Problems in Wales

[Pulcinella]

An impressive set of signatories to this letter in Today's Times:

Savage attack on music in Wales

Sir, Cardiff University's proposal to cut music after almost 150 years (report, Feb 10) threatens another devastating blow to music in Wales and the wider UK. The School of Music at Cardiff produces research of world-leading impact. Its graduates are key to the industry's delivery arm: as international composers, artists, conductors and performers, and as arts leaders, academics, promoters, label managers and heads of professional bodies. They are the backbone of classroom teaching, music therapy, community music and wellbeing initiatives. With school and out-of-school music provision already in peril, these plans could ultimately erode 70 per cent of this expert workforce in Wales.

Yet the biggest casualty will be aspiration. Cardiff is among the most culturally and racially diverse of music schools. Two thirds of its students have faced social or educational barriers, and its outreach work has benefited 400 young people in the past month alone. Cardiff University may be in deficit, but the School of Music runs an operating surplus. There is no need to make these cuts and every need not to. We urge their abandonment.
David Adams, concertmaster, Welsh National Opera; Prof Robert Adlington, Royal College of Music; Prof Cristina Aguilera Gómez, Conservatorio Superior de Música, Valencia; Giselle Allen, soprano; Sir Thomas Allen, director and singer; Deborah Annetts, CEO, Independent Society of Musicians; Elizabeth Atherton, soprano; Iain Ballamy, saxophonist; Prof Yves Balmer, president, Société Française de Musicologie; Issie Barratt, artistic director, National Youth Jazz Collective; Elinor Bennett (Baroness Wigley), harpist; Margaret Bent, Emeritus Fellow, All Souls College, Oxford; Lord Berkeley of Knighton, composer and broadcaster; Ian Bostridge, tenor and writer; Prof Julie Brown, Emerita, Royal Holloway, University of London; Stuart Burrows, tenor; Jessica Cale, soprano; Eurico Carrapatoso ComIH, composer; Prof Tim Carter, Emeritus, University of North Carolina; Philip Cashian, head of composition, Royal Academy of Music; Phil Castang, CEO, Music for Youth; Harry Christophers, founder, The Sixteen; Prof Eric F Clarke, Emeritus, Oxford University; Dame Sarah Connolly, singer; Stephen Connolly, former co-director, The King's Singers; Prof Jonathan Cross, Oxford University; Lucy Crowe, singer; Prof Joe Cutler, head of composition, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire; Prof Michael Daugherty, University of Michigan; Iestyn Davies, countertenor; Neal Davies, baritone; Prof Annette Davison, University of Edinburgh; Evan Dawson, CEO, National Youth Arts Wales; Dr Nathan James Dearden, composer; Prof Stephen Downes, Royal Holloway, University of London; Prof Michel Duchesneau, Université de Montréal; Lucy Durán, broadcaster; Prof Katharine Ellis, Cambridge University; Prof Salwa El-Shawan Castelo-Branco, Emerita, Universidade Nova de Lisboa; Rebecca Evans, singer; Rian Evans, writer and critic; Prof Annegret Fauser, University of North Carolina; Catrin Finch, harpist; Michael Francis, conductor; Marion Friend; Paula Gardiner, bassist; Sahana Gero, founder, World Heart Beat Foundation; John Gilhooly, director, Wigmore Hall; Rebecca Gilliver, principal cello, London Symphony Orchestra; Fiona Goh, director, British Arts Festivals Association; Elaine Gould, music editor and author; Lucy Gould, violinist; Yvette Griffith, CEO, National Youth Jazz Orchestra; Helen Grime, composer; Sally Groves, chair, Vaughan Williams Foundation; James Hall, countertenor; Prof Rachel Harris, SOAS; Ursula Harrison, bassist, BBC Young Jazz Musician 2024; Prof Denis Herlin, IReMUS/CNRS; Gavin Higgins, composer; Martin Holmes, Bodleian Library; Simon Holt, composer; Sir Stephen Hough, pianist; Jeffrey Howard, director of music, Cardiff Metropolitan Cathedral; Owain Arwel Hughes, conductor; Steffan Hughes, broadcaster and singer; Beverley Humphreys, broadcaster and singer; David Jackson, artistic director, BBC Cardiff Singer of the World; Sir Karl Jenkins, composer; Prof Julian Johnson, Royal Holloway, University of London; Andy Jones, co-founder, FOCUS Wales; Julian Joseph, pianist; Rosemary Joshua, soprano; Laura Jurd, trumpeter and composer; Aminata Kanneh-Mason, violinist; Braimah Kanneh-Mason,
