N.B. Those who attended (and a lot of people, of all ages, filled the pews!) were treated so some of the most glorious music-making ever seen in Nashville. Carol McClure, with her quartet of harpists, Murray Somerville and friends holding forth with a Brandenburg Concerto, the venerable Wilma Jensen performing the Toccata D minor, and Elisabeth Small's stunning performances of portions of the violin Chaconnes and Sonatas were highlights--but it was all wonderful. Thanks to Christ Church Cathedral and Susan Dupont, event chair.
*****
One of the joys of living in the regions of Nashville TN is the privilege of hearing so much wonderful music, produced locally and performed live. This week alone, OS enjoyed the saxophone artistry of Lou Marini, backed by a cracking good big band, a top-flite country songwriter performing his own material, and tonight--the music of J.S. Bach. Six hours of it, if he can sit still that long.
It's BACHanalia time in Nashville, at Christ Church Cathedral, corner of 9th and Broad downtown. It's a wonderful evening, free to the public. Whole families attend, from kids to seniors. Begins at 5:00 pm, ends as close to 11:00 as can be accomplished.
For OS's readership in this part of the world--a hearty invitation to join in.
Christ Church Cathedral is celebrating the genius and mastery of Johann Sebastian Bach in the fifth annual BACHanalia, a 6-hour marathon music festival. Music begins at 5 pm and continues non-stop until 11 pm on Friday, March 25, 2011. Admission is free.
Audience members may come any time and stay as long as they like. Food, beverages and t-shirts are available for a minimal cost, with music piped into the dining area so as not to miss a minute of the performances.
BACHanalia is a gift to the Nashville community from nearly 100 of Nashville’s finest musicians. They will perform a wide variety of Bach’s masterpieces in expected and unexpected ways – everything from harp to marimba, organ to voice, jazz ensembles to harpsichord, and sonatas to sarabandes will delight the ear. Studio musicians, Nashville Symphony musicians, area university faculty and students, and church musicians all contribute to this festive evening of Bach's music.
Showing posts with label Choral Music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Choral Music. Show all posts
Friday, March 25, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Green Shoots Award: 'The Choir' On BBC America
OS got the heads up from a good friend, headed for his remote, and spent the happiest hour of TV he had seen in many months.
'The Choir' has just made it to the US on BBC America.
He hates most 'reality' shows, but this is not about narcissists acting out their most evil instincts for the cameras. It's about a young musician, Gareth Malone, who takes on the project of taking a group of kids in a government school in the UK, turning them into a choir, and getting them ready for competition in the Choir Olympics in Beijing.
The first episode begins with the audition of some 140 kids, trying to find a couple of dozen who show enough promise. He doesn't even get that, but begins anyway. The episode ends with the kids recording their entry recording, four weeks later. The transformation of all the lives involved--choir, families, conductor, and school has begun.
This is what good music teaching does. It transforms lives, breeds discipline, esprit-de-corps, confidence, desire to excel. It breeds hope in lives that seem to have so little of it in their circumstances. 'If I can do this, perhaps there's a future for me out there in one of those other disciplines as well.'
It's not complicated, doesn't require some massive government program. Choral music education is the most cost-efficient of all, as the instruments come pre-installed in the students' bodies. Add one competent teacher with a lot of drive, a piano that is kept in tune, an accompanist, and a few bucks invested into the print music, and you've got the core of a potentially great program. It doesn't necessarily have to take place in a school--churches and community centers do just as well.
(And, unlike football or basketball, everyone graduates with their knees intact.)
OS hopes you enjoy this preview, and will tune in for the episodes.
'The Choir' has just made it to the US on BBC America.
He hates most 'reality' shows, but this is not about narcissists acting out their most evil instincts for the cameras. It's about a young musician, Gareth Malone, who takes on the project of taking a group of kids in a government school in the UK, turning them into a choir, and getting them ready for competition in the Choir Olympics in Beijing.
The first episode begins with the audition of some 140 kids, trying to find a couple of dozen who show enough promise. He doesn't even get that, but begins anyway. The episode ends with the kids recording their entry recording, four weeks later. The transformation of all the lives involved--choir, families, conductor, and school has begun.
This is what good music teaching does. It transforms lives, breeds discipline, esprit-de-corps, confidence, desire to excel. It breeds hope in lives that seem to have so little of it in their circumstances. 'If I can do this, perhaps there's a future for me out there in one of those other disciplines as well.'
It's not complicated, doesn't require some massive government program. Choral music education is the most cost-efficient of all, as the instruments come pre-installed in the students' bodies. Add one competent teacher with a lot of drive, a piano that is kept in tune, an accompanist, and a few bucks invested into the print music, and you've got the core of a potentially great program. It doesn't necessarily have to take place in a school--churches and community centers do just as well.
(And, unlike football or basketball, everyone graduates with their knees intact.)
OS hopes you enjoy this preview, and will tune in for the episodes.
Monday, June 14, 2010
A Beautiful, Small Event For The Culture: The Music Of Eric Whitacre
Definitely not a household name, but maybe in some more civilized day, he will be.
Here is one sample from his new album that releases Tuesday, June 15, Choral Music.
This Marriage (2 minutes, 30 seconds of inspiring beauty)
May these vows and this marriage be blessed.
May it be sweet milk,
this marriage, like wine and halvah.
May this marriage offer fruit and shade
like the date palm.
May this marriage be full of laughter,
our every day a day in paradise.
May this marriage be a sign of compassion,
a seal of happiness here and hereafter.
May this marriage have a fair face and a good name,
an omen as welcomes the moon in a clear blue sky.
I am out of words to describe
how spirit mingles in this marriage.
Here is one sample from his new album that releases Tuesday, June 15, Choral Music.
This Marriage (2 minutes, 30 seconds of inspiring beauty)
May these vows and this marriage be blessed.
May it be sweet milk,
this marriage, like wine and halvah.
May this marriage offer fruit and shade
like the date palm.
May this marriage be full of laughter,
our every day a day in paradise.
May this marriage be a sign of compassion,
a seal of happiness here and hereafter.
May this marriage have a fair face and a good name,
an omen as welcomes the moon in a clear blue sky.
I am out of words to describe
how spirit mingles in this marriage.
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