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5) Over time it became clearArvo Pärt.that nobody wanted to listen tothe most difficult new musicexcept weird people and snobs.The composers grew up and hadchildren, but their kids weren’tweird snobs and they didn’t likeit either. Most of them got intohip-hop, actually.6) Eventually composers gottired of only being listened toby snobby weirdos, and startedwriting music again that nonmusicians— that is, mostnormal people — could like andappreciate.7) Now we have to convince everyone that new music isn’tas bizarre as the stuff their grandparents hated. A lot of it isn’t.Really! In fact it’s pretty tame. Composers want to be yourfriends. So will you please come back and listen?Now, you may go to a concert in which nice pleasant classicalmusic by dead guys is played, and then the stupid musicianswill throw in some new stuff as well. Sorry about that — wekind of like to mix it up. Please don’t leave. You will upset thecomposers’ mums, ’cause they are all still alive and their feelingsget hurt when you walk out or throw things at their sons anddaughters. But don’t worry — if you happen to get stuck at aconcert with totally discordant music, you have two sure-firemethods of recourse:1) Before the concert, watch (on YouTube) the episode of StarTrek: TNG in which Lieutenant Worf listens to Klingon opera(“Unification II,” season 5, 1991). Then pretend Klingon opera isthe music you’re going to hear. Be brave like Worf and listen to it.2) Think of scary movies. Actually, think of any movie inwhich bad things happen. Listen (on YouTube) to LeonardBernstein’s score for On the Waterfront (1954) and BernardHerrmann’s score for Psycho (1960). Not so bad, right? Next timeyou’re at a new music concert, close your eyes and imagine that you’rebeing menaced by a lunatic or getting beat up by dockyard thugs. Thiswill render the musical experience much more enjoyable.I hope this solves the problem and encourages you to take a chanceon the new stuff. If not, I’ll have no choice but to write about thissubject again, but seriously this time. Trust me, you don’t want that.Now, on to the concerts.Estonian composer Arvo Pärt is an example of a composer whosework has depth, edge and substance, but has also found popular,Alice Parker.mainstream appeal with many audiences— especially choral audiences,which can be quite a conservative bunch.Soundstreams Canada has long been acentral champion of Pärt’s music in Canada,and their house choir, Choir 21, boasts someof the strongest choral singers in the region.This is a chance to hear this music masterfullyexecuted.The concert on October 1 will includethe Canadian premieres of two Pärt works,Adam’s Lament and L’abbe Agathon, andthe world premieres of two Canadianworks, James Rolfe’s Open Road, and anew commission (written fora very special reason whichwill be revealed at the concert)by young Canadian-Estoniancomposer Riho Mamets. I donot know his work, but I amfamiliar with Rolfe, and I canassure wary concert-goers thatthis will certainly be a movingand delightful concert. If you arenew to modern choral works,this is an excellent chance toexperience composers andmusicians working at the topof their game. Guest conductorTõnu Kaljuste is one of theworld’s great choral musicians.Another notable choral visittakes place in October, but registrationfor the event is underway even as I write. Americanchoral composer, arranger,author and conductor Alice Parker is coming for SING!, a three-dayworkshop and community songfest from October 25 to 27. Parker is achoral legend (now well into her ninth decade) who has devoted herlife to choral music. During the weekend Parker will lead communitysinging, give a workshop on hymnody in worship, lecture at theUniversity of Toronto, preach at Yorkminster Park Baptist Churchand conduct a massed choir of over 200 singers in a grand finaleconcert. The gala finale will include a who’s who of Toronto choralgroups: the University of Toronto MacMillan Singers, U of T Women’sChamber Choir & Men’s Chorus, Exultate Chamber Singers, OrpheusPeeter LaNgovits28 | September 1 – October 7, 2013 thewholenote.com