Category: music

“The building of Walt Disney Concert Hall was a 17-year odyssey. The journey was, at times, a bumpy and difficult process, and those charged with bringing the project to fruition were often faced with tough decisions.”

“A lockout is no time for a party!” said one protestor. The board said the money is earmarked for the musicians of the future, when the lockout ends.

“The relationship between composer and performer has become increasingly symbiotic over the past three decades. Given that fact, it is curious why one of the largest organizations of musicians in the country would decide to pursue this particular line of questioning with its membership.”

“Researchers report that the presence of personal memories associated with specific songs was “closely related to whether they made participants feel happy or energized.” This suggests we’re not responding so much to the music per se, but rather to the events and feelings it triggers in our brains.”:

“As we begin the 17th month of a labor dispute that is as difficult as any I have seen, I am reflecting on the tremendous opportunity we have to maintain momentum and start an exciting next chapter for our orchestra on a sustainable foundation.”

“Orchestras in Scandinavia and North America are currently the most receptive to female conductors. And, importantly, they do not expect them to act like men.”

Well, who paid the consultants? Who was the client? The MinnOrch board. Blogger and professional orchestra musician Robert Levine looks through the document – and the assumptions the analysts made.

John Phillips and colleague Janine Johnson “build the instruments by hand. The sun-flooded central room of the workshop has some power tools, but planing the bottom of a case to the desired thickness is done by hand (it takes an hour). So is carving a bridge (that takes a day) or making the bird-quill plectra that pluck the strings.”

“Ma’ayan Beider-Jacobssohn, 32, of Rehovot, very quickly became the leader of the musicians, most of them older Russians who earn a paltry salary. After he fought for their rights, the orchestra’s management dismissed him. On Monday a labor court ordered his job restored, but apparently that isn’t the last word in this struggle.”

“Specifically, musicians seek a cost summary of the renovation of Orchestra Hall, the 2013 budget, financial and contribution reports, the projected 2014 budget and fundraising plans, as well as the season schedule.”