A couple of weeks ago I put up a post wondering if it was time to wrap up The Music Salon. That provoked a number of interesting comments. Some suggested I take more breaks and maybe do some indexing of past posts. Others suggested that I make the blog more focussed, not so general. Another suggested that I put together some book-length collections of related posts. That's a pretty interesting idea that has occurred to me. But my favorite comment by far came from Craig K:
There's a quote from Montaigne that I often think of as it is very relevant to our world today. And that you are, in your own way, in the musical realm, "lending them a shoulder to raise them higher":
"I see most of the wits of my time using their ingenuity to obscure the glory of the beautiful and noble actions of antiquity, giving them some vile interpretation and conjuring up vain occasions and causes for them. What great subtlety! Give me the most excellent and purest action, and I will plausibly supply fifty vicious motives for it. God knows what a variety of interpretations may be placed on our inward will, for anyone who wants to elaborate them.
The same pains that they take to detract from these great names, and the same license, I would willingly take to lend them a shoulder to raise them higher. These great figures, whom the consensus of the wise has selected as examples to the world, I shall not hesitate to restore to their places of honor, as far as my ingenuity allows me to interpret them in a favorable light. But we are forced to believe that our powers of conception are far beneath their merit. It is the duty of good men to portray virtue as being as beautiful as possible; and it would not be unbecoming to us if passion carried us away in favor of such sacred models."
- Montaigne
Craig captures exactly what I have tried to do in this blog: celebrate what is truly magical in classical music and distinguish it from the routine, the kitschy, the opportunistic and the mediocre. Along with Richard Taruskin, I have often come to realize that the true enemies of classical music often come from within.
The true engine of the blog has always been the commentators who have often filled in the gaps, adjusted the compass and provided necessary pushback. Alas, to my last post, the Friday Miscellanea, there was not a single comment. So it seems that items of interest to me are of little interest to others. Or perhaps I have just taken up the same topics too many times. In any case, it seems there is less need for The Music Salon in these days of Swiftian triumph and naked roller-skating nuns.
So while I won't draw a line to indicate the end of The Music Salon as I may post something from time to time, I doubt I will make an effort to post on a regular basis.
Thanks to you all, it has been a deeply rewarding journey.
Let's have a suitable envoi, the Chaconne by Bach in the arrangement by Andrés Segovia:
Bryan,
ReplyDeleteBest of luck to you. As Anon said you don't have to make immediate decisions and I would suggest thinking about related things to do without the pressure of maintaining the currency of the blog. As I said before, the blog is not the problem; the wider culture is going in a different direction.
Thanks, Maury! I actually have lots of other things to do. I am just about to the end of memorizing my transcription of the Bach Chaconne. I find working on that every morning very satisfying. Also, I just bought a lot in a new area here with lovely views of the mountains and I'm going to design and build a house for myself.
ReplyDeleteGood for you. All the best.
ReplyDeleteYou do it because you want to. You will not find money, praise, or gratitude doing it, but as a musician, teacher, and a spiritual person (I assume:) you do it for ‘Soli Deo Gloria’
ReplyDeleteThank you for al your work on this blog - it was part of my weekend reading, even though I only made one comment throughout the whole time. I shall miss my Friday appointment! Do keep posting if you can! With very best wishes.
ReplyDeleteThanks all, for your positive comments. One of the best things about doing the blog was the wonderful people I met through the comments. Love of music and also love of talking about music was what kept the Music Salon interesting. Whenever I run across something interesting, I will likely put up a post on it. And I hope you will comment. For now this is my perfect, authentic, cadence.
ReplyDeleteBlogs like this really typify for me what was best about the earlier days of the Internet: somebody who knows and loves things writes about those things. People read the blog because they too love those same things, or that love and care is contagious. It's getting harder and harder to find good blogs or articles that are well-written, informative, and enjoyable to read. So much of the Internet these days is stupid content farms regurgitating Wikipedia.
ReplyDeleteOh god, yes. And YouTube is much worse!
ReplyDeleteBryan, I have enjoyed my time spent on screen with The Music Salon over a number of years. You have, to my mind, always been a voice of reason in what is often a storm-tossed sea of noise, for noise sake. I also appreciate that you bring Canadian content to your thinking and writing. Admittedly, from your expatriate seat. Perhaps it is that vantage point that allows you to speak clearly and honestly about the virtues and the failings of Canada's classical music education and performance scene.
ReplyDeleteOn that point, I winter on Vancouver Island and have enjoyed what to me is the vibrant arts culture in the Cowichan Valley. The CV Performing Arts Society makes an effort to present quality classical performances in the area. In the last two years, Angela Hewitt, Jon Kimura Parker and the Canadian Brass have performed there for appreciative audiences. (Appreciative that the show did not necessitate a trip over The Malahat at night, if nothing else.)
I will happily read and consider whatever you chose to share on this platform in the future. Best wishes in your future endeavours.
David, thanks so much for weighing in, it really helps me have a sense of my readership. I think the last time I was in the Cowichan Valley was when I played a concert there many years ago! But I am delighted to hear that there is a good concert series with these fine artists.
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