It
has not been the best of times for one of Atlanta’s most venerable performing
groups, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Over the past few weeks, several
emerging stories concerning the orchestra have caught the attention of the
press as well as the local arts community. First, there is the increasingly
contentious contract dispute between the ASO Players Association and the orchestra’s board and management. The details can
be found in an article written by Mark Gresham. Unfortunately, stories of major
orchestras running up deficits, operating in the red and ultimately facing
financial crisis are far too common in our nation. The reasons for this rising
phenomenon are varied and far too complex to discuss within the confines of
this small blog post. The bottom line is that this type of dispute casts a pall
over the artistry of the orchestra and makes many within the arts community
nervous about the future.
A second story that has become
another public relations issue for the ASO, even as it struggles with its
current labor dispute, deals with community outreach. The orchestra management
has recently informed some local high school choruses that they will not be
invited to perform with the ASO this year, as they have in the past, for an
annual Holiday concert. Citing issues of diversity, the management is seeking
to include other groups for this year’s concert. Regrettably, this has caused a
firestorm of protest within the community. Exactly what the ASO does not need
at this time!
Finally, another article
trending in Atlanta has to do with a recent performance by a
pseudo-pop/classical vocal group, Il Divo.
This group is the operatic crossover vocal quartet created in 2004 by American Idol fixture Simon Cowell. They
were featured on summer pops concert billed as “Il Divo and the Atlanta
Symphony Orchestra.” However, the orchestra did not actually perform. They were
asked to simply pantomime to pre-recorded backing tracks provided by the vocal
group. To add to the ignominy, the orchestra members did not learn of this
until they showed up for the gig and it wasn’t even the ASO they were using as
backing tracks but a completely different recorded orchestra. This story, again
covered by Mark Gresham, is detailed in a recent article published in ArtsATL.com.
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| The fabulous musicians of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra |
What does all of this have to
do with composers? All of these stories have one common thread: the
mistreatment of professional musicians. As a composer who interacts with
performers frequently, this is an issue that must be taken to heart. How do we show
our appreciation to those who have devoted their lives to performing at the
very highest level? In the recent London Olympic Games, we all marveled and
swooned over the accomplishments of athletes. Yet, does it ever cross our minds
that every member of a professional orchestra like the ASO has put in the same
– if not more - countless hours of practice?
It’s bad enough when
management balks at salaries or when pros are forced into humiliating
situations such as the Il Divo
concert. It’s worse when we, as composers, treat performers the same way; when
we look upon them as means to an end – namely the performance of our music –
and not as highly trained professionals, colleagues and artists without whom
our music remains nothing more than silent designs on paper. Of course,
composers are rarely in a position to threaten a musician’s salary and most of
us don’t consciously think about ways to demean performers intentionally. However,
we often do lots of little things that show a lack of respect. How often are we
late in delivering a score and parts? How often is our printed music not
clearly notated and error-free? How often do we write unidiomatic musical
lines? Do we micro-manage a rehearsal? Do we properly acknowledge and thank
performers after a concert? Dealing with composers can be another road hazard the professional
musician quietly deals with.
Yet despite it all, musicians
continue to perform. They grit their teeth and play that Il Divo gig; they spend their valuable time practicing our music; they
do their best to count our incomprehensible rhythms and navigate the
unidiomatic parts we composers bring to them on short notice before a concert;
they usually always go that extra mile. Remember that public relations miscue
spoken of earlier wherein certain high school choruses in Atlanta will not be
invited to perform with the ASO? The orchestra members have responded in a
press release detailing their offer to play for the kids for free. This doesn't surprise me. Most of the finest musicians I know are also the most generous people I know. I can’t help
but think of all the times fabulous performers have also played my music for
free or, often, for payment far below what they should have earned.
My hope is that the recent ASO
stories all conclude in ways that strengthen the organization. These stories
have reminded me that performers put up with a lot. While I shouldn’t feel
nervous about composing challenging music or following my own artistic voice, I
need to balance my writing with courtesy and respect. It’s the very the least I can do.
