You write:
‘In a way it’s akin to saying that the rock genre is dead, or the classical music genre is dead, because people are still hawking covers and variations on a style that hasn’t changed since it’s first conception.’

Absolutely. It’s *exactly* akin to that, and people do the same with ‘classical’ music all the time. What happens next is that record companies, desperate to make the music ‘accessible’, do so by forgetting the most important component – the quality of the music itself.

I’m compelled to write this, because I’m just putting together a paper for the APO committee proposing programmes for our next season. One of the things I’m having to reiterate is that I won’t bow to pressure to ‘do’ film music (of the John Williams variety) or the like. I don’t believe this isn’t the best of what the orchestra could play, nor do I believe the orchestra would enjoy playing it (fiendishly difficult without much musical reward).

The argument for doing it is that it’s ‘more accessible’ and will bring audience in, but I don’t believe it’s any more accessible than *any other piece of music*. Surely it’s a bit condescending to our audiences to say, ‘we don’t think you’ll “get” the kind of music we like, so here’s something a bit “easier”.’?

Much better to make the music accessible by saying, ‘Here’s some music we *really* like [note - no label other than that]. Come and listen to us play the socks off it, and you might like it too’. Doesn’t mean everyone will, of course. Personal taste does the rest.

Rant over. In short – I agree with you!

Andrew