Blog
Michael Christie Jukebox #7
In this installment: John Browne - Stabat Iuxta Christi Crucem - The Sixteen Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture - Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra Radiohead - 15 Step Simon & Garfunkel - The Boxer Nina Simone - I Put a Spell on You Górecki Symphony No. 3, II. Lento e Largo...
Jacob Collier with the Metropole Orkest
Jacob Collier, 25, is a British multi-instrumentalist, singer, and composer whose work has pushed the boundaries of music theory, music production, and scale. Getting his start with YouTube covers, Collier performed and recorded his entire first album, winning Grammy...
Trying to fail: speech and string bass
Playing an instrument and singing at the same time can be challenging, but how about playing and talking? In Failing: A Very Difficult Piece for Solo String Bass, Tom Johnson devised a wickedly fun challenge. The performer is supposed to play string bass and...
Bach cello suites arranged for bass clarinet
Joshua Ranz, principal clarinet of the New West Symphony has created these fabulous arrangements of Bach's cello suites for bass clarinet. We think it gives them a very friendly quality. The Sarabande is a clever arrangement for 2 bass clarinets, with Josh performing...
Whitacre’s ‘golden brick’ and audience breathing
World-renown choral composer Eric Whitacre finds inspiration in what he calls the "golden brick." In an interview with Classic FM, Whitacre finds deep emotion in seemingly simple groups of notes that lays the foundation for an entire piece. Watch as he explains his...
Michael Christie Jukebox #6
Jukebox #6 In this installment: Terracentric - Rodigro y Gabriela Witness Tree - Rodrigo y Gabriela Bernstein - Symphonic Dances from West Side Story Stars - Les Misérables (Original London Cast recording) Bring Him Home - Les Misérables (Colm Wilkinson) My Shot...
Michael Christie Jukebox #5
In this installment: Vivaldi - The Four Seasons (Spring), Julia Fischer Dvořák - Rusalka, Gabriela Beňačková Tosti - Aprile, Elly Ameling Britten - Four Sea Interuldes from Peter Grimes Van Morrison - Moondance Neko Case - I Wish I Was the Moon The Police - Walking on...
The Specter of the Stage
by Stephanie Wilson, Deputy Director, New West SymphonyTheatres are very superstitious places. The drama and music in theatres is only the accompaniment to the tradition and lore that thrive anyplace where there’s a stage. This is about the ghost light. In the 1800’s,...
Do classical musicians feel rhythm differently?
Western sheet music is a universal language. No matter what instrument or style of music you play, eighth notes are eighth notes, right? Well, maybe not exactly. According to jazz bassist, composer, and music educator Adam Neely, pop and classical musicians understand...
Rousseau’s hypnotic piano visualizations
There’s a new twist on visualizing music, and it’s hypnotizing. A pianist by the name of Rousseau has a YouTube channel where he uses some tricky software that gives a virtual light show to accompany his playing. He attached LED lights to his piano and used some very...