“Steve Reich has been awarded the 2009 Pulitzer Prize in Music for Double Sextet. The award, for distinguished musical composition by an American that has had its first performance or recording in the United States during the previous calendar year, comes with a $10,000 cash prize.” (With video and audio.)
Author: Laura Collins Hughes
Nottage, Gordon-Reed, Merwin Among Pulitzer Winners
“The Pulitzer Prizes were announced on Monday. Following are the winners in Letters, Drama and Music.”
Pulitzer In Criticism Goes To … An Art Critic?!?
“Finally, the curse is over. New York Times art critic Holland Cotter today won the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for criticism. He’s the first art critic to get the nod in 35 years, since the late Emily Genauer of Newsday won in 1974.”
‘Omit Needless Words’: Elements Of Style Turns 50
Do Strunk and White’s guidelines still apply, a half-century on? Mostly yes, but not entirely. Dorothy Parker’s opinion of the book stands, however: “If you have any young friends who aspire to become writers, the second greatest favor you can do them is to present them with copies of The Elements of Style. The first greatest, of course, is to shoot them now, while they’re happy.”
At Funerals, The Chairman Elbows Hymns Aside
“Abide With Me, Amazing Grace and Jerusalem have been eclipsed by the strains of Frank Sinatra, Celine Dion and Robbie Williams, according to the latest figures. A survey of 30,000 funerals conducted last year found that hymns were the most popular requests at only 35 per cent of services, down from 41 per cent in 2005. Contemporary songs accounted for 58 per cent of requests, up from 55 per cent, with classical pieces making up the remaining seven per cent (from 4 per cent).”
Seven Philadelphia Groups Split $1 Million In Pew Grants
“At a time when the flow of outside funding seems to be slowing relentlessly, the Pew Heritage Philadelphia Program has awarded a little more than $1 million to seven area cultural organizations. The grants, ranging from about $56,000 to $200,000, will be used to implement capital projects, explore new interpretive programs, install innovative technology and extend the reach of cultural groups into new and surrounding communities.”
Saint Louis Art Museum Makes Cuts To Save $1.5 Million
“The Saint Louis Art Museum has offered a second round of early retirement offers and implemented other cost-cutting measures in an effort to save $1.5 million. The museum said Wednesday it faces a variety of challenges in this recession, including a decline in revenue from the Metropolitan Zoological Park and Museum District, reduced funding from its endowment, lower levels of annual giving, lower income from its shop and restaurant, depressed consumer spending and a drop in attendance….”
McAnuff: Stratford Will ‘End The Season In The Black’
“Des McAnuff is confident the Stratford Shakespeare Festival will finish this season in the black, even though slow ticket sales have forced the company to put 30 performances on hold. … [T]he festival’s artistic director insists the season will fare well financially. ‘Our projections are that we’re going to end the season in the black. … I’m not being a Pollyanna. We’re putting strong work on the stage,’ McAnuff said.”
Movie Audiences Text Together, And Watch The Ticker
“Normally, rampant texting in a movie theater is grounds for ejection. But in St. Charles, it’s encouraged. During a screening of ‘Zoolander,’ audience members could heckle the movie via text, then watch as their comments appeared onscreen with the film.” It’s called MuVChat, and its inventor describes it as “a mash-up of ‘Mystery Science Theater 3000’ and Twitter.”
Boston Symphony Calls Off Next Year’s European Tour
“Not surprisingly, the Boston Symphony Orchestra has decided not to tour Europe in 2010. The jaunt had reportedly included planned stops in Paris and Vienna.” The BSO says it “will not resume international touring activity until [an economic] recovery is well under way.”