violinist; Isata Kanneh-Mason, pianist; Jeneba Kanneh-Mason, cellist; Dr Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason, author; Konya Kanneh-Mason, pianist; Mariatu Kanneh-Mason, cellist; Sheku Kanneh-Mason, cellist; Stuart Kanneh-Mason, business executive; Prof Simon Keefe, president, Royal Musical Association; Prof Barbara Kelly, University of Leeds; Sir Nicholas Kenyon, writer and critic, former director, BBC Proms; Deborah Keyser, CEO, Tŷ Cerdd; Tom Kiehl, CEO, UK Music; Richard King, CEO, Faber Music; Karen Lawton, CEO, Mindsong; Sarah Lianne Lewis, composer; Sophie Lewis, CEO, National Children's Orchestras of Great Britain; Dame Felicity Lott, soprano; Prof Richard Marcus, College of William & Mary; Patrick McCarthy, artistic director, Ulster Orchestra; Paul McCreesh, director, Gabrieli Consort & Players; Sir James MacMillan, composer; Prof Paul Mealor LVO, composer; Prof William Mival, composer and broadcaster; Gillian Moore, writer and educator; Prof Christoph-Mathias Mueller, conductor; James Murphy, CEO, Royal Philharmonic Society; Suzanne Murphy, soprano; Alice Neary, cellist; Prof Cormac Newark, Guildhall School of Music & Drama; Prof Barley Norton, Goldsmiths, University of London; Prof Roger Parker, Emeritus, King's College London; Adrian Partington, director of music, Gloucester Cathedral; Dr Alexis Paterson, producer, Oxford University Cultural Programme; Catryn Ramasut, ie ie productions; Sir Simon Rattle, conductor; Ben Rayfield, chair, International Artist Managers' Association; Gruff Rhys, musician; Rupert Ridgewell, president, IAML; Prof John Rink, Cambridge University; Revd Dr Jonathan Roberts, succentor, Hereford Cathedral; David John Roche, composer; Prof Holly Rogers, Goldsmiths, University of London; Prof Philip Rupprecht, Duke University; Gwenno [Saunders], singer-songwriter; Robert Saxton, composer; Dougie Scarfe, CEO, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra; Prof Gareth Schott, University of Waikato; Prof Emanuele Senici, Sapienza Università di Roma; Howard Skempton, composer; Nicky Spence, tenor and president, Independent Society of Musicians; Prof Michael Spitzer, University of Liverpool; Dr Désirée Staverman, chair, Koninklijke Vereniging voor Nederlandse Muziekgeschiedenis; Jac van Steen, conductor; Prof Jonathan Stock, University College Cork; Prof Martin Stokes, King's College London; Atholl Swainston Harrison, CEO, International Artist Managers' Association; Prof Eero Tarasti, University of Helsinki; Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, soprano; Neal Thompson, co-founder, FOCUS Wales; Nick Thorne, executive director, Orchestras for All; Mark-Anthony Turnage, composer; Magdalene Usikaro, founder and CEO, Music Relief Foundation; Prof Kate van Orden, president, International Musicological Society; Philippe Vendrix, directeur de recherche, CNRS; Guy Verrall-Withers, artistic director and CEO, Waterperry Opera Festival; Errollyn Wallen, composer; Huw Warren, pianist and composer; Huw Watkins, composer; Cleveland Watkiss, vocalist; Judith Webster, CEO, Association of British Orchestras; Dame Judith Weir, composer; Bridget Whyte, CEO, Music Mark; Mark Wigglesworth, conductor; Sam Wigglesworth, performance music director, Faber Music; Huw Tregelles Williams, former director, BBC National Orchestra of Wales; Dr Jeremy Huw Williams, baritone; Prof Justin Williams, University of Bristol; Debbie Wiseman, composer and conductor; Dr Simon J Wright, music publisher; Catherine Wyn-Rogers, mezzo-soprano; Susie York Skinner, CEO, Gabrieli Consort & Players

[Pulcinella]

Richard Morrison's take in Times 2:

https://www.thetimes.com/article/c1242161-1421-426a-9ef9-ecd2f71db9fc?shareToken=b1a47a2a908efb7b08e8eca3ed b61f5b

[Ein Heldenleben]

Richard Morrison's take in Tines 2:

https://www.thetimes.com/article/c12...e8eca3edb61f5b

Tremendous piece that ….

I had no idea Cardiff Uni Music dept was of such importance.

