Chicago Classical Music

Last week Daniel J. Levitin wrote an Op-Ed piece for the New York Times about how odd it is that classical music audiences are discouraged from expressing their enjoyment of music through movement.  Levitin asserts that moving to music is innate and that we would probably have more fun if we moved freely. 

I couldn’t agree more.  For me, it follows the “don’t clap in between movements” rule at classical music concerts that I sometimes find so counter-intuitive.  Would it be distracting if half of the people at a concert got up to dance or sway to the music?  In some instances, yes.  But there are times when the enjoyment of a piece is enhanced by moving to the beat, and if the entire audience joins in doing so, then it can ascend to a higher level altogether.

A great example of this takes place every January at the Chicago Sinfonietta’s Annual Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Maestro Freeman closes this concert every year by inviting the audience to stand up, hold hands, sing, and sway to the pulse of “We Shall Overcome”.  The act of moving as a group, and singing together makes this one of the most emotional moments of the season, year after year.

Maybe there are other opportunities like this that would make our concerts more fun and fulfilling.  Can any of you share similar moments that you may have experienced in the concert hall?

Posted in

• Arts Issues
• Classical Music
• Composers
• Conductors
• History
• Music
• Musicians
• Orchestras
• Performance
• Chicago Sinfonietta

• Jim Hirsch's blog
• Add new comment