I have known a few Steelers' fans in my day, but nothing comes close to the post I saw on an opera news feed:
Opera Song Tackles the Gap Between the Arts and Sports
Douglas Ahlstedt, Associate Professor of Voice, created a Steeler fight song sung to a popular opera tune from Carmen. See the video of the vocal music department at Carnegie Mellon University with their Terrible Towels!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuHuKQes23U
As a matter of fact, all the spectacle surrounding the Super Bowl, right down to the commercials, is exactly the magnitude of what opera entails--emotion, production, passion, commentary, plot, subplot, main characters, conflict, and the search for both ultimate victory over evil [a.k.a. opponent] and for the meaning of life!
Maybe we just need to tailgate before the WVSO production of La boheme on May 16!
Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Montclaire Concert May Be Once-in-a-lifetime Opportunity
On Saturday night (January 31), Kanawha United Presbyterian Church will be the site of the Montclaire String Quartet's second subscription concert. Beginning at 8 p.m., the group will present an array of works by American composers including Charleston-born George Crumb.There is no good way to describe all the possibilities and combinations of sound that this concert will feature.
The Crumb composition "Black Angels" employs maracas, three sets of crystal glasses, metal thimbles, paper clips, 15" gong, contrabass bow, glass rods, a 24" gong, electric instruments all hooked into amps (thanks to rental from Horace Mann Middle School), and amazingly enough--no guest artists required.
The Montclaire players will use all of those "exotic instruments" over the 13 movements of the work. The picture above is a quick look at part of the oversized score from which players read. Oh yeah, and if that's not enough, they will hum, whistle and chant in several languages as well.
The remainder of the concert will feature other works by American composers including Darol Anger, Zhou Long, Scott Lindroth, Ljova and William Grant Still.
Tickets may be purchased at the door: $10 for adults and $5 for students.
The 2008-09 Montclaire String Quartet Chamber Music Series is sponsored in part by
James Wilson Douglas and Rita Jo Douglas, by Dr. Steven Jubelirer, in Honor and Memory of Richard and Jean Jubelirer and Susan Jubelirer Nesi, and by Dr. & Mrs. Thomas G. Potterfield.
James Wilson Douglas and Rita Jo Douglas, by Dr. Steven Jubelirer, in Honor and Memory of Richard and Jean Jubelirer and Susan Jubelirer Nesi, and by Dr. & Mrs. Thomas G. Potterfield.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Check out our blog...web site will be up again soon
Thanks for visiting our blog today. The web site should be back up and running soon. We anticipate the site will be back up sometime on Saturday, January 31.
Upcoming concert event: Montclaire String Quartet
Kanawha United Presbyterian Church
Saturday, January 31, 2009 8:00 p.m.
featuring George Crumb's composition Black Angels.
Upcoming Pops Concert: Broadway Rocks!
vocalists Rob Evan, Doug LaBrecque, Cheryl Freeman, Anne Runolffson and the WVSO Chorus
Friday and Saturday, February 13 & 14, 2009 8:00 p.m.
Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences, WV Charleston, WV
Upcoming Family Concert: My Funny Valentine
featuring Symphony Idol Ryan Hardiman
Saturday, February 14, 2009 concert at 11:00 a.m
fun activities in the lobby begin at 10:00 a.m.
Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences, WV Charleston, WV
Upcoming concert event: Montclaire String Quartet
Kanawha United Presbyterian Church
Saturday, January 31, 2009 8:00 p.m.
featuring George Crumb's composition Black Angels.
Upcoming Pops Concert: Broadway Rocks!
vocalists Rob Evan, Doug LaBrecque, Cheryl Freeman, Anne Runolffson and the WVSO Chorus
Friday and Saturday, February 13 & 14, 2009 8:00 p.m.
Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences, WV Charleston, WV
Upcoming Family Concert: My Funny Valentine
featuring Symphony Idol Ryan Hardiman
Saturday, February 14, 2009 concert at 11:00 a.m
fun activities in the lobby begin at 10:00 a.m.
Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences, WV Charleston, WV
Monday, January 26, 2009
Cold Air and Not-So-Simple Gift of Music
The plot thickens on inauguration day...I wondered about the temperature that day--the cold fingers of the musicians--
Maybe selection should have been called "Cold Air and Not-So-Simple Gifts."
My Monday morning reading is through the Arts Journal, a news feed that summarizes the highlights of media, issues, music, dance, visual art and architecture. Imagine my surprise where there were four very different entries talking about the musical offering on Tuesday at high noon.
My greater sense of surprise came from the opinions and information from each of the four writers. Technology weighs in in a couple of cases:
First, some praise of John Williams' composition, focusing on the fact that President Obama has an affinity for Aaron Copland.
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/20/a-new-williams-work-for-a-momentous-occasion/
I myself enjoyed the setting and thought it appropriate because most people on the Mall would recognize the tune, especially the WVU fans who think this was a Morgantown invention.
