Analysis of a Concert: Classical vs. Popular

Essay by pittsburghkid999College, UndergraduateA+, April 2007

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As I prepared to attend two extremely different musical concerts I was also prepared to be in an extremely different atmosphere and culture for both shows. I am from Pittsburgh and my mother actually works for the Pittsburgh Symphony Pops Orchestra so I was able to see a tribute to Gershwin on January 25th at Heinz Hall. My popular music concert was from a completely different spectrum of music. I went to New York City to see Incubus perform at the Hammerstein Ballroom. I would first like to examine the classical concert since it was the first one I attended.

At this Gershwin tribute where Pittsburgh Pops Conductor Marvin Hamlisch exploited Gershwin's "An American in Paris" and "Rhapsody in Blue." The audience members at this classical show were probably there for many reasons. First, many of them are upper class people who enjoy getting dressed up in suits, dresses and Tiffany’s jewels for a night of drinks, pricey cuisine and Pittsburgh Symphony.

Unquestionably, a number of people are fans of George Gershwin and were there to experience his works. In a social aspect, people who are “seen” at these types of events are put into a category of intellectual, culturally sound and upper class Americans. Perhaps audience members were not rich or intellectual but if they are seen at an event like this they can fit right in with appropriate attire and manners. Upon entry at Heinz Hall, it’s a red carpeted, gold-trimmed wall and people dressed in their Sunday’s finest crowd box office windows. People most likely had season tickets or purchased them online and picked them up at a will call. For the most part, everyone looked quite similar. If it weren’t for the beautiful Heinz Hall it seemed like a funeral because everyone was dressed...