The Rite of Spring: Igor Stravinsky’s own hand-written manuscripts are published for the first time in 2013
And at no time is it more vital to think about the coming season. Winter be gone!
~Trent Gilliss, senior editor
“O Come, Emmanuel”
For so many Christians, this song was sung and played this past weekend on the first Sunday of Advent. But I’m going to guess that very few church services featured such a stirring pairing of piano and cello.
Beethoven’s Ninth on a Spanish Plaza (video)
by Trent Gilliss, senior editor
Let’s make no mistake here; this is a commercial for Banco Sabadell. And, yes, it’s a majestic, highly orchestrated flashmob organized by one of Spain’s largest banking groups. But, when I get an evening email from our founder and host confessing to shedding “happy tears” when watching it, I figure I better check it out.
And, if you read the comments on YouTube, you’ll see much more of the same sentiment being expressed.
On May 19th at six in the evening, what appeared to be a single, tuxedoed street performer playing a bass for people strolling around Plaça de Sant Roc in Sabadell, Spain (just north of Barcelona) turned into a mass ensemble performing a movement of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony — including more than 100 musicians and singers from the Orchestra Simfònica del Vallès, Amics de l’Òpera de Sabadell, Coral Belles Arts, and Cor Lieder Camera.
The production is lovely and highly produced, but it’s the fascination and pure joy of the passersby that makes the moment quite magical. Non?
Fast forward four decades later and you can still see Michael Barone striking much the same pose. Although the turntable isn’t positioned in quite the same way and the hair color has blanched a bit (and a digital mixing board has entered the equation but the typewriter’s an artifact)
Cool idea from nprfreshair:
Going to start a series called: Awesome vintage pictures from public radio stations. This is MPR host Michael Barone, in the late 1970s.
(via MPR’s Michael Barone talks pipe organs and Pipe Dreams | Minnesota Public Radio News)
~reblogged by Trent Gilliss, senior editor
Celebrating Mozart’s birthday.
Photo by Mohamed Nanabhay. (Follow “onbeing” on instagram)
A Magic Classical Music Roller Coaster Ride (video)
by Trent Gilliss, senior editor
Isolate the musical notes of the first violin playing the fourth movement of Ferdinand Ries’ second symphony. Then create a visualization that gives the most untrained ear an idea of the sweeping undulations and dynamic energy of the German composer’s piece. What you get is this smart, real-time look at the Zurich Chamber Orchestra (Zürcher Kammer Orchester) in the shape of a roller coaster:
“The camera starts by showing a close-up of the score, then focuses on the notes of the first violin turning the staves into the winding rail tracks of the rollercoaster. The notes and bars were exactly synchronised with the progression in the animation so that the typical movements of a rollercoaster ride match the dramatic composition of the music.”
(h/t Julia Schrenkler)
“Maria Durch Ein Dornwald Ging” by Calmus
by Trent Gilliss, senior editor
After the warm reception to yesterday’s selection from Performance Today’s free repository of classical music goodness, why not post one from the Leipzig ensemble Calmus? Arranged by Ludwig Bohme, this traditional Christmas carol dates back to the sixteenth century. If there are any music scholars out there, please tell us more about the origins of this lovely piece.
We’ll post one final track from New York Polyphony this evening, but I highly recommend you head over to PT’s website and download them for yourself before the link expires on January 1, 2012.
“Magnum Mysterium” by Chanticleer
by Trent Gilliss, senior editor
Fred Child and the producers of Performance Today have created a substantial repository of free music from the live concerts and in-studio performances they broadcast on public radio. This year, three ensembles — Calmus, New York Polyphony, and Chanticleer — are offering free downloads of some of these performances.
I’ll post one track from each group during the course of the day, but I recommend you head over to PT’s website and download them for yourself.
Q:Do you know the name of the choir and the director?
Hello. I assume you’re referring to yesterday’s enchanting Tuesday evening melody highlighting Gregorio Allegri’s “Misere mei, Deus,” non? The piece you heard was produced for BBC Four with Harry Christophers conducting a choir named The Sixteen.
~answered by Trent Gilliss, senior editor
