#59 do it for love

I went to a big band concert last night and heard the 14-member orchestra perform music from the 20s, 30s and 40s.  Everyone, including the leader, has "a day job", but they come together occasionally to play music from a bygone era.  What makes this group special is that they are playing authentic reproductions of the music, not just generic renditions that have been modified to accommodate today's smaller ensembles. It's not as easy to do as it sounds.  The original sheet music isn't available, so the leader listens to the music on 78 rpm records; writes down the music by hand, then sends it off to California to be transcribed for the various instruments.  And this is his hobby!

It would be so much easier to "settle" and use the music that is available.  But to him, it wouldn't be the right thing to do.  He doesn't need to go the extra mile; actually, he doesn't need the band gigs at all, but he does it for love.  He does it to honor the music to be played the way that it was designed to be played.

I wonder if 75 years from now some hobbyist will find anything of such value that it is worth her time to replicate so closely.  Are we producing any work of wonder that will live on and be enjoyed as much by future generations as it is today?  What from this era will become valued in 2087?  Maybe if we put the love in what we are creating, there will be something people will want to re-create long after we are gone.

-- beth triplett
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