- Jun 27, 2003
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ARTHUR FIEDLER
A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down.
Mary Poppins
When the history of the twentieth century is written, it will likely be said that the person who sold classical music to the American public was Arthur Fiedler. Born in 1894 into a musical family, young Arthur took violin lessons but found them to be a chore. He attempted an apprenticeship in publishing but became disenchanted. At his fathers urging, Arthur decided to become a professional musician and by 1915 was with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, where he ended up playing, at one time or another, almost every instrument. He began making a mark as a conductor as early as 1924 and by 1930 was named the director of the Boston Pops.
Fiedler had the desire to take music to the public. He reasoned that since people freely enjoyed fine books and paintings at libraries and art centers, they should be able to enjoy fine music as well. Therefore, he instituted a series of free open-air concerts that soon became the model for other orchestras and bands around the country. Fiedler offered the public a variety of music, from current popular music to unknown classical pieces. In addition to Chopin and Wagner, he conducted a piece based on radio commercial jingles. His version of Jalousie, a hitherto unknown tango by a Danish composer, was the first symphonic recording to sell a million copies. Like a spoonful of sugar to make the medicine go down, Fiedlers skillful blending of popular and classical styles soon had Americans enjoying music they otherwise would never have heard.
CONSIDER THIS: Bring something to the market that people enjoy, package it with excitement, and you will always have an audience.
Submitted by Richard
A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down.
Mary Poppins
When the history of the twentieth century is written, it will likely be said that the person who sold classical music to the American public was Arthur Fiedler. Born in 1894 into a musical family, young Arthur took violin lessons but found them to be a chore. He attempted an apprenticeship in publishing but became disenchanted. At his fathers urging, Arthur decided to become a professional musician and by 1915 was with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, where he ended up playing, at one time or another, almost every instrument. He began making a mark as a conductor as early as 1924 and by 1930 was named the director of the Boston Pops.
Fiedler had the desire to take music to the public. He reasoned that since people freely enjoyed fine books and paintings at libraries and art centers, they should be able to enjoy fine music as well. Therefore, he instituted a series of free open-air concerts that soon became the model for other orchestras and bands around the country. Fiedler offered the public a variety of music, from current popular music to unknown classical pieces. In addition to Chopin and Wagner, he conducted a piece based on radio commercial jingles. His version of Jalousie, a hitherto unknown tango by a Danish composer, was the first symphonic recording to sell a million copies. Like a spoonful of sugar to make the medicine go down, Fiedlers skillful blending of popular and classical styles soon had Americans enjoying music they otherwise would never have heard.
CONSIDER THIS: Bring something to the market that people enjoy, package it with excitement, and you will always have an audience.
Submitted by Richard
