30 October 2002
Talkback: Is our western classical music becoming a casualty of social change?
The advent of mass-media and mass culture over the last century has meant significant cultural change in the West. September 11, and now Bali has revealed some deep hostility to western culture.
But - what inherited cultural activities are truly important to Australians ?
Our music is a case in point. It is not directly threatened by terrorism - but it may well be threatened by the ways our internal culture (or cultures?) have been shifting. We are living in a time when some of our western values and cultural expressions need re-examining.
Classical Western Music, for one thing, is no longer at the centre of our mass culture - now just a specialised branch of mainstream popular Western music.
The question is, how much effort should we put into chasing our kids to violin lessons, or dragging them along to expemsive concerts? Why should we be encouraging them at all?
Mary Jo Capps is the General Manager of Musica Viva Australia. it is the largest organsiation of its type in the world, and it presents around 2,500 concerts each year.
Ignatius Jones is one of Australia's leading major event directors. He is currently the Director of Ceremonies for the Sydney 2002 gay Games. He has directed the Independence ceremonies for East Timor, the Harbour spectacular of the closing ceremonies of the Sydney Olympics and the list goes on. He is well and truly at home with large-scale cultural events.
Richard Gill is one of Australia's most admired and pre-eminent conductors - as well as an internationally respected music educator. He currently conducting "Lindy" - Moya Henerson's Australian Opera of the tragedy surrounding Lindy Chamberlain.
Brian Buggy heads a non-selective Sydney school music department with student orchestras, choirs and ensembles who are internationally recognised for their musical ability.
Guests
Mary Jo Capps
General Manager of Musica Viva, Australia
Brian Buggy
Director of Music, Knox Grammar School
Ignatius Jones
Currently, Director of Ceremonies for the Sydney 2002 Gay Games
Further Information
Opera Australia's Production "Lindy"
02 9318 8200 for tickets
02 9250 7777
(At this point, it is only playing in Sydney, but will be broadcast live on ABC FM this Saturday night (Nov 2nd) at 7.30 pm)
