Is Pop Music "simple"

Much to my regret, my kids are not really into classical music. My daughter prefers pop although she would probably acknowledge the value of the classics and my son does not care.

However, whenever I am asked by them how I feel towards samples of music which they make me go through, my reaction is often that pop music lacks ambition. My analysis (or as my kids would say my prejudices) seems vindicated by a Spanish study.




But maybe this is normal. Its success comes from being immediately accessible: One tune, one key, ... It  is just not for me but as a business, it works.

Lebrecht has done it again

This is always a surprise but strong and serious musicians do not hung up the phone when UK journalist Norman Lebrecht calls them. He regularly interviews the likes of Gergiev, Dudamel, Barenboim, J Baker, ... and has regular presence and BBC and at the Daily Telegraph.

Yet, whenever one knows about a certain topic, there is little to doubt that Lebrecht very rarely cross checks his facts and always goes for the easy provocative, but ultimately false comment.

Last year, he made negative comments on the Swiss Romande Orchestra (and sneering ones on the Geneva musical life and Switzerland as a whole). My answer was published on an editorial at Concertonet.

He has repeated the same thing on commenting on the sudden departure of the OSR's GM.

Just one example: on this entry, the OSR is described as moribound. How can he say this, nothing in his columns suggest that he has heard them in the last 10 years. The OSR fills its hall with more than 95% capacity. It has several recording contracts. M Janowski is finishing an acclaimed Bruckner cycle, N Jäarvi has recored music by Chabrier and Swiss composer J Raff. P Rophé has recorded contemporary works by W Blank. The OSR has toured in Russia, Italy and Germany ..?

How many orchestras can claim to do this ? If the OSR is moribund, then the list of dead should then be very long.

But Lebrecht knows better ... and everyone who is serious about the state of classical music has no dounts about his laughable prejudiced comments. One could have thought that he would be ashamed and would become more serious ... yet, he keeps crossing the lines of serious journalism again and again.

So, next time, you see a report signed by N Lebrecht. Just remember this must be as serious as the latest reports on movie stars on tabloids and has nothing to do with classical music.

EMI: the encore

Like in many concerts, just when you thought the pianist was leaving the stage comes another encore;

Seen in Orlando ...

Will you be in Times Square in New York on June 21 ?

If so and if you like Philip Glass, go here, download the score , learn and sing it.

I wonder where they got the idea ...

Classical Music and Ipod

Probably like me, you love your Ipod and hate Itunes. whose structure is designed for everyone except classical music fans.

Cheers up, here is an interesting source of info: called "Taming iTunes for Classical Music".

Also, to answer a few friends email, I use at home a Wifi system by Sonos, which works flawlessly.

Both are recommended.

Quick question: who is the conductor Al Gore compares Tim Cook to ?

Two clues, he is reported to have said: now that we have rehearsed the work, let us rehearse the spontaneity ... and he was in his time famous enough to be on the cover of Time:

Second question: how many do you think will understand Al Gore's analogy ?

(Answer on here.)