Mahler versus the machines

I've been broadening my musical horizons of late. Last week i went to the national symphony orchestra's version of Mahler six. There wasn't a lot of reason i picked this, other than i was at a lose end. The only thing you might remember this symphony from is the zanussi, the appliance of science adds, where they had a tuba or some other wind instrument playing a short piece from it.

this week i went to the i & e (improvised and electronic) festical in trinity college. Admittedly i did have a vested interest in this, as one of my friends performed on the night. i didn't know anything they were playing that night, and i doubt any of it will every be used for a popular advertisement!

The first was so much more structured than the usual i type of gig i go to, with some many people in the audience highly aware fo the slightest variation from the norm (although i wouldn't have noticed a tot!), the second was the exact opposite, with most of the musicians without an idea of what they were going to do, seconds before playing it!

Of the two, obviously the symphony orchestra had a much higher level of professionalism, and in some ways, its very unfair to compare them. The sound of an orchestra is so fully developed and demanding on all levels. The electronic show had an air of unpredictabiliy that gave it an edge also though, at moments pieces really came alive, and could just as easily slip away.

The orchestral night did edge it for me, but i'm possibly more likely to go back to the electronic nights. Possilby because i feel less like a duck out of water, being the only one there under 60! Still, its always interesting to hear new sounds...