thing.

  4. 4.

    cleek

    @burnspbesq:

    You young whippersnappers need to get with the program.

    the world of classical music is daunting. i know there are styles and composers that i do like (ex. Beethoven and Brahms, small group pieces) but i have a hard time branching out from there because i have no idea where to look.

  7. 7.

    Brachiator

    @cleek:

    the world of classical music is daunting. i know there are styles and composers that i do like (ex. Beethoven and Brahms, small group pieces) but i have a hard time branching out from there because i have no idea where to look.

    If you have some time, you might look into courses offered by a local college or university. Out here in Southern California, UCLA Extension offered a wonderful course in classical music. Even better, it was held off campus, at the old Ambassador Auditorium. It was not technical and did not require previous knowledge of the music.

    In addition to Gramophone and other magazines, you might also look into the DVD and CD course from the Teaching Company Course, How to Listen to and Understand Great Music, 3rd Edition, but only when it goes on sale.

  8. 8.

    Mako

    “Musopen is a group that wants to pay orchestras to record classical music and distribute it for free. ”

    Why? If you can’t sell it maybe you can give it away?
    My suggestion- meat dresses.

  9. 9.

    Xenos

    @burnspbesq: I am going to try the Met HD-to theatre program in a couple weeks, when Das Rheingold comes to a movie theatre nearby. After years of listening to the Met on Saturday afternoons while driving children to soccer games, I am really looking forward to getting a babysitter and experiencing some Wagner.

    Screw the unintended effects of Musopen. The intended effect of opening easy access to to really good music will have all sorts of positive, indirect effects. And serious music students will love it.

  12. 12.

    SiubhanDuinne

    I am counting the minutes until the Met’s Rheingold on October 9. In the US, for those who can’t see it on the Saturday (or want to see it again), the “encore” date is Wednesday, October 27 (evening). Robert Lepage is an incredible designer/director and from what I’ve read of his concept for the new Ring, it will be stunning.

    @cleek: You might try just about any of the Haydn symphonies and string quartets (he pretty much invented the standard string quartet model); Schubert and Mendelssohn are also wonderful and very accessible. Of course there are lots and lots of other great composers, but if you are apprehensive about going beyond Beethoven and Brahms, you could do worse than exploring the German Classicists and Romantics a little more before going farther afield.

  13. 13.

    michael

    Sounds like a worthy cause, and I certainly shine to quasi-related projects like Magnatune.

    But branding! Musopen sounds like a decongestant. Think about it.

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