Blog of the Day

Today's pick is MG Blog. Music, Technology, Visual Arts, and more. You find it here!

Garrick Ohlsson

I'll second this review and look forward to the Garrick Ohlsson CD set from Bridge Records. X-Mas gift.

Details.

And this is good for who?

For the "Not Surprising" file:

"The Copyright Register recently announced its decision that ringtones do not constitute derivative works, and as such are covered by Section 115 -- a statute originally written to create a market for the distribution of piano rolls in 1909. "


And what's in it for songwriters and composers? Apparent not much.

"the decision is part of an ongoing battle between the RIAA (record labels) and industry songwriters/publishers. The RIAA wanted to be able to distribute ringtones without securing new licenses from songwriters, who technically own the composition."

Read the rest here.

Honens: from drab to fab

Fine write up that's more revealing about the nature of the Honens International Piano Competition than anything else.

Key grafs:

 

"We're not looking for the kind of sensational virtuoso that galvanizes an audience so they're so overwhelmed by the rush that nerve endings are practically sliced off," says Aide, the former head of the keyboard division at the University of Toronto's faculty of music. "We're looking for someone with comprehensive versatility -- someone who has unbelievable technical prowess in the service of the score and can convey a commanding personal response to the score.

and

""I'm not saying we're sexing up classical music, but when you see a young person who is stylish and confident and has it together going out onstage, the audience feels the magic in the air.

"Musicianship is still the most important thing. But if they're going to get ahead, they need the balls to sell themselves."

And just to be sure about it, the winners get a make-over:

"Their first week of career development includes a consultation with a stylist, shopping for performance clothes, a photo shoot with a fashion photographer and a visit to the Banff Centre, where they will be encouraged to start thinking about how to expand their repertoire and develop a niche."

Sounds like a job for the fab five.  (just kidding)

Read the read rest here.

 

Currently listening to: Artur Schnabel - Beethoven - Rondo in A WoO49

Of popcorn and pianos

My only CD of piano music from the movies has long been this splendid disc by Santiago Rodriguez. But I think I've found a new CD to compliment it, a recent recording by Jean-Yves Thibaudet of music from the movies. Read about it here. Looks tasty.

Minsoo Sohn - Honens Winner

CBC has up a nice write up here.

blog of the day

You'll do yourself right by clicking on over to Interimssion: Impossible, a witty blog that will do more than keep you in touch with the fine doings of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Here's two posts that caught my attention.

One on Leon Kirchner and another on the axis of gilles.

Honens Competition- Winners

Not first prize, but not a bad night at all for the talented Hinrich Alpers taking home 2nd prize and 2 of the 3 special awards .

Of the five finalists of this year's Honen's competition, the top prizes went to

1st Prize - Minsoo Sohn, Korea

2nd Prize - Hinrich Alpers, Germany

3rd Prize - Hong Xu, China

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4th Prize Finalist, Spencer Myer

5th Prize Finalist, Serhy Salov, Ukraine

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Additional Prizes:

Hinrich Alpers, Prize for Best Ensemble Performance

Hinrich Alpers, Best Performance of Commissioned Work

Gregory DeTurck, Prize for Artist with Special Promise

Congratulations to all.

Currently listening to: Bax: Piano Quintet

Too bad a I missed this auction

piano driven car on ebay.

Details.

Karaoke

Karaoke gets netlicious.