Positive / Visible / Social (Organized): orchestras and the question of “public goods” Show notes We talk about orchestras, ask whether financial viability is a guide to the health or importance of particular institutions (hint: Betteridge’s Law), and look at how orchestras and other such institutions can be real markers of cultural health even for the people they don’t directly affect. - An article in _The New York Times_, in 1903, referenced in _The Perilous Life of Symphony Orchestras_, by Robert J. Flanagan: > The permanent orchestra season has, as usual, been financially a bad one all over the country. With the end of April… come the bills for those who pay the piper…. There is always a deficit, which public-spirited guarantors are called upon to pay year after year. A permanent orchestra, it seems pretty welle stablished by American experience, is not at present a paying institution, and is not likely immediately to become so…. [Neverthless,] the prevailing note of the guarantors of the America Orchestras is one of hopefulness. Things are coming on; the public is being educated; it will support the orchestras in larger and larger numbers till they are finally… self-supporting. - Stephen’s top three Dutch minimalist recommendations: - “Canto Ostinato” by Simeon Ten Holt - Joep Franssens, whose best known work is “Music of the Spheres” - Jeroen van Veen - Prog rock Chris likes: - Explosions in the Sky - Faunts (and especially their album M4) - Other music mentioned on the show: - Bach’s Mass in B Minor - Lecrae - Mahler Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection” - Blue Man Group - Spoken word - A few of Chris’ composed works: soundcloud.com/chriskrycho Music - “Generation Love” by Jon Reynolds – used by permission. - “Winning Slowly Theme” by Chris Krycho. Composed along with hours of other music over the course of his teenage years and adult life. Maybe he’ll make a second career out of that. Sponsors Many thanks to the people who help us make this show possible by their financial support! This month’s sponsors: - Andrew Fallows - Kurt Klassen - Jeremy Cherfas - Jeremy W. Sherman If you’d like to support the show, you can make a pledge at Patreon or give directly via Square Cash. Respond We love to hear your thoughts. Hit us up via Twitter, Facebook, or email!