I'm watching the Sarah Brightman special and she has a great voice but so often sings in this microphone enhanced intimacy that I find absolutely boring. She is singing in St. Stevenskirche. The setting is great but the music doesn't live up to the setting. The human voice is amazing and when it is compromised by artificial amplification we lose its magical human connection. Its like the injury the white mainstream committed to jazz when it robbed the individuality of the performers by placing them in the manacles of ensemble blend. I see these performers as interesting more non musically than musically. Their life stories overpower their musical performance -- a musical Peoples Magazine.
When did jazz become an extension of Lawrence Welk's Linen Sisters? I don't want to hear control, blend and balance -- I want to hear the coordinated ensemble of individuals.
I support PBS but why do they always settle on the safe arts? By the time the arts of relevance become mainstream they are no longer relevant but merely nostalgic.
Relevant art is not polite. It casts cross currents that are unsettling. PBS survives by adopting art after its relevance is no longer controversial--a custodian of consensus, a museum of dated expression beautiful in its familiarity.
I guess I am just jaded. Why listen to music when you can make it? And.. if you make it how can it not be relevant?
2 comments:
Sarah Brightman is an interesting character. Her voice is about as thin as tissue paper and the microphone makes it worse. Her voice is best suited for English folk songs (particularly the Britten settings), but she has joined the masses of classically trained singers going pop in an attempt to have a career post Andrew Lloyd Webber.
PBS can't risk losing money by playing programs people don't like! Because of that, we have to watch "Les Mis" in concert 17 times a year. Perhaps if there was more government funding and support (haha), PBS might be able to live on the edge a bit more often. However, relying on rich white Americans for money means we get to watch the Sarah Brightmans of the world over and over again. At least they still play Sesame Street.
Sarah Brightman strives for perfect vocal technique, sacrificing any emotional meaning and significance. She can hit the beautiful notes but I feel no heart from her.
Post a Comment