Miscelleneous

5 December, 2010

Dear Editor
As a music student, I feel compelled to respond to Michael Laws’ remarks on the NZSO. Although, I do not wish to dignify his ignorance, I would be delighted to know what training, background, or otherwise qualifies Laws to judge, with such obnoxious confidence, the orchestra as “mediocre.”
The real issue here, though, is the user-pays debate. The economic argument is popular but ignores the benefits of art (classical) music that cannot be measured financially. The beauty of all music is its ability to mirror the emotions of our life – AC/DC can do this as much as Beethoven. However, by demanding our attention over a longer time period, in more complex forms, classical music challenges us intellectually and emotionally. Conversely, one can only convey so much in three-minutes-twenty within a narrow verse-chorus structure. This is not to deride popular music; rather, one must simply be aware of its limitations compared to classical music.
The great classical works engage and take the listener on a journey that offers a complete picture of life. This is its great benefit and why we need to support the musicians who provide us with this experience in its living form. If we, the audiences, are patient and surrender ourselves to the music, we can enjoy the uplifting experiences that were intended by Bach and his successors. It is perhaps unsurprising that something requiring higher cognitive application should be so grossly misunderstood by Laws.

Yours sincerely,    
Nick Braae