[Serial_Apologist]

Tremendous piece that ….

I had no idea Cardiff Uni Music dept was of such importance.

Good to see some well-known non-Welsh composers and jazz musicians signing that in support.

[oddoneout]

Music is an easy target for elimination, with other such institutions shutting in recent years as well(Oxford Brookes and Kent the latest I think). What still doesn't make sense to me, bearing in mind the contribution of the music industry to the national economy, is why facilities that support that income stream are deemed suitable for shutting down rather than government backing. Can the philistines not look beyond their anti-arts prejudice and see the £6.7 billion economic contribution?

[french frank]

Can the philistines not look beyond their anti-arts prejudice and see the £6.7 billion economic contribution?

Not the right kind of music, not the right kind of musicians. But an enviable gathering of protesters. If only they would see that the changes to R3 are part of the same development - what is 'not needed' now. Or 'can't be afforded'.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Music is an easy target for elimination, with other such institutions shutting in recent years as well(Oxford Brookes and Kent the latest I think). What still doesn't make sense to me, bearing in mind the contribution of the music industry to the national economy, is why facilities that support that income stream are deemed suitable for shutting down rather than government backing. Can the philistines not look beyond their anti-arts prejudice and see the £6.7 billion economic contribution?

The utilitarian argument only works so far. We produce far more graduates than can be supported by the business . You don’t need a formal music education to be Paul McCartney or indeed Edward Elgar. The argument is about the value of music as an art form that is almost as old as Homo sapiens , and is arguably its most important ; and the intellectual and social value created in studying it.
Like a lot in of more demanding humanities it is an excellent preparation for life in this complex world and there’s a chance that the better proponents might add to the sum total of human pleasure through art.

[oddoneout]

The utilitarian argument only works so far. We produce far more graduates than can be supported by the business . You don’t need a formal music education to be Paul McCartney or indeed Edward Elgar. The argument is about the value of music as an art form that is almost as old as Homo sapiens , and is arguably its most important ; and the intellectual and social value created in studying it.
Like a lot in of more demanding humanities it is an excellent preparation for life in this complex world and there’s a chance that the better proponents might add to the sum total of human pleasure through art.

Producing graduates as an aim has its limitations, but having an active music faculty can bring so much more to an area than just the academic - good vocal and instrumental groups open to non- uni participants, concerts and recitals by students open to the public, and acting as a hub for music in the community. In addition, when a music department shuts down local groups lose the access to young singers, players and soloists to enhance and/or support their own music making, an arrangement that is of benefit for both students and the local music scene.

[Serial_Apologist]

Not the right kind of music, not the right kind of musicians. But an enviable gathering of protesters. If only they would see that the changes to R3 are part of the same development - what is 'not needed' now. Or 'can't be afforded'.

Absolutely - the latter being ever more serious given the shrinking academic intake, increasingly dependent on the bank of mum and dad. As with the case of so much else, what will be left to hand on to future generations?

[alywin]

I understand they're proposing to drop language teaching as well. That will make them the only one of the UK's four capitals where you can't study languages, which, given our (and especially Wales') need to interact more with other countries, is pretty appalling.

[oddoneout]

I understand they're proposing to drop language teaching as well. That will make them the only one of the UK's four capitals where you can't study languages, which, given our (and especially Wales') need to interact more with other countries, is pretty appalling.

Right hand, left hand?

https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/news/view/2887009-championing-a-multilingual-future-for-wales

[Pulcinella]

Sir Karl Jenkins has his say:

https://www.thetimes.com/article/6ca58669-3229-4fbc-833e-fea949be70f9?shareToken=30a39d9fbde38870df0ea0d138fbbce7

[Pulcinella]

Another Times letter:

Welsh music cuts

Sir, Of far greater consequence for music in Wales and beyond than the planned closure of Cardiff University's School of Music (news, Feb 24) is the actual closure of the junior department of the Royal Welsh conservatoire in Cardiff. The area covered by RWCMD's junior department was huge. It covered the whole of south Wales from Newport to St Davids, north as far as Aberystwyth, across to Hereford, south as far as Taunton and included Cardiff, Bristol, Taunton, Newport and Swansea. General brass, woodwind and string teachers can only take a student so far. From ABRSM Grade VI onwards a specialist teacher is needed. RWCMD junior department had been providing that tuition for the past 80 years using the professional players from Cardiff's two symphony orchestras. In five years' time not only will RWCMD and Cardiff University's School of Music be short of music students, so too will all the other conservatoires and music departments in the UK.
Christopher Powell
Sheffield