Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

Patrons and Clients

Let's take a look at the history of patronage. The English word patron is borrowed from the Latin patronus (relax Harry Potter fans) which was derived from pater--father.

In ancient Rome, the patron/client system was tightly woven into the fabric of the Republic and was part of the ancient traditions. We sometimes forget that the Roman Republic lasted for 500 years before Augustus established the Empire.

The system of patronage pre-dated even the Republic and was a part of the Roman Monarchy--roughly 800 B.C.-509 B.C.

Influential men would bestow patronage upon their clients. Each morning clients would gather in the offices of their patron.

The patron would receive his clients and either bestow a favor or ask a favor. Having a large number of clients was crucial for any citizen looking to climb the political ladder. Offices in the Republic were determined by voting. Clients were expected to deliver the vote for their patrons when called upon.

The opposite was also true. If a client was running for office, the patron was expected to support the client and wield his influence to enhance the client's campaign. The relationship extended beyond politics and included marriages, the courts, and any number of clandestine activity.

Patrons were almost always rich and their social status depended, in a large part, on the number and ability of their clients.

The patron/client relationship was a sacred trust. The idea of a client betraying his patron was unthinkable and vice versa.

Moving forward, the patron/client relationship in classical music resembles the ancient relationship. Patrons are still wealthy and influential people who use their resources to support their client--classical music.

A patron can still enhance their public status and prestige by supporting the arts.

In the 18th Century, Austrian Emperor Joseph II was a patron of music and his clients included Gluck, Salieri, Mozart, and Beethoven. Count Esterhazy was a patron and his client was Haydn.

In our society, patrons tend to support organizations instead of individuals but it is still a relationship that is based on a tradition that goes back to the 9th Century B.C.

I respect the patron/client model and it has worked, for better or worse, for eons. I see no reason why patrons of classical music to disappear. Ticket sales might be down but ticket sales have never been what drives classical music.

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all

Previous article

Gonzo Report: Bob Long played piano for Tina Turner and Ray Charles

And he got the crowd shaking at InZane Brewery

Let's take a look at the history of patronage. The English word patron is borrowed from the Latin patronus (relax Harry Potter fans) which was derived from pater--father.

In ancient Rome, the patron/client system was tightly woven into the fabric of the Republic and was part of the ancient traditions. We sometimes forget that the Roman Republic lasted for 500 years before Augustus established the Empire.

The system of patronage pre-dated even the Republic and was a part of the Roman Monarchy--roughly 800 B.C.-509 B.C.

Influential men would bestow patronage upon their clients. Each morning clients would gather in the offices of their patron.

The patron would receive his clients and either bestow a favor or ask a favor. Having a large number of clients was crucial for any citizen looking to climb the political ladder. Offices in the Republic were determined by voting. Clients were expected to deliver the vote for their patrons when called upon.

The opposite was also true. If a client was running for office, the patron was expected to support the client and wield his influence to enhance the client's campaign. The relationship extended beyond politics and included marriages, the courts, and any number of clandestine activity.

Patrons were almost always rich and their social status depended, in a large part, on the number and ability of their clients.

The patron/client relationship was a sacred trust. The idea of a client betraying his patron was unthinkable and vice versa.

Moving forward, the patron/client relationship in classical music resembles the ancient relationship. Patrons are still wealthy and influential people who use their resources to support their client--classical music.

A patron can still enhance their public status and prestige by supporting the arts.

In the 18th Century, Austrian Emperor Joseph II was a patron of music and his clients included Gluck, Salieri, Mozart, and Beethoven. Count Esterhazy was a patron and his client was Haydn.

In our society, patrons tend to support organizations instead of individuals but it is still a relationship that is based on a tradition that goes back to the 9th Century B.C.

I respect the patron/client model and it has worked, for better or worse, for eons. I see no reason why patrons of classical music to disappear. Ticket sales might be down but ticket sales have never been what drives classical music.

Sponsored
Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

More Betrayal By Todd Gloria

Next Article

Mayor’s Proposal for Convention Center Approved

Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

This Week’s Reader This Week’s Reader