Comments on: Gin and Tonic Chords http://blog.naxos.com/2009/05/07/gin-and-tonic-chords/ Insights on music from the world's leading classical music label Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:39:52 +0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: raymond bisha http://blog.naxos.com/2009/05/07/gin-and-tonic-chords/comment-page-1/#comment-2136 raymond bisha Fri, 08 May 2009 04:43:47 +0000 http://blog.naxos.com/?p=3019#comment-2136 I love Sean's comments, the trends he talks about having been going on here in Toronto for quite some time. The movement began years ago with classical music presenting concerts in many of the city churches - only the best acoustic spaces in the city - and has developed from there.<br><br>I was just looking over the online concert listings at the Wholenote Magazine website (<a href="http://www.thewholenote.com" rel="nofollow">www.thewholenote.com</a>) and the variety is pretty amazing. Everything from musicals and straight ahead classical concerts, to performances at The Music Gallery ... Jazz Vespers at Christ Church Deer Park ... Indian and Ukranian dance performances ... not to mention incredible programs put on by the Art of Time Ensemble.<br><br>Just like in New York, classical music is now moving into clubs and alterative performance spaces such as the Transac Club, Wychwood Barns, Gallery 345 and Lula Lounge ... and not a minute too soon.<br><br>For one thing, I love the idea of being able to enjoy a pint while listening to great music - including classical and contemporary, and these venues completely change the relationship between audience and performers. It becomes direct. Very direct. A nice antidote to the "classical performance traditions" from a hundred years ago that were accepted as the norm for too long.<br><br>After all, why should every other kind of music enjoy that direct connection with the audience, and not classical? I love Sean's comments, the trends he talks about having been going on here in Toronto for quite some time. The movement began years ago with classical music presenting concerts in many of the city churches – only the best acoustic spaces in the city – and has developed from there.

I was just looking over the online concert listings at the Wholenote Magazine website (http://www.thewholenote.com) and the variety is pretty amazing. Everything from musicals and straight ahead classical concerts, to performances at The Music Gallery … Jazz Vespers at Christ Church Deer Park … Indian and Ukranian dance performances … not to mention incredible programs put on by the Art of Time Ensemble.

Just like in New York, classical music is now moving into clubs and alterative performance spaces such as the Transac Club, Wychwood Barns, Gallery 345 and Lula Lounge … and not a minute too soon.

For one thing, I love the idea of being able to enjoy a pint while listening to great music – including classical and contemporary, and these venues completely change the relationship between audience and performers. It becomes direct. Very direct. A nice antidote to the “classical performance traditions” from a hundred years ago that were accepted as the norm for too long.

After all, why should every other kind of music enjoy that direct connection with the audience, and not classical?

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