Monday, August 09, 2010

Damned If'n We Ain't Just Got Us One Hell of a...Symphony Orchestra

Over at Reason, Nick Gillespie snarks on those decaying cities whose civic boasts include world-class symphony orchestras.

Folks, if classical music were really as popular as its fans make it out to be, then you'd regularly see symphony concerts scheduled on regular advertising-supported TV channels, not just taxpayer-subsidized PBS and NPR outlets.

5 comments:

wally said...

Nowhere in Gillespie's snark or in the source articles does the issue of popularity come up. I never hear classical music fans claim broad popularity. Where is this coming from?

Bob said...

@wally: It's just me theorizing, Walt. I was trying to put myself in the head of a non-musician classical music fan who, never really straying far from his chosen world, doesn't really comprehend how unpopular that classical music is. Presumably I failed at that, too.

wally said...

Well, I'm a classical music fan, and I very often stray very far indeed from that world, as do most of the other classical music fans I know. I generally play rock, blues, and folk music during the day, but sometimes a little Mahler or Mozart hits the spot. I'm sure there are some classical-music obsessives out there, but like Trekkies, they have to be under no illusions about the mass popularity of their chosen obsession.

What concerns me more is your last sentence. Would you rather I didn't comment here?

Bob said...

@wally: Feel free to comment as you always have, Walt. The last sentence you mention is some self-pity leaking out. If you've read my blog today, you'll realize I'm stressed out over getting my car repaired.

wally said...

I don't blame you. If I weren't in the same boat, I'd hit that Paypal button.