Maligned musicians
Music forms an integral part of our lives - whoever we are. There can't be very many people who can say that they get through the day without listening to some sort of music at some point. Music can relax, stimulate and provoke very strong feelings to almost anyone. It is such a great gift to all of us and especially for those lucky few who have the ability to perform and give so many people so much pleasure.
Given this, it is widely accepted that music should be made available to everyone, like our public libraries and museums. Music is one of the institutions of society on which a wealth of culture, diversity and education is built. Yet all over the country public provision of music is decreasing, and the government is cutting funding to many of our most fruitful musical areas such as London, Manchester and Birmingham.
Britain has a world-class status as a leading nation in terms of its musical output. We have some of the highest quality orchestras in the world directed by some of the most eminent conductors. Oxford itself is brimming with musical opportunities, yet soon many of these most familiar opportunities are now starting to fall into decline.
Performing, teaching and rehearsing music all costs money. This money is often hard to come by at the initial stage. Revenues from ticket sales at concerts are really the last thing which can be relied upon financially. That is the end of a long process of hard work and preparation which has involved much expense both of time and money. Essentially, it is providing a service - although currently this service is very much under-rewarded.
There is no doubt that musical groups at Oxford University are of a very high quality. Oxford University Orchestra have a professional conductor each term (the likes of Peter Stark, Douglas Boyd and even Sir Andrew Davies) and produce performances of works you would pay a great deal of money to go and see performed by a professional orchestra. And in many ways it is so much more of an uplifting experience watching fellow students playing the music they've always wanted to play - and playing it with such energy and vigour. In many ways paid professionals play their music like paid professionals. And in the sense of this being good value for money I for one have certainly felt a little short-changed at times.
The musical delights served up every term at the Sheldonian by our fellow students should be commended, and never ignored or taken for granted. This term, Oxford University Philharmonia are playing Strauss' masterpiece Also sprach Zarathrusthra and are performing Tchaikovsky's famous First Piano Concerto. To attend such a concert with similarly challenging repertoire performed by the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican you would be paying at least £15-20 per ticket. For Oxford University Philharmonia you will not pay over £8. Oxford University Wind Orchestra are giving a programme of music this term at the Sheldonian which includes The Sorcerer's Apprentice and Star Wars. To see this you will not pay more than £6. Yet such events will not continue if nobody is willing to support them.
It is essential that we do not forget the contribution music makes to our lives and the immense talent and hard work of those who perform it. At the present time, however, such pursuits are slipping down the list of priorities in terms of funding and publicity. If we carry on ignoring our musicians they will not be around for much longer. It's time some priorities were straightened before most of our great musical talents simply disappear from Oxford altogether.
21st Feb 2002