Twentieth Century

The Unanswered Question

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In the virtual isolation of early twentieth century New England, an organist and insurance salesman named Charles Ives (1874-1954) was imagining shocking and innovative new music. Ives created atmospheric collages of sound. He poured fragments of American folk songs and other material into a musical melting pot to create an exciting cacophony. Much of his music became widely known only decades later when other composers embraced similar techniques. Previously, we listened to Thanksgiving …

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Four Sea Interludes

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Today is the 100th birthday of twentieth century English composer Benjamin Britten (1913-1976). Let’s celebrate by listening to Britten’s Four Sea Interludes from the opera, Peter Grimes. Played during scene changes, these interludes express the drama of the opera’s unsettling story. As you listen, consider the mood that Britten evokes and pay attention to the orchestration. You can read the synopsis of the entire opera here. Here is a recording of a live 1990 performance …

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Remembering John Tavener

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English composer John Tavener passed away yesterday. Born in 1944, Tavener was known for meditative choral music, influenced by minimalism and Gregorian chant. Here is the Winchester Cathedral Choir singing, As One Who Has Slept: Here is Lament of the Mother of God: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/john-tavener/id201609509″]Find on iTunes http://www.amazon.com/John-Tavener-Innocence-J/dp/B000002AUN”]Find on Amazon

Spiegel im Spiegel

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You may have seen New Beginnings, the short film released by New York City Ballet on September 12. It features a moving performance on the 57th floor terrace of 4 World Trade Center at dawn and is intended to be “a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, and a tribute to the future of the city that New York City Ballet calls home.” The music is Spiegel im Spiegel (mirror in the mirror), …

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Different Trains

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One of my fondest early childhood memories was visiting the Arcade and Attica Railroad for a summer afternoon train ride. Nestled in the rolling Western New York countryside east of Buffalo, it’s one of a handful of places where visitors can get up close and personal with a steam locomotive. Beyond the soot and flying cinders, the sound of a steam engine may be the most memorable aspect of the experience. It huffs, …

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Short Ride in a Fast Machine

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                  [typography font=”Cantarell” size=”28″ size_format=”px”]Excitement on the Edge of Terror[/typography] There’s something exhilarating about testing the limits…knowing that you’re on the verge of losing control but never crossing the line. This is the thrill of downhill skiing, roller coasters, jumping out of airplanes or taking a short, harrowing ride in a friend’s Corvette. In each case, it’s about motion. Motion is also an essential …

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An Orchestra and Its Community

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Great orchestras gradually develop a unique sound and style of playing. This process takes place over time as conductors come and go, leaving their mark and new players are gradually assimilated. In the days when I was traveling between many orchestras as a free-lance violinist I could sense the “soul” of each organization. The ongoing lockout at the Minnesota Orchestra is tragic and frightening because it may ultimately show how quickly a …

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