[Dixielandjazz] fights at concerts

David Richoux tubaman at tubatoast.com
Fri May 11 23:01:03 PDT 2007


I think that if you look at the general culture/politics of Pre-WW1  
1913 Europe vs. 1940 USA (Disney in Hollywood)  culture/politics it  
is no surprise that the reaction to "Rites of Spring" at the debut  
was so strong.

By the time Disney released his animated movie the entire Jazz Age,  
Modern Art, Fascist-Communist governments, Great Depression, World  
War 1 and the start of World War 2,  etc. etc. cultural & "real  
world" events made a "radical music composition" in the restricted  
world of "Classical Music" become a minor art form blip!

Just sayin'  ;-)

Dave Richoux


On May 11, 2007, at 7:05 PM, Bill Gunter wrote:

> Bill Allen writes (regarding conflicts at classical debuts):
>
>> The most famous that comes to mind was the premiere of the  
>> Firebird suite by Stravinsky, about 1916 or so. It begins with a  
>> bassoon solo in the stratospheric range of the instrument;  
>> supposedly at the first rehearsal, the bassoonist threw his  
>> instrument down and stated that the solo was unplayable.
>
> Stravinsky was somewhat ahead of his time but, nevertheless, his  
> music was certainly within popular tastes.  For example, the "Rites  
> of Spring" ballet music was featured in the 1930's Disney classic  
> "Fantasia."
>
> That being said, I do believe that it was the "Rites of Spring" and  
> not "Firebird Suite" that caused the ruckus at it's premier  
> (conducted by Pierre Monteaux" as I recall).  That's the one that  
> starts out with the really high bassoon solo.
>
> Respectfully submitted,
>
> Bill "Stravinsky be da man" Gunter
> jazzboard at hotmail.com
>




More information about the Dixielandjazz mailing list