Orchestra: A Very Short Introduction: A Very Short Introduction

In this Oxford Very Short Introduction, Holoman (music, University of California, Davis) reviews and explains the history, composition and functioning of modern (Western) orchestras. He considers their history since they emerged in 17th-century Europe; the working conditions and vocational aims of, as well as relations between, musicians and other participants; different kinds of venues where orchestras perform and the architecture they inspire; the role money, patronage, and endowments played in the rise of concert-going culture; conductors, why they matter, and why maestros are a myth; musicology and popular music criticism; the impact recording technology had on orchestras; and the relationship between orchestras and politics, especially concerning peace advocacy. A short conclusion repudiates the notion that orchestras are dead. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
In this Very Short Introduction, D. Kern Holoman considers the structure, roots, and day-to-day functioning of the modern philharmonic society. He explores topics ranging from the life of a musician in a modern orchestra, the recent wave of new hall construction from Berlin to Birmingham, threats of bankruptcies and strikes, and the eyebrow-raising salaries of conductors and general managers. At the heart of the book lies a troubling pair of questions: Can such a seemingly anachronistic organization long survive? Does the symphony matter in contemporary culture? Holoman responds to both with a resounding yes. He shows that the orchestra remains a potent political and social force, a cultural diplomat par excellence. It has adapted well to the digital revolution, and it continues to be seen as an essential element of civic pride. In a time of upheaval in how classical music is created, heard, distributed, and evaluated, the orchestra has managed to retain its historic role as a meeting place of intellectual currents, an ongoing forum for public enlightenment.