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May 12, 2009 There's a great deal of controversy about the National Endowment For the Arts. Many conservatives, whether private citizens, politicians or commentators, are dead set against it. The government has no business supporting the arts, especially those awful,obscene things you see in our Art museums today. This garbage ought to be banned anyway! How dare the government take away the hard-earned money of decent,hard-working citizens? But it's not as simple as that. The NEA doesn't just just subsidize controversial artists and museums to put up"obscene" art. It subsidizes many American arts endeavors, such as symphony orchestras, opera and ballet companies, and other organization devoted to the arts. And since when have symphony orchestras and ballet companies been obscene and disgusting organizations, corrupting the morals of decent, god-fearing Americans? Not only that, many conservatives make it sound as though the government is taking enormous amounts of money away from hard-working, cash-strapped US citizens to subsidize "obscene" art. In fact, the NEA gets a mere pittance from the government, which takes out LESS THAN A DOLLAR from individuals taxpeayers each year to fund this organization. People are compalining about the government taking less than a dollar from them each year, while supporting the war in Iraq,which has needlessly drained the country of over a trillion dollars which could have been put to use for much more useful things! I have been a classical musician since I was a teenager. I love classical music, whether orchestral,operatic, or whatever. I've devoted my life to reharsing,performing,teaching, studying and listening to it. America has a rich tradition of classical music. It has more symphony orchestras, opera companies and other classical groups than any other country in the world, including Europe, the birthplace of Western Classical Music. And it has more world-class symphony orchestras than any other nation. Opera is more popular than ever before in America. No, classical music is far from dying in America, but it is definitely in trouble. It costs a great deal of money to run world-class orchestras and opera companies. The private sector and other organizations provide some hel[p, but many US orchestras are in serious financial trouble, and some have gone under. The same is true of opera companies. Those of Baltimore and Hartford, Connecticut have gone under,and others might do the same. The New York City opera is reopening this September after extensive renovations in Lincoln Center, and is in serious trouble. Great orchestras in Boston, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Minneapolis, and elsewhere are feeling the economic crunch. We can't let our orchestra go under. The livelihoods of so many people,not only musicians, but the administrators and others are threatened. This is not a small number of people, but a considerable number. If wealthy corporations, individulas, and other groups could provide all the help,it would be wonderful. But that's not happening. Where are you,Bill Gates? Do you know anything about classical music,and the plight of all the performers and administrators today? Could you help? Whether you like Obama or not, givernment help to the NEA might increase,and this would be a very ggod idea.
No, classical music is not just a frivolous entertainment for bored rich people who like to appear up in public and show off their finery.
It's a magnificent art form which has improved the quality of live for people all over the world for centuries, including America. We need it here, and we can't afford to let it die.
A former free lance French hornist who has performed with numerous orchestras, opera companies, concert bands and chamber music ensembles. Also a former substitute music teacher at varous public schools. Has served as music critic for student newspapers at Queens college and Hofstra university and currently involved in music appreciation programs for people with diabilities and the elderly and infirm. Has performed in Italwy,Australia, Switzerland,New Zealand,Fiji and Samoa.
Classical music blog The Horn, at blogiversity.org. Discusses all aspects of classical music,orchestral,operatic,chamber music etc, music history, theory, current events, composers, conductors, instrumentalists, singers etc, and much more.
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