Resonate

Who would ever expect the Miss America pageant to introduce the country to new classical music? Last night during the annual pageant’s talent competition, Miss North Carolina, Jessica Marie Jacobs, showed off her ballet skills while accompanied by Nova Era’s contemporary version of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.

Nova Era is an Orlando-based sextet that creates “classical music with a groove.” Founded by oboist Maria Luisa Coppelli and composer Andres Roca, the group performs renditions of popular classical favorites such as Four Seasons and Pachebel’s Canon on electronic violin, bass, cello, drums and a standard non-electric oboe. (Is there such a thing as electronic wind instruments yet?) The group calls itself a “band,” perhaps in an effort to sound cooler and thus reach a larger audience. Perhaps the most unique thing about the group, however, is that it performs in period costume — dressing as if it were a group performing during Mozart’s time.

Nova Era has been gaining exposure thanks to its devotion to marketing itself in unusual ways. The group is selling a DVD of a performance in Venice, and the DVD also includes a guided tour of the city. The ensemble also plays on the television shopping network QVC in an effort to sell its recordings.

My question is, how do other musicians feel about Nova Era’s effort to spread classical music to a larger audience? Should the group be applauded or shunned by the classical community, considering that the music sounds like it belongs in an elevator?

If Nova Era was indeed a band by the rock-music definition, I think other bands might label them sell-outs.