Professor MaryAnn Young
Musi 1306
10 March 2010
Classical Music Culture at the Dallas Symphony Orchestra
1. Introduction to the DSO:
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra has been an integral part of the music culture of the greater Dallas area since its beginnings in 1990. Hans Kreissig started the orchestra as a 40 member ensemble and it quickly began gaining recognition nationally. Eventually the DSO became an all professional Orchestra in 1945. The DSO has continued to contribute to and even shape the DFW area music and art culture. The orchestra now features 97 professional full time musicians playing chordophones, membraneophones, areophones, idiophones and even electrophones of every shape and size, primarily western classical instruments such as the violin, bass, French horn, harp, timpani etc. The DSO falls under the cover of several genres. Jazz, choral, instrumental, pop, orchestra are the self proclaimed genres that the DSO falls under; of course, the focus of the DSO is on western classical music and is certainly considered “art music.” The Dallas symphony Orchestra has and continues to play a vital role in the development of The Dallas Music culture, offering material, support and introducing music to many Dallas area residents, as well as affecting the culture of music nationally and internationally.
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra is a very large and well known institution, finding resources, and doing research was very straight forward. The bulk of my information comes directly from the DSO’s own website, http://www.dallassymphony.com/, which publishes information about all of its activities, concerts, and events along with their core beliefs about the place and purpose of music.
My research was not limited to sitting and reading about the DSO, but also included a trip to the Meyerson center, the home of the DSO, to listen to a performance of Leningrad written by Shostakovich. The research online gave me the knowledge of what the all the DSO does and believes, my trip to the Meyerson gave me the opportunity to experience, observe and understand the way that those beliefs and activities are acted upon.
Lastly, while I was unable to conduct a personal interview I listed to podcast hosted by WRR 101.1, the first radio station in Texas, and the only 24/7 classical music station in the Dallas area. These podcast featured interviews of Marvin Hamlisch, the recently named Principle Pops Conductor of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and also the interview of Andrew Litton, who is Music Director Emeritus of the DSO along with Jon Kimura Parker a solo pianist playing at the DSO. These men are of great importance to both the DSO and the classical music culture worldwide. These interviews provided better information than any interview that I could have conducted myself, with anyone that I could have actually interviewed.
Aspects of Music Culture:
One of the most defining aspects of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra is its belief in the idea that everyone should have access to music. “The Dallas Symphony Orchestra has a long-standing commitment to making music accessible to everyone." (Heartstrings Program) The DSO looks to allow as much inclusion of as many groups as possible, offering free concerts that are open to the public, along with their normal, ticket based concerts.
The DSO plays a wide variety of music at these events and while it supports no specific religion, many classical western musicians were influenced by the Christian religion, being Christians and/or supported by the Church, it is not uncommon for a piece of music to be Christian based, even a hymn written for praise purposes. Marvin Hamlisch, when asked about the Christmas special he and the DSO will be playing this December, brought up that while they will be playing, in part, some more secular Christmas songs, the latter half will be of a more religious aspect. (Marvin Hamlisch) This is just an example of how, because the DSO is involved with the Dallas culture, that religion is part of the concerts, but not promoted by the Orchestra itself.
There are events and concerts played by the DSO several times a week and on or around national holidays. The music is a constant part of the greater Dallas art culture, and recordings of these concerts are available for purchase. The music has no specific proper context except to be listed to whenever the listener desires. The music is appropriate whenever the emotions of the listener desire to hear that music.
As mentioned earlier, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra plays concerts that are open to anyone who wants to buy a ticket to listen. There are, however, also free events held during the spring, at certain park in the metroplex, allowing patrons to enjoy the music free of charge, and with no need to dress in any special way. This also allows some of the younger children who might be less likely to attend the normal concerts to experience the music first hand and live. Open rehearsals are also held where students can come and listen to the Orchestra practice, free of charge.
The Dallas Symphony also holds contests for young musicians in order to encourage local residents to pursue music on their own. There are programs to educate kids and adults alike about and how to play music. “Through programs like Studio DSO and DSO Discover the Dallas Symphony Orchestra shares its artistic and educational resources with Dallas area schools and universities by bringing the world's finest professional musicians into direct contact with students of all ages”(College and Beyond)
Many types of musicians have benefitted for the DSO teachings, not just classical music lovers. The DSO has a vast repertoire of music genres that it plays. Choral music, instrumental, pop and classical as well as Jazz are played at the DSO. In fact, the DSO just recently played a series of Jazz concerts and before that, played the music of Pink Floyd. Artists from around the world have played at the DSO. Principle Pops Conductor Marvin Hamlisch not too long ago played at a concert along with AR Rahman, composer of the music in Slumdog Millionaire. (Marvin Hamlisch) Rahman is, of course primarily an Indian music composer. While this was not featured at the DSO, this is an example of the many influences on the DSO and that the orchestra tries to give to the Dallas area.
Some of the guests are choirs or famous singers, which of course means that there are lyrics to some of the songs played by the DSO. The main genre played by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra is western classical, tradition often finds the lyrics in Italian, which is a language not spoken by many of the patrons of the DSO. In these cases, the emotions portrayed by the singers and instruments tell the story of these words which can take the form of being a main instrument, often holding the main melody. These words are associated with a story of some sort.
The music culture of the DSO is far reaching, with performances in Mexico and Singapore, as well as a fifteen city tour of Europe, however the influences of the DSO do not just stop at the musical performances themselves, and not necessarily to just music itself. The DSO is active politically, involved with American Symphony Orchestra League ASOL. The ASOL is an institution which promotes policies that give as many people as possible access to orchestral music. The Meyerson, which is the home of the DSO, has its own restaurants and a gift shop with everything from batons to opera glasses to t-shirts and figurines of famous composers.
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra has been a powerful shaping force of the Dallas area arts culture. The DSO has been providing Dallas Area residents, and people across the globe with the opportunity to experience the music of western classical, jazz, African and Latino influenced, among many other genres and types of music for nearly 110 years. The DSO has, and continues to fulfill its stated purpose of giving everyone access to music by being both politically and socially active within and outside the DFW area.
Works Cited:
1.) "IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH MUSIC." Dallas Symphony Orchestra. DSO, 2009. Web. 10 Mar 2010.
2.) "COLLEGE & BEYOND." Dallas Symphony Orchestra. N.p., 2009. DSO Web. 10 Mar 2010.
3.) “Marvin Hamlisch.” WRR PRESENTS Feb. 3, 2010. Web. Podcast. 10 March 2010.
< http://www.wrr101.com/?id=233>.
4.) “Andrew Litton and Jon Kimura Parker.” WRR PRESENTS Jan. 13, 2010. Web. Podcast. 10 March 2010.
5.) "Symphony and SymphonyOnline." League of American Orchestras. League of American Orchestras, 2010. Web. 10 Mar 2010.
6.) “Playbill February” Dallas Symphony Orchestra Playbill. Dallas Symphony Orchestra. February 2010.
7.) Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Leningrad with Violinist Simone Lamsma. Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Meyerson Center, 2301 Flora Dallas TX 75201. Classical music concert.
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