What I learned from Lawrence Welk.

I wanted to BE Sissy.

I grew up watching Lawrence Welk and listening to his records along with various other “easy listening” orchestras. Mantovani. Percy Faith. Ferrante and Teicher. 

Now,  before you extrapolate my age based on the above, these were mostly my mom’s and grandma’s records I scavenged and listened to. On repeat. With accompanying choreography. Because, although I never took dance classes, I truly dreamed of being Sissy from Bobby and Sissy. I mean, who wouldn't want to glide across the floor to all that beautiful music?

You know you can still catch Lawrence Welk reruns occasionally. And yes, I DO still enjoy watching it. 

Photo by Kind and Curious on Unsplash

Is this good music? Is this really an orchestra? Is this ‘easy listening’ genre really a thing that can be considered on par with symphonic music?

What would Mozart say? 

The cool thing about Lawrence Welk and band leaders like him is that they made listening to music fun and creative and entertaining. They arranged songs and music so that it was easy to listen to and boiled it down to the basic components that could be understood by the average listener. I didn’t have to be a scholar or have years of experience to enjoy the Mantovani Strings play Brahms and I could hear my favorite songs played by an orchestra - taking my familiar music and giving it a classical spin. 

In today’s terms you might  be listening to Vitamin String Quartet, The Piano Guys, Two Cellos, or Black Violin. This combination of entertainment PLUS classical music is a winner! I mean, who doesn’t like a splash of something along with their symphony or their opera or their concerto? Listen, if something or someone has a way of attracting an audience that otherwise would not be there, I’m all about it. I don’t think it lessens the value or integrity or essence of classical music. If anything, it opens the genre to new people, ideas, places, and potential. 

Maybe the orchestra should consider adding a couple of skits to the concerts. I can see it now:

A panel of composers sits to the side, sort of like the commentators at ESPN (Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Aaron Copland, Florence Price, J. S. Bach, Fanny Mendolssohn, Clara Schuman).

Child versions of  composers playing video games.

Funny pairings. Like with wine and food. This symphony pairs well with a plate of pizza rolls and an ice cold Coke. This next piece needs a warm pair of socks, hand warmers, and a barcalounger. And so on. 

Photo by Dan Gold on Unsplash

How do you draw the line between ideas that might bring in new audiences and help people understand your art, and distractions that detract from the art itself? Why is it important to get the attention of those ‘new’ audiences? Is the art itself enough? Can it last and find its own audience because it is valuable as it is? 

Not to go down a rabbit hole, but I’ve had this conversation in another context. Churches have been having this conversation for years now. If we add drums and lights and visuals, because that is what people are used to seeing, is it still church? Are we being true to our gospel if we have to dress it up just to get new people in the door? Is the message still enough? 

The answer, for churches and orchestras and bounce houses and paint stores, is yes! And - you always have to come back to your main message. If you lose that in your ribbons and bows and fluff and rigamarole, you might as well hang it up. At some point you have to trust that your mission is real and worth the effort. 

And trust your “old” audience. You know, the people that got you where you are? Trust them to be there and trust them to come along for the ride into something a little different. 

Think of these things as invitations. 

A concert of video game music? 

We are interested in you gamers. Your music already involves the orchestra and is worth hearing in the concert hall.

Lights and video during the concert?

We are interested in the way you perceive music. If you are used to ‘seeing’ the music, we want to do that with you.

Music by a popular contemporary musician?

We are interested in the music and artists you know. Most music can be connected to our daily experience. Let’s connect at the symphony!

Straw hats and bare feet for all the musicians?

Photo by Rune Enstad on Unsplash

…I got nothing. 

These things show us that we aren’t as far apart as it may seem at first. 

When I sit in the symphony concert, I’m not thinking about what you are wearing, where you came from, or where you are going next. I’m usually enjoying the music, watching the musicians, and relaxing. Maybe sneaking a peek at my phone; maybe thinking about what I have to do tomorrow; maybe giggling a bit because I sat next to a friend and we thought of something funny and now all bets are off and we hope we don’t get kicked out.

I’m there for the music. However it comes. Whether it’s wrapped in a big classical bow or nestled in a trendier decorative bag with tissue paper that has little violins on it. 

Let’s listen together. And maybe dance in the lobby like Bobby and Sissy. You might have to teach me to dance though. But it will be fun!