Classical Music isn’t Hip until it is.
Classical music isn’t hip, and that’s okay. Pardon the cliché, but classical music “is what it is.”
When we try to make it “Hip,” that’s where we get into trouble. These attempts purposeful attempts at “hipness” most often fall flat, and just lies there as if nothing happened at all.
“Wouldn’t it be cool if we…”
“Let’s do this. It’ll be really cool.”
“I want to make classical music cool again.”
Many in our world, with sincere and genuine intentions, want to break down the barriers between the music and the audience, or to bring in younger audiences, come up with something they think will be cool.
Classical music only becomes hip when the artist or ensemble simply has a distinct point of view, aka authenticity.
They start with something that is authentic to them.
Their “thing” is something that is personal and universally distinctive. Something that clearly demonstrates how they are different, and how they stand out from others in their field.
They automatically become hip simply by showing up and doing their own thing without explanation or apology.
They don’t talk about it out loud. They just show up and do it – again, without explanation or apology.
What do the Kronos Quartet, Time for Three, the Canadian Brass, Attacca Quartet, Julia Bullock, Brooklyn Rider, Philippe Quint, Chris Rogerson, Brandon Ridenour, Emi Ferguson, Jacob ter Veldhuis (aka JacobTV), fivebyfive, Johnny Gandelsman, Sybarite 5, Abigail Kent, Tālla Rouge, Laura Lentz, PubliQuartet and Invoke all have in common?
They didn’t set out to be cool. They aren’t trying to be cool. They’re just who they are. Authentic to what they truly believe, and how it fits the music they love to perform or compose. (Websites are listed below.)
Some are thoughtfully and responsibly changing the classical music concert going experience. Others are championing substantial “music that’s been hiding in plain sight.”
What’s your “Thing?”
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How do you really know when you’re cool?
(Only) When people in the audience say that you’re cool.
A variety of Eastern philosophies reference the act of not trying and simply being.
The Western equivalent is “Talk the talk but also walk that talk — i.e. practice what you preach.
You being authentic gives you a much better chance of serving the music, your audience and you.
Now, that’s cool.
https://kronosquartet.org/ https://canadianbrass.com/ https://www.tf3.com/ https://www.attaccaquartet.com/ https://www.chrisrogerson.com/ https://www.brooklynrider.com/ https://juliabullock.com/ https://www.brandonridenour.org/ https://www.philippequint.com/ https://www.sybarite5.org/ https://www.tallarouge.com/ https://www.publiquartet.com/ https://www.fivebyfivemusic.com/ https://www.jacobtv.net/ https://www.silkroad.org/artists-johnny-gandelsman https://www.emiferguson.com/home https://www.invokesound.com/ https://www.lauralentzflute.com/ https://www.abigailkentharp.com/ https://www.philorch.org/
#KronosQuartet, #TimeforThree, the #CanadianBrass, #AttaccaQuartet, #JuliaBullock, #BrooklynRider, #PhilippeQuint, #ChrisRogerson, #BrandonRidenour, #EmiFerguson, #JacobterVeldhuis (aka #JacobTV), #fivebyfive, #JohnnyGandelsman, #Sybarite5, #AbigailKent, #TāllaRouge, #LauraLentz, #PubliQuartet, #Invoke and #thephiladelphiaorchestra
Yanick Nezet Seguin - Philadelphia Orchestra — #thephiladelphiaorchestra