Category: music

The report is notable for its “insistence that music has to remain one of the statutory subjects on the curriculum otherwise, “the subject might well wither away in many schools – and in the worst-case scenario, could all but disappear in others”, but the government says that evidence will have to be sent to the national curriculum review consultation.”

“[Imagine that] we just met on a plane and started talking. Man, we’d have so much in common. I got to figure out when I’m going to be quiet and when I’m going to ask you something. You have to figure out what you’re going to pick up on. We’re swinging! So the ultimate swing is when opposite poles comes together and are forced into a dance with each other.”

“With much anticipation and fanfare, Syracuse Symphony Orchestra announced it has raised $473,787 at a Saturday afternoon press conference.” SSO management had revealed in late January that the orchestra needed $375,000 to meet February payroll or it would shut down.

“American violin-making is enjoying a rebirth, craftsmen say, despite the rapidly improving production by fellow makers in China which artisans here see both as a threat – and a boon – to their livelihood.” Large-scale Chinese instrument makers dominate the student violinist market.

“The Detroit Symphony Orchestra has a bigger problem than the 18-week-old strike … The orchestra’s lenders, in an ominous turn, repaid the orchestra’s bondholders on Dec. 1 and called a $54 million loan the symphony cannot pay.”

“Dudamel’s original contract as music director was for a five-year term and would have ended in 2014. The contract now extends through the orchestra’s centennial year.”

“The San Francisco Opera posted a deficit of more than $1.5 million for the fiscal year 2009-10, attributing the red ink largely to a decline of roughly 25 percent in income from ticket sales.”

“This phase [of the project] encompasses the Bernstein years, running from 1943 … to 1970, the year after his formal tenure ended. During that period the orchestra opened its doors to women, toured extensively, moved to Lincoln Center and entered the television age. … The next two phases will cover 1842, the founding year, to 1908; and 1909 to 1943.”

The numbers show that minorities make up less than 5% of musicians in American orchestras, but Sphinx is having an effect. Though the average age of former laureates is 25, six Sphinx alums have won jobs with major orchestras

“Amos Lee’s ‘Mission Bell’ marks the lowest-ever No. 1 debut for an album released in the post-SoundScan era, which began in 1991.”