Category: music

Some computer programmers in the UK plan an all-out assault on the music industry, trying to build on the success of Napster only making music recording exchanges untraceable. – The Independent (UK)

Dutch cellist Pieter Wispelwey is filling concert halls and selling tens of thousands of CD’s of his performances of solo Bach. – Sydney Morning Herald

With all the complaining and suing going on about who controls music on the internet, you might think that sales of recordings would have dried up. Surprise – despite the wide availability of free music on the internet, sales of recorded music have smashed records in recent months. And the internet is getting the credit. – Wired

— dies at age 77. – USA Today (AP)

Zarin Mehta (Zubin’s brother), who runs Chicago’s Ravinia Festival, has been named the New York Philharmonic’s new executive director, starting in September. – New York Times

NY Philharmonic officials returned from Milan without Riccardo Muti’s name on a contract to be the Philharmonic’s next music director. – Chicago Tribune

New NY Phil chief says Muti’s salary demands aren’t an issue. – Philadelphia Inquirer

Now wouldn’t you think that a TV special called “Piano Grand,” ostensibly celebrating the 300th “birthday” of the piano would put the instrument center-stage? You’d be wrong, grasshopper. All of the pianos used on this 90-minute PBS special show up anonymously. “Right where the identifying brand should be – just above the keyboard and on the right flank of the beast itself – there is a paste-over label that reads “Piano Grand.” It covers the basic tattoo every piano carries: Steinway, Baldwin, Yamaha.” The camera’s far more interested in the human stars – Dave Brubeck, Billy Joel, Jerry Lee Lewis. – Washington Post

American composer John Adams says American opera lacks heroism and doesn’t grab audiences’ imaginations. “Modern opera’s big mistake is to treat it as an extension of bourgeois post-Ibsenian drama. So many operas come out stillborn because they can’t add anything to plays or movies or books that are already dramatically complete in their own terms. Most American opera is just too sincere.” – The Telegraph (UK)

In the vast Edenic garden of downloadable music, one ought to be able to navigate with ease, download in a facile manner, and always have the latest information on favorite artists – unfortunately, it’s easy to get lost in the e-quagmire. Now, three new search engines promise to help you find and keep the tunes you love. – Wired