mashup maestro

As I was claiming my luggage at 6 am in Toronto’s Pierson Airport earlier this week, I caught the news from one of many huge projectors they have broadcasting CBC 24/7. I’ll admit, I was anything but happy after leaving sunny California for the iceberg we call Canada. I was cheered up when a) my baggage actually came out of the shoot and b) by this cute piece about a “Youtube orchestra”. 

Almost like a new “Idol” style contest, musicians around the world auditioned for a spot in the first “youtube orchestra” run by Carnegie Hall talents such as Tan Dun and Micheal Tilson Thomas. It marks an inevitable meshing of low and high cultures. It’s sort of a extreme makeover for Classical music, which usually isn’t viewed as hip. It also is another example of how the internet, especially Youtube can link people from all around the world. The orchestra will comprise of 90 musicians from over 30 countries including 5 Canadians. One of these musicians, Ian Whitman from Kitchener comments ”The only way classical music will continue on through this new generation is if we play on old instruments but advertise through new mediums,”. He’s totally right. Classical music isn’t the sort of thing you’re going to bump in your pimped out Honda Civic down Carling Avenue. And it doesn’t really have the sort of star image that you see in pop music. Maybe by Youtube embracing classical music, we can put more modern faces onto the talents. This international jam will definitely bring some hype to the genre and resuscitate interest in what I feel is the most diverse genre of music. 

Here’s the link to the CBC.ca story

http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/03/02/youtube-symphony.html