Sir Peter Maxwell Davies Criticises “Philistine” Government
Master of Queen's Music Gives Keynote Speech at ISM Annual Conference
Read the speech in full here. For press/media please contact Danny Whatmough
10 April 2007
The distinguished British composer Sir Peter Maxwell Davies today addressed participants at the ISM Annual Conference in Torquay and called for musicians to continue to fight for serious Western classical music.
In a speech entitled “A case for classical music, old and new”, the Master of the Queen's Music spoke out against the current government’s arts policy, condemning“[this] utterly philistine government, whose Prime Minister recently read a platitudinous speech about the health of the arts in Britain, when his own horizons are rock and pop”.
Most of Sir Peter’s speech was a discourse in praise of Western classical music, whose qualities he examined in detail – especially the parallels with architecture and art. His main point was that serious music (which does not have to be solemn, and can even be humorous at times) has an exalting, aspirational quality: it reflects the workings of a higher cosmic order. A major classical work is an important spiritual journey, like a great work of literature. This quality can be found in the classical music of other cultures, such as India, but is absent from most commercially-produced music. So classical music of this and previous centuries deserves special respect; and all genres of music are not necessarily of equal value.
Sir Peter also spoke out against the government’s totalitarian attitude towards education: he accused it of promoting consumerism as the main goal of life, and of dumbing down education and music so that they become little more than tools in the service of consumerism, keeping the public ignorant and compliant – “the motto for our government, rather than Descartes’ ‘cogito, ergo sum’ (‘I think, therefore I am’), should be ‘consumo, ergo sum’ (‘I consume, therefore I am’).”
Sir Peter recalled his days as music director at Cirencester Grammar School in the 1960s, where he was able to build up a huge range of musical activities of all kinds throughout the school. He argued that cuts to school music and music services in the 1980s had left an artistic and educational void, and that music education must be properly resourced, with properly trained professionals in charge: “Poor education has deprived millions of the possibility of expressing themselves cogently ... Of course, keeping people in a state of ignorance is good for the government ... it precludes the possibility of articulate criticism and induces political apathy ... Education, or its perverse inversion, becomes a tool with which to keep the underclasses in their place.”
He ended with a plea to his fellow musicians at the conference to continue fighting for serious Western classical music, both old and new, because of its intrinsic value and its inspirational, life-enhancing attributes – “it is this cosmic harmony which, in whatever form, must fill the world; and we, as musicians, must do our utmost to contribute towards this, through the music we know and love best.”
Earlier in the day, the ISM's President, the clarinettist Colin Bradbury, gave an introductory speech to the conference in which he too called for a return to better musical education: “In every other discipline, be it in science or the arts, young people are encouraged to express themselves. But they are also led to understand and to appreciate the work of the giants – the few whose art has enriched the lives of us all. Let music be no exception.” He spoke out against those who seem to condemn serious classical music as “elitist”.
The ISM Annual Conference runs until Thursday. On the Wednesday, Roger Wright, Controller of BBC Radio 3, will lead a wide-ranging discussion session about the future of his network; neuroscientist Dr Lauren Stewart will explain the physical effects of music on the brain; Oliver Davies and Mark Bromley will talk about the Museum of Music History which is currently being set up; and a concert by the Zephyr Ensemble of London will take place in St Matthias’s Church.
On the third day, as well as the Society’s AGM, there will be a visit to Exeter Cathedral, where conference participants will sing Evensong under the direction of the cathedral’s organist, Paul Morgan. The guest speaker at the annual dinner in the evening will be Alan Rusbridger, editor of the Guardian, chairman of the National Youth Orchestra, and a noted amateur musician.
At the close of the conference, Roger Vignoles will become the ISM’s President for 2007-08.
Ends: 04/2007
Note to Editors: The Incorporated Society of Musicians, founded in 1882, is the UK’s professional body for musicians. It aims to promote the art of music and uphold the honour and interests of the musical profession by protecting the interests of musicians, raising professional standards, and providing legal advice and other benefits to its members. Its 5,000 members include performers, teachers, composers, conductors, organists, writers and others involved in professional musical work.
Contact: Danny Whatmough danny@ism.org, T. 020 7629 4413
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