i
Wednesday, fcbruary 8, 1978
daily nebraskan
-page 13
Classical composer charges music with electroiiics
By Charlie Krig
Classical compear may be a misnomer for Donald Erb.
Perhaps a better dassification would be a half-classkal
composer, but that b misleading, too.
The Donald Eib concept of music fa to combine taped
electronic music with a Uve symphony orchestra perfbr
mance. Thais why his title is confusing and complex.
Do you typify the man by the standard, tradiUonal
music he composes for the orchestra or by the avant
garde electronic sounds that make up the taped score?
It doesn't .matter to Erb. He says his influential musical
roots go back to the beginning of music in Greece. How
ever, his personal favorites have been jazz, blues, classical
choral and Mozart, who Erb calls the greatest composer
of all time.
"IVe been influenced inainry from the places where
I've spent my life, from the bars and Sunday school," Erb
said during an appearance Tuesday in Westbrook Music
Building.
Erb is in Nebraska because the Omaha Symphony
will perform some of his compositions during a concert
Thursday night. Erb won't be a mest conductor furtnVh t,-
often does during his frequent nationwide tours) but came
other teachers were content to have classroom smg-alongs
once a weeie; , . - , v . y . J; - c ;
But Erb$ aunt wanted students to read music, sVshe
loaded' a van with, old; usable, Instruments. The van was '?
hitched behind her 1953 Chevy and wherever she taught,
the children played music and sang. '';' i
The resultant concerts were not perfectly polished;,
Erb said, but thereltlways was a packed house to hear
them play, . ;
- : ... , J , X, , , v
The problem today, according to Erb; Is that people ,
are interested in popular music and have little knowledge
of classical works; Erb said his - compositions have
elements from all styles he has tried; "funky band" in his "
hometown church, popular music in his junior high school :
days and country?western in hfa"appearance$':lnt'ars.foI''?
lowtogayearinthe NavyrV pi ' c''
"A lot of what happens in popular-music
country has backwash from classical music Erb said
"The US. has more pf a mixture of music, but it has more
classifications for music, too. Maybe we can get rid of the
classifications 5 later because music isn't just one type,"
"My idea is to mix the electronic tape and the or
chestra so that thev blend and don't sound like nnnmites
For this you have to think. You can't sit there, stoned,
ntrsnn is less than that for an orchestra.
"Most people don't think of electronic music as being
? very old, he said. t "It was! first developed in the late
1890s, but most people think it's been a recent develop
ment in the last 20 years. 1
Electronic music .; already has gonef through three
cycles of rpularityandtadiiterence. hesaidi t .
What classical music needs today is more interest and
financial backing, Erb said. It costs more than J300 a
minute to work with a full orchestra, he said.
i "The symphonic recording business is dying-dying
from economics, dying from the unions' restrictions,"
Erbsaid r ;?M-Mv
. Bui if musicians like their mudc and if . the ' music
loving public is willing to support orchestras, the sym
phony orchestra once again can be an influential music
source in concerts and recordings, he said; '"
TTHW CI -
V
0
lIITaVirTlliW'
as a production consultant. Erb spoke to the UNL Arts 4 and let the music wash over you;'
Today class.
He explained that his musical interests began in his
grade school years in Overland, Kan. His aunt was the
elementary school teacher, and one of her courses was
music. . ,
But she had a special teaching method, Erb said. Most
Ogallala theater
Warm up your voice and dust off vour dancm shop
Auditions for summer productions at the Front Street
"Crystal Palace Revue in Ogallala" will be Saturday from
3:30 to 5:30 pjn.in the Arena Theatre on third floor of
UNL's Temple Building.
Phil Ruhlman, a UNL student, h a former member of
the show and will direct the summer production.
.Electronic music already. isTere, Erb said, and many
people do not know it. Much music for commercials or :
television shows is electronic; because it only takes one
person to do .; an entire scores The nerson - rft.rp.mrik
synthesizer parts, he said, and 'the - cost of that one'
(Sift
auditions SdMrdav
styles, Ruhlman said.. People with other special talents
such as guitar players and comedians also may try. out.
Audit ioners, will be asked to perform. a short dance
arrangement at try-outs, Ruhlman said.
Rehearsals will begui in Ogallala tjie. week before
Memorial Day, and! the show.will run seven days a week-,
until Aug J 20. Conflicts with school" schedules' can be
worked out, he said. ,
"The show consists of kind of a cabaret, sonc-and-
dance routine format, Ruhlman said. 'We need perfbr-T The 'show tuns briy at mt; so the performers days
mers who are able to work with people: A big part of the , will be free. Ruhlman said other jobs are available during
miuw u iu gti nit tfuuKuw kuuis " uk-j uavc iim, uie aay i or inose wno want to earn extra money
.1 "r-.-v" u "Anyone with .questions about , auditions of; the'shoV;
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