bikeculturetheory

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 08:59:38 -0800

I used to frequent the Pittsburgh Symphony regularly so I must admit that for the first hour with the irritatingly acronymed 'MTT' I was a bit annoyed with the much different social vibe-- (really you ask? yes -- east coast / west coast divisions are still important and a vital part of the energy of western art music performance in the u.s. today). But then the Mendelssohn concerto was wonderful to hear and I felt like I was back in Pittsburgh with Mariss Jansons conducting...but then... the Ives. Why are we playing this symphony by a rightist, nostalgic New Englander in San Francisco? I know that Ives is not all bad and an important part of early American classical music (but perhaps that is just it..)--the piece made me wonder about what audience the music director and conductor were attempting to cater to with this piece, and I began nervously looking around to make sure I was not sitting next to Don Fisher... This post may just be anti-American, I'm not sure--in it I am anti-MTT, anti-Ives... anyhow.

Spencer Williams

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 20:36:32 -0800

Love the shout out to Gershwin! ;)

SFist: Ives Got Music, Who Can Ask for Anything More?

bikeculturetheory

Spencer Williams