Boston's Handel & Haydn Society celebrates 200 years determined to keep classical cool

MN Star Tribune - AP ^ | 3/24/2015 | WILLIAM J. KOLE

[Borges]

Before Beyonce, there were the Beatles. Before the Beatles, there was Brahms. And before Brahms was even born, there was the Handel & Haydn Society.

America's oldest continuously operating arts organization — which introduced the nation to composers like Chopin and Strauss, the 19th century editions of Top 40 hitmakers like Jay-Z and Lady Gaga — turns 200 on Tuesday.

[Borges]

Classical Ping

[Sans-Culotte]

"America is changing, and we need to reach out and engage these different and diverse communities," said Bernard, who took over in 2007 and is leaving in June to become CEO of the St. Louis Symphony.

That approach is doomed to failure, as is the "republicans need to reach out to minorities" approach. Yes, classical music mainly appeals to an aging white population. I don't see younger people ever getting into it, particularly minorities (aside from Asian and Mid-Easterners). My wife and I no longer buy season tickets to the opera because the opera companies are orienting the productions to younger, hipper people who don't even attend. So as with politics, classical music will continue to try to reach an audience that hates it while alienating their base.

[Borges]

“mainly appeals to an aging white population.”

That’s a canard. Look at the audience at a lot of operas or concerts...especially outdoor concerts.

[Fresh Wind]

They need to Handel the truth, and stop Haydn it.

(ducking)

[Fiji Hill]

The Handel and Haydn Society helped Lowell Mason, a young bank clerk, break into the world of music in the 1820's when it published a collection of his compositions. In 1836, Mason would write the music for "Joy to the World", a gospel song that everybody knows. He also wrote the music for hymns such as "From Greenland's Icy Mountains," Nearer, My God, to Thee," "The Glorious Gates of Righteousness," and more than 1,500 others. He has been called the father of American church music.

[Borges]

Lowell’s son William Mason was an accomplished composer as well. As was William’s son Daniel Gregory Mason (who died in 1953).

[matginzac]

Love der Papa and Wolfgang....

[longfellowsmuse]

Thanks for this reply. My family loves classical music. Our favorite family activity is to watch an opera dvd on a Friday night. The problem is not distaste but a lack of exposure. I would challenge any parent to find a child that does not respond to the Queen of the Night’s Aria Der Holle Roche, from The Magic Flute. Now after hearing what good music sounds like, my children can’t stand listening to today’s pop music. Interestingly, I have found that listening to classical music on the radio, in the car on the way to school in the morning, seems to decrease the sibling fighting that was occurring in the back seat:)

[Steven Scharf]

“In 1836, Mason would write the music for “Joy to the World”, a gospel song that everybody knows

I have never thought of JTTW as a gospel song. I would label it a Christmas hymm in more of an Anglican/Episcopal style. He was more of a congregationalist which I would never describe as a “gospel music” church.

I could be wrong.

[Excellence]

There is a Sunday show on our local (KUSC) classical station that features young classical performers. It’s on at 6:00 p.m. Pacific time, and available on iHeart.

http://www.kusc.org/fromthetop/

[Fiji Hill]

have never thought of JTTW as a gospel song. I would label it a Christmas hymm in more of an Anglican/Episcopal style. He was more of a congregationalist which I would never describe as a “gospel music” church.

That seems to be true. JTTW does seem to have been written in more of an Anglican/Episcopal style.

George Stebbins, a nineteenth-century Baptist hymn writer, singer, and one of the earliest recording artists said that a hymn usually addresses God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, or all the members of the Trinity (as in "Praise to the Triune God"), while a gospel song proclaims the Good News and often exhorts everyone to heed it. Today, however, "gospel music" connotes something different.