[Harp-L] classical recordings

[bon@xxxxxxxxxx]

Sorry, I have been unable to respond to all the emails about trying to get 
a label to put out "Harmonica America" and classical recording in general.  

But classical music as a business is much different from what it was 20 or 
30 years ago.  First of all, all the Major labels have closed down their 
classical divisions; when I was signed in 1988 to RCA the beginning of the 
end was already started.  They hired a guy whose job it was was to reissue 
old famous recordings from the vaults and therefore stop any new 
recordings by new artists of pieces they already had.

At the same time NPR and PBS moved away from classical music almost 
altogether so now only one in five of the classical music stations that 
were around 30 years ago is still playing classical music and all play 
much less than before.

Without Major labels, major media has move totally away from classical 
music.  Carson and Ed Sullivan had classical acts on all the time; Leno 
and Letterman never do!  Any classical music that gets exposure now must 
be associated with a major movie or TV show.

There are therfore no Rubenstein's or Horowitz's starring anywhere.  If 
Sir Simon Rattle, the Music director for the Berlin Philharmonic, were to 
go on the Today Show and the "Pink" was on the same show, the Today Show 
would be all over "Pink" and not give Maestro Rattle the time of day.  The 
sad thing is that Maestro Rattle couldn't get on the Today Show and the 
classical music business' response to this is "he wouldn't want to" which 
is bull!!

But it is not just classical music, it is intellectual material of any 
kind that does not fit into main stream POP that is being attacked, 
perhaps politically motivated, or just because of money.

Soon all "classical" music will be Phil Collins singing Disney themes with 
an orchestra, and rock will be Phil Collins singing Disney themes with a 
band, and jazz will be Phil Collins singing Disney themes with a band with 
a sax, and country will be Phil Collins singing Disney themes with a band 
with a pedal steel, and blues will be Phil Collins singing Disney themes 
with a band and a harp player!!

Harmonically yours,

Robert Bonfiglio
http://www.robertbonfiglio.com

PS - I will be playing next weekend with the Peoria Symphony and the 
weekend after that with the Memphis Symphony, so come on out and please 
come up and say hello - I love to meet fellow harmonica players!!


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