New Sacred Music Is Now Cool (And “Squeaky-Gate Music” Is Over)

Peter Phillips, director of the Tallis Scholars: “The standard of singing in our liturgical and concert choirs has steadily gone up, to the point where many non-Christian composers now feel able to express themselves fully writing for them. … Sacred choral music has aligned itself with orchestral and operatic composition as an accepted medium for contemporary thought.”

Musical Tourism – It Can Deeply Warp Your Sense Of Reality

“Traditions, styles, vernaculars—so many new pieces I hear these days pledge allegiance to some form of authenticity, some repertoire, some community. A lot of times, such pieces are the result of a deep engagement with the cited style on the part of composer and performer; a lot of times, it’s simply an expression of momentary curiosity. But much of the listener’s intended satisfaction is to come from the feeling that the experience has been both unfamiliar and authentic. In other words: the ideal tourist experience.”

Venerable Canadian Theatre Launches Painfully Modest Fundraising Campaign (Really? That’s All?)

“In good Passe Muraille tradition, McKim argues that an achievable campaign that asks a lot of people to give small sums lets all donors feel they are making a difference. But can the citizens of Toronto really value this past and this present so lightly that a contribution of $1 a week is all they can be expected to offer?”

As China’s Art Market Explodes, An Old Mandarin Tradition Is Revived

“The literati tradition holds the appreciation of art, calligraphy, music, chess and other ‘gentlemanly’ pursuits in high esteem. … Cultural power-brokers have been keen to promote old-style art collecting values, based on connoisseurship, history and tradition. In this vein, museums have been focusing on important collectors and their collections.”