I’ve always been jealous of people who have a heritage.
As a middle-class white girl from Iowa whose last name was shortened by some great-great-great-great grandfather to conceal its actual ethnicity to allow for easier immigration, I can honestly say I have no idea where my cultural roots lie. I think I’m part Czech. But then again, I don’t really know.
My friend Erin is Irish- Irish with a capital “RISH.” She had the pleasure of going to Ireland over this past year to meet some aunts and uncles and take in the local scenery, see some step dancing, and hang out in pubs. She said she had the time of her life. Again, I was jealous.
But I may have an opportunity to participate in a cultural celebration that I wouldn’t normally be afforded given my indeterminate roots. Erin and I plan on going to see “An Irish Homecoming” this week, and I’m genuinely excited. I’ve always thought Celtic music was kind of amazing- a genre so steeped in tradition that it’s almost impervious to criticism and poor execution. It’s cool just because it exists, and that’s my type of music.
That being said, I’d like to take a second to turn into my mother. I saw the Chiara String Quartet perform a couple of weeks ago and was a little disappointed. Not in the show (no, the music was beautiful…I’ve always wanted to be a string player and continue to be mesmerized by the elegance and emotional resonance of any instrument that requires a bow and resin), but of the audience.
Let me paint a picture. We’re in a church. There are probably a hundred people, 75 of whom are over the age of, well, 75. The rest are college students. Within the first 15 minutes, the college students were bored with the classical music, squirming around like my younger siblings do at Sunday morning mass. The girls in front of me were communicating via text, saying things like (and I quote) “OMG I’m soooo bored,” and “I want to leave right now.” And many of them did, leaving whenever they felt like it, primarily during songs.
You guys, this is kind of unacceptable. Granted, its classical music- a style that doesn’t really resonate with our generation like My Morning Jacket or Soulja Boy would. But still, we really need to be polite. I admit that I don’t often find myself rocking out to Beethoven in my car, but I’m a firm believer that classical music is an acquired taste in that you need to know how it works in order to fully enjoy it. General rule of thumb: should you ever find yourself at a classical concert, leave in between songs, and don’t clap after every movement. It’s just how it’s done. Chiara put on a heck of a show and deserved far more respect than they were given. And I challenge all of the jerks who were rude during the show to go listen to their Prince covers right now. *End rant*
—Melea
