Music that Goes to the edge of the Canvas

"WE tend to think of the explosion of creativity in New York in the mid 20th century as one that was dominated by the visual arts. The era belonged to those hard-living and wildly original exponents of abstract expressionism. But there was a great deal of experimentation in classical music, too – if you can use that term for sound-making that was continentally removed from the European heartland of the Austro-German tradition.From the 1940s, the avant-garde composer John Cage was active in New York overturning the precepts of art music. Among his followers were Morton Feldman and La Monte Young, who in turn inspired the minimalist composers Terry Riley, Steve Reich and Philip Glass."


Read the rest here

Mountains, Cows, and a Symphony: Nice. Very Nice.

"Lassen County, a place with more sheep and cows than people, has a new homegrown product to boast: the Susanville Symphony. The rural community known for state prisons and rodeo queens is suddenly a twitter over Bach, Beethoven and Brahms.

http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/story/12303305p-13167194c.html

Atlanta Symphony unveils design for new hall

"Designed by architect Santiago Calatrava, the glass, steel and concrete structure will include a main hall with an audience capacity of 2000. It will be possible to raise or lower the auditorium’s roof – from 48 feet to 104 feet above the stage – depending on acoustic needs. Kirkegaard Associates are the acoustic consultants. A smaller studio hall will seat 300 people, while the rehearsal room can also seat up to 350 people

http://www.gramophone.co.uk/newsMainTemplate.asp?storyID=2291&newssectionID=1

Lazar Berman, Pianist Known for Powerful Style, Dies at 74

Sad news. One of the most memorable, and deeply moving, listening experiences in my life is that of hearing Berman's recording of Franz Liszt's "Dante Sonata". It remains the monument by which I've measured all other recordings and performances, and that compelled to study the work for myself, even though it was well beyond my reach, as I was completed captivated by his performance.

Rugged technique and dazzling imagination were abundantly manifest in everything played. His passing further removes us from a connection to the piano playing the "Grand Manner". More on the Master's life and work:

"A pianist with a bearlike build, a shock of sandy hair and a disarming smile, Mr. Berman had a gentle manner that seemed at odds with his often-muscular approach to the piano. His repertory, though, was broader than his reputation would suggest. It ran from Bach and Handel, through Mozart, Clementi and Beethoven, to Scriabin and Shostakovich. Although Mr. Berman was best known for the grandeur of his Liszt, Chopin, Prokofiev and Rachmaninoff playing, he played Mozart and early Beethoven, for example, with a light touch that could surprise listeners who had typecast him as a firebrand."

Read the rest here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/09/arts/music/09berman.html

and more info here:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,60-1477172,00.html

Shostakovich's life as a silent cinema pianist

Love this series on BBC. Check this one out --especially if interested in film composing . "Tommy Pearson talks to author John Riley about Shostakovich's long film music career, from his early life as a silent cinema pianist to his epic score for King Lear

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/stageandscreen/pip/9bl4c/

Swift Currents, Like His Music - Steve Reich

Ideas That Flow in Swift Currents, Like His Music - On Steve Reich

A really lovely profile of Steve Reich in the NYT.

"Steve Reich was sitting in a Starbucks, a logical enough place to meet a man who has been described as the most caffeinated individual in New York. Around him, ambient noise recreated the atmosphere of his 1994 piece City Life, which incorporated recordings of pile-drivers, snatches of speech and other downtown noises. He was talking about his latest piece, You Are (Variations), which had its premiere in October in Los Angeles. "

Nice lead line...

Read the reset here:

http://www.andante.com/article/article.cfm?id=25116

Another Art Case Piano

Steinway & Sons will unveil a one-of-a-kind Arts & Crafts style piano inspired by The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa at 11 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 17 in the Great Hall. The unveiling will kick-off the 18th annual Arts & Crafts Antique Show and Conference at the resort. Each year, hundreds of arts and crafts enthusiasts from around North America flock to the resort to share in the heritage of this historic period. "

Alas no photo...


Linky

The Liberace of Baghdad

The Liberace of Baghdad

Sean McAllister's "The Liberace of Baghdad" has won a special jury prize at this year's "Sundance Film Festival". The film is a documentary that exams present day Iraq in the context of the life of an Iraqi pianist (Samir Peter).

I have not seen the film, but judging from the advance notices it looks very interesting.

Read more about it here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/documentaries/storyville/liberace-of-baghdad.shtml

and here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/documentaries/storyville/samir-peter.shtml

More on the lost Beethoven

More on the lost Beethoven

Last night, "The Rotterdam Chamber Orchestra performed the 10-minute adagio, or slow movement, as the centerpiece of a night of classics, drawing respectful applause and some standing ovations from an audience of around 1,000. "

A few more details about the work:

"Ludwig van Beethoven wrote the main themes of the piece in 1789, when he was just 19-years-old. He titled the draft "Concerto in A for Piano" and gave instructions for other instruments, but left unfinished phrases, writing only "etc., etc."
Dutch musicologist Cees Nieuwenhuizen orchestrated the movement using Beethoven's notes and adhering to the master's early style, which was heavily influenced by Mozart. "

and this:

"Beethoven is not believed to have written the opening or closing movements."

These reconstructed works are always interesting, but one always suspects if it isn't a bit of blasphemy. Perhaps somethings really are better left unsaid (unfinished).

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1107280304783

yea..... I know...

Fashion and Schubert

Fashion and Schubert

Rolling along our merry snarky way, I offer you this be classical blabla:

With his hip haircuts and stylish clothes, he cuts a dashing figure onstage. (In the program book for Sunday afternoon's concert, fashion designer Issey Miyake is thanked for providing the pianist's concert attire.)

Read the rest here:

http://www.suntimes.com/output/delacoma/cst-ftr-leif01.html