Alternatively, a Washington Post writer went in the opposition direct, criticizing Williams' composition/arrangement and I quote, "Rather than write what he is good at [a great movie score, etc.], he corseted himself in a straitjacket of what he thought he was supposed to be doing." You can check out the opposition at this link.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2009/01/20/AR2009012003560.html
Now, common sense weighs in and the answer to the question that was plaguing musicians as they watched their peers in the cold. Headlined "The Frigid Fingers Were Live, but the Music Wasn’t" reveals that a recording was actually used as the players made a back-up recording two days before. The actual decision to use the recording was made at the last minute.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/23/arts/music/23band.html
Yes, it makes sense. Stringed and wooden instruments don't usually take well to extreme temperature, but the final article discusses the technology involved and why you really did see many of the musicians actually playing in the cold.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/19/arts/music/19carb.html
Maybe selection should have been called "Cold Air and Not-So-Simple Gifts."
My Monday morning reading is through the Arts Journal, a news feed that summarizes the highlights of media, issues, music, dance, visual art and architecture. Imagine my surprise where there were four very different entries talking about the musical offering on Tuesday at high noon.
My greater sense of surprise came from the opinions and information from each of the four writers. Technology weighs in in a couple of cases:
First, some praise of John Williams' composition, focusing on the fact that President Obama has an affinity for Aaron Copland.
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/20/a-new-williams-work-for-a-momentous-occasion/
I myself enjoyed the setting and thought it appropriate because most people on the Mall would recognize the tune, especially the WVU fans who think this was a Morgantown invention.
Alternatively, a Washington Post writer went in the opposition direct, criticizing Williams' composition/arrangement and I quote, "Rather than write what he is good at [a great movie score, etc.], he corseted himself in a straitjacket of what he thought he was supposed to be doing." You can check out the opposition at this link.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2009/01/20/AR2009012003560.html
Now, common sense weighs in and the answer to the question that was plaguing musicians as they watched their peers in the cold. Headlined "The Frigid Fingers Were Live, but the Music Wasn’t" reveals that a recording was actually used as the players made a back-up recording two days before. The actual decision to use the recording was made at the last minute.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/23/arts/music/23band.html
Yes, it makes sense. Stringed and wooden instruments don't usually take well to extreme temperature, but the final article discusses the technology involved and why you really did see many of the musicians actually playing in the cold.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/19/arts/music/19carb.html
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Did you see Yo-Yo Ma in the quartet?
Just before the oath of office was administered to Barack Obama, there was a musical offering composed by John Williams (of Star Wars fame). The selection, "Air and Simple Gifts," was written for a quartet (4 players only) featuring violin (Itzhak Perlman), cello (Yo-Yo Ma), clarinet (Anthony McGill), and piano (Gabriela Montero).
One player on each part--four parts interwoven with melody and harmony, one player shines in a phrase or two before passing off the tune to another of the remaining instruments-- this is what we call chamber music!
This chamber "configuration" defines the Montclaire String Quartet which will perform their next public subscription concert on Saturday, January 31 at 8 p.m. The concert takes place in a more intimate setting, Kanawha United Presbyterian Church on Virginia Street in downtown Charleston.
If you liked what you heard on the Mall at the inauguration, come experience chamber music firsthand!
This inauguration was not only one for the history books--this was great exposure for chamber music in the annals of American music history as well!
One player on each part--four parts interwoven with melody and harmony, one player shines in a phrase or two before passing off the tune to another of the remaining instruments-- this is what we call chamber music!
This chamber "configuration" defines the Montclaire String Quartet which will perform their next public subscription concert on Saturday, January 31 at 8 p.m. The concert takes place in a more intimate setting, Kanawha United Presbyterian Church on Virginia Street in downtown Charleston.
If you liked what you heard on the Mall at the inauguration, come experience chamber music firsthand!
