Music as Alchemy
Sun, Jul 8 2012, 1:55PM
Has anyone else read Tom Service's new book, Music as Alchemy? It consists of interviews with six conductors (Gergiev, Jansons, Nott, Rattle, I. Fischer, Abbado) plus interviews with key players in their orchestras and in-depth commentary from Service about the rehearsals/concerts he sat in on at the time of the interviews. I thought it might be a bit hagiographic, but it's not. While appreciative of these conductors, Service isn't uncritical (e.g. noting where a concert seemed not to work fully), and he's keenly aware of the role played by orchestral musicians and the different 'character' of different orchestras and venues.
Of course it helps that these conductors are almost all of the 'modern' non-dictatorial school, and that they fit Service's ideal of practitioners who in different ways trust to their players, even allow players to an extent to set the agenda for interpretation. I would have liked to have seen a chapter on, say, Marin Alsop: all the conductors are male.
Still, I think this is a really good book. It's very well written and thoughtful.
Sun, Jul 8 2012, 2:37PM
#2
RE: Music as Alchemy
Thanks Uber Alice. You're absolutely right - the sex of the conductor (or ethnicity, or sexuality, come to that: but fair point about race) shouldn't matter at all. But what Service's book looks at is the odd thing of one person standing in front of a hundred-odd others and persuading them (sometimes forcing them) to do things his/her way. For the vast majority of orchestral players I'd imagine race/sex/sexuality is completely irrelevant - but if just a few key players are funny about it, that could affect the outcome. So it would have been interesting to see how, say, Alsop goes about being a conductor who also happens to be female in a male-dominated profession.
And I guess it's fair to say that there's an obvious lack of representation for women/black/out-gay conductors, don't you think? I'm sure the possible prejudice of a handful of orchestral players is the LAST reason for it - is it more the prejudice of market forces, audience expectation, etc? Service does have some thoughts about the lack of conductors who happen to be female: how it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy (the you'll-never-make-it mentality putting many off at an early stage, etc).
Sun, Jul 8 2012, 2:42PM
#3
RE: Music as Alchemy
Sounds a very interesting book John. I imagine the research for it must have concluded a couple of years ago, and I'd guess that if it were starting today he might well have included Alsop, who has come a long way in the last couple of years.
Of course each of us will be thinking, "if only he had included XXX", but it sounds anyway like a good read for summer evenings (yes, over here we do have summer!).
Chris
Sun, Jul 8 2012, 3:13PM
#4
RE: Music as Alchemy
Just ordered a copy from Amazon. Hardback £9.50 including delivery, that's got to be a bargain, even the fact he writes for that London middle class left wing think tank 'The Guardian' didn't put me off. You see John, the internet and forums can be a force for good, what does Stephen Huff know about anything. Reading it might keep me off these pages though, but wait, I'm Alice, we girls (unlike men) can do two things at once.
Sun, Jul 8 2012, 3:49PM
#5
RE: Music as Alchemy
Thanks Chris and Alice (I was never quite comfortable with the 'Uber'...). Indeed, Chris, no book is ever going to be complete (at the end Service brings in Dudamel, Nelsons & co: other obvious candidates for some if maybe not experienced enough for others). The research was carried out between 2008 and 2010, but there are references in the text which make it clear that the final product was submitted to publishers early this year (e.g. a reference to Paavo Berglund dying in 2012).
Anyway, it is a good book: extremely readable and, I think, 'believable' as a representation of what happens between conductors and orchestras. I suppose nobody really knows... Perhaps Service is a *little* touchy-feely about what makes for greatness in music-making, but he's pretty rooted in what actually happens in rehearsal/concert. I hope you'll both enjoy reading it... and disagreeing with it if need be!
£9.50 is a good price, yes, Alice.
Sun, Jul 8 2012, 10:55PM
#6
RE: Music as Alchemy
I wonder what would have been Mr. Service's reaction, if he had interviewed Mrs. Simone Young, who might be in the "dictatorial" (in a way), too serious approach of conducting (having, however, great results from an Orchestra that, otherwise, had been always in the sidelines).
By the way, I don't think there is a lack of representation for women/black/out-gay (!) conductors. Whoever is worthy enough can go ahead and win the audiences. Simone Young, Marin Alsop, de Priest and in the past some more female (Jane Glover, Iona Brown) have proved themselves more than worthy. I really don't know whether we need an out-gay conductor (!) to prove the "versatility" and how "colourful" our world of Classical Music is.
Anyhow, the book should be useful reading.
Parla
Mon, Jul 9 2012, 6:52AM
#7
RE: Music as Alchemy
.....I hate to seem argumentative...
Doc, someone's obviously hacked into one of your forum identities! Eternal vigilance is the only answer.
Mon, Jul 9 2012, 8:39AM
#8
RE: Music as Alchemy
.
Mon, Jul 9 2012, 8:39AM
#9
RE: Music as Alchemy
.....I hate to seem argumentative...
Doc, someone's obviously hacked into one of your forum identities! Eternal vigilance is the only answer.
No, just one of my little jokes, ha ha ha. I have checked identity security just in case and it is safe, no multi personality disorder here, ha ha ha. You know I think the ability to laugh at one's own jokes is a virtue, ha ha ha HA HA HA .... HA HA HA soon the universe will be mine HA HA HA HA all mine HA HA HA, No I expect you to die Mr Bond HA HA HA.............. yes mum, I'll be down in a minute.
It sounds like a good book John and thank you for bringing it to the attention of the forum. I will seek out a copy immediately. I hate to seem argumentative but I fail to see the importance of the sex of the conductors, non of the conductors are black either, is that a problem !!! Sex and Race are only important to sexists and racists. Celibibache was a conductor who saw the 'sex' of a trombonist to be important (Abbie Conant). Let us rise above these things John.