Title: Art music and the economy: the modernity index and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, 1895 to 2013

Authors: Nancy Bertaux; Kaleel Skeirik; David Yi

Addresses: Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA ' Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA ' Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Abstract: This article views the production and performance of new art music as a public good that benefits society by infusing vitality into contemporary culture. This article presents a new modernity index (MI), a consistent index for assessing the degree to which a season of music programmes can be considered 'contemporary'. The article also presents a case study of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO), for the period 1895 to 2013. Analysis of the MI reveals trends over time, clearly showing a reduction in modernity as time goes on. This article discusses how the data based on the MI may be used by artistic organisations to transition its historic product (repertoire) into a more modern and socially relevant product. The study suggests that further research should examine increasing reliance on a private good model for financing art music that may lead to underproduction of contemporary art music.

Keywords: economy; art music; Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra; CSO; contemporary music; modernity index; modern music; orchestra funding; public good; culture; orchestral repertoire; social relevance.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEBR.2015.069671

International Journal of Economics and Business Research, 2015 Vol.9 No.4, pp.376 - 392

Received: 29 Apr 2014
Accepted: 22 May 2014
Published online: 29 May 2015 *

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