This inauguration was not only one for the history books--this was great exposure for chamber music in the annals of American music history as well!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Play List from Brunch
Brunch with the Maestro
Jim Lange, WV Public Radio
Saturday, January 17, 2009
1. C.P.E. Bach – Symphony no. 2 in E Flat, Mvt. 1
The English Concert, Andrew Manze
HMU 907403
2. Bedrich Smetana – The Moldau
Vienna Philharmonic, Herbert Von Karajan
DG (Deutsche Grammophon) 415509
3. Beethoven – Symphony no. 9, Mvt. 2
Revolutionary and Romantic Orchestra, John Eliot Gardiner
Archiv 447074
4. Copland – Symphony no. 3, Mvt 4 (Fanfare for the Common Man)
NY Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein
DG 419170
5. Wagner – Entrance of the Gods into Valhalla
Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell
CBS 46286
6. David Baker – Three Ethnic Dances
Akron Symphony Orchestra, Alan Balter
Telarc 80409
7. Amilcare Ponchielli – Dance of the Hours
NBC Symphony Orchestra, Arturo Toscanini
RCA 60308
8. Leonard Bernstein – Mambo
Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela, Gustavo Dudamel
DG 4777457
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yjCFnKuBJQ
9. Brahms – Symphony no. 4, Mvt. 3
Vienna Philharmonic, Carlos Kleiber
DG 457706
10. Stravinsky – The Firebird
Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Boulez
DG 437850
11. P.D.Q. Bach – Simply Grand Minuet
Turtle Mountain Navel Base Tactical Wind Ensemble, Peter Schickele
Telarc 80307
Jim Lange, WV Public Radio
Saturday, January 17, 2009
1. C.P.E. Bach – Symphony no. 2 in E Flat, Mvt. 1
The English Concert, Andrew Manze
HMU 907403
2. Bedrich Smetana – The Moldau
Vienna Philharmonic, Herbert Von Karajan
DG (Deutsche Grammophon) 415509
3. Beethoven – Symphony no. 9, Mvt. 2
Revolutionary and Romantic Orchestra, John Eliot Gardiner
Archiv 447074
4. Copland – Symphony no. 3, Mvt 4 (Fanfare for the Common Man)
NY Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein
DG 419170
5. Wagner – Entrance of the Gods into Valhalla
Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell
CBS 46286
6. David Baker – Three Ethnic Dances
Akron Symphony Orchestra, Alan Balter
Telarc 80409
7. Amilcare Ponchielli – Dance of the Hours
NBC Symphony Orchestra, Arturo Toscanini
RCA 60308
8. Leonard Bernstein – Mambo
Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela, Gustavo Dudamel
DG 4777457
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yjCFnKuBJQ
9. Brahms – Symphony no. 4, Mvt. 3
Vienna Philharmonic, Carlos Kleiber
DG 457706
10. Stravinsky – The Firebird
Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Boulez
DG 437850
11. P.D.Q. Bach – Simply Grand Minuet
Turtle Mountain Navel Base Tactical Wind Ensemble, Peter Schickele
Telarc 80307
Brunchtime Cat and Mouse Game Provides Education and Entertainment
I'm not sure how they were going to keep score, but WV Public Radio Host Jim Lange had 11 musical clips queued up for Maestro Grant Cooper last Saturday morning.
Maestro Cooper had agreed to put his listening skills on the line, and the attendees were encouraged to submit some ideas for clips as well.
Not only did Maestro agree to name the particular piece of music and composer from a 90-second excerpt, he vowed he would go deeper into the recording and even venture an educated guess about the orchestra performing or the conductor. A parlor trick? I SHOULD SAY NOT!
The forty patrons who attended the brunch at the Craik-Patton House on January 17 watched Grant's face closely. His expression would be very non-committal at first, but barely seconds into the piece I could tell that yes--he knew this piece OR no--a much more memorable scrunch of the face which would finally melt back into a more peaceful expression as he could wrap his ears around some familiar aspects of the recorded performance.
I recall similar experiences in my college education where part of music history class grades were based on "Drop the Needle" tests. We were given a list of recordings for the semester which coincided with the era we were studying. It was up to us to listen, discern, memorize, absorb, dissect--whatever it took to be able to identify those recordings on the test which was literally done as the professor dropped the needle onto the turntable.
I applaud Maestro for this experiment, not only for his trained ear, but for his willingness to put his musical knowledge on the line in such a public forum. How many did he get out of the 11? Well, he was right on with almost all the titles/composers; and even closer on guessing the orchestra and most of the time even guessing the conductor.
Jim Lange did give him a few hints, but only if Maestro phrased his guesses in the form of a question. I hope Jim will post the pieces he used and some commentary too.
Did you attend the brunch? What did you think?
Maestro Cooper had agreed to put his listening skills on the line, and the attendees were encouraged to submit some ideas for clips as well.
Not only did Maestro agree to name the particular piece of music and composer from a 90-second excerpt, he vowed he would go deeper into the recording and even venture an educated guess about the orchestra performing or the conductor. A parlor trick? I SHOULD SAY NOT!
The forty patrons who attended the brunch at the Craik-Patton House on January 17 watched Grant's face closely. His expression would be very non-committal at first, but barely seconds into the piece I could tell that yes--he knew this piece OR no--a much more memorable scrunch of the face which would finally melt back into a more peaceful expression as he could wrap his ears around some familiar aspects of the recorded performance.
I recall similar experiences in my college education where part of music history class grades were based on "Drop the Needle" tests. We were given a list of recordings for the semester which coincided with the era we were studying. It was up to us to listen, discern, memorize, absorb, dissect--whatever it took to be able to identify those recordings on the test which was literally done as the professor dropped the needle onto the turntable.
I applaud Maestro for this experiment, not only for his trained ear, but for his willingness to put his musical knowledge on the line in such a public forum. How many did he get out of the 11? Well, he was right on with almost all the titles/composers; and even closer on guessing the orchestra and most of the time even guessing the conductor.
Jim Lange did give him a few hints, but only if Maestro phrased his guesses in the form of a question. I hope Jim will post the pieces he used and some commentary too.
Did you attend the brunch? What did you think?
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