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Home > ATLarts > Archives > 2008 > October > 09 > Entry
Judge Sentences Rap Fan to Beethoven
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
From a News of the Pathetic dispatch, it seems a judge tried to tap classical music’s medicinal properties. That doesn’t work with kids (when the parent don’t already listen to classical music), and it doesn’t work for a paying audience in the concert hall (when they expect traditional classics and get something else), so why would it reform a convicted ne’re-do-well?
Here’s the AP story that just moved on the wires:
Judge sentences rap music fan to Bach, Beethoven By Associated Press Thursday, October 09, 2008
URBANA, Ohio — A defendant had a hard time facing the music. Andrew Vactor was facing a $150 fine for playing rap music too loudly on his car stereo in July. But a judge offered to reduce that to $35 if Vactor spent 20 hours listening to classical music by the likes of Bach, Beethoven and Chopin.
Vactor, 24, lasted only about 15 minutes, a probation officer said.
It wasn’t the music, Vactor said, he just needed to be at practice with the rest of the Urbana University basketball team.
“I didn’t have the time to deal with that,” he said. “I just decided to pay the fine.”
Champaign County Municipal Court Judge Susan Fornof-Lippencott says the idea was to force Vactor to listen to something he might not prefer, just as other people had no choice but to listen to his loud rap music.
“I think a lot of people don’t like to be forced to listen to music,” she said.
She’s also taped TV shows for defendants in other cases to watch on topics such as financial responsibility. As she sees it, they get the chance to have their fine reduced “and at the same time broaden their horizons.”
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment | Categories: Classical Music
Comments
By My Two Cents
October 9, 2008 8:19 PM | Link to this
Ha! Ha! I just love it!
By Peter Stelling
October 10, 2008 12:20 AM | Link to this
12:10am and still no review of tonight’s opening concert of this week’s ASO subscription concerts? Pierre, did you pay a fine of $150 to avoid attending and reviewing a …”Ho Hum, All Tchaikovsky Program”? If the ASO dare to present a completely traditional program, are they at risk of being boycotted by the local music critic? It would seem so. Too bad. Robert McDuffie’s eloquent performance of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto, a piece that was originally pronounced unplayable by the first soloist who attempted it, seemed effortless and entirely graceful without sacrificing any of its dramatic punch. I highly recommend this concert to anyone looking for a worthwhile source of entertainment this weekend.
By Mark Owens
October 11, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this
I agree with My Two Cents regarding the all Tchaikovsky program performed by the ASO. There is a reason this pieces are popular. I felt that the ASO performed admirably.
If I a modest quibble, it is that Robert Spano seemed to be pushing the tempo a bit during the violin concerto. Robert McDuffie seemed to want to linger a bit and was unable. It was amazing performance with the audience clapping between the first and second movement. In addition, a student from McDuffie’s Macon school performed with him prior to intermission. Wow.
By Matthew W.
October 11, 2008 11:39 PM | Link to this
I’m sorry, but MUSICALLY Robert McDuffie’s performance was quite annoying, I went to EVERY performance, sitting in 3 different areas (front row, middle, and no’s bleed) In each performance I heard the same crunches that were not needed.
I give the Orchestra an A Robert McDuffie would get an overall C and thats just being nice, because he did capture the movements correctly.
Overall Audience B-
On Thursday the Audience wasn’t that bad… On Friday ALOT of people clapped after the 1st movement of the violin concerto… Are you people IDIOTS !!! you dont clap after during the movements On Saturday a couple had a conversation during the 1st movement… and Robert Spano asked the audience to not talk during the performace; right after the 1st movement of the Violin Concerto. As the 2nd movement began the couple made the exit from the 3rd rows!!!
I LOVE HOW ROBERT DID THAT!!! Pierre did you ever see a conductor do that before during a performance?