Blog
The latest from the New West Symphony
Britten’s choral symphony ‘from winter to spring’
You know it's a monumental work of art when it has 4 parts and 12 movements, and it calls for an orchestra PLUS soprano, alto, tenor, mixed chorus, and a boys' chorus. The way UK composer Benjamin Britten put it, his 1949 "Spring Symphony" illustrates "the progress of...
Composer exploration: July birthdays
There are 365 days in a year, and many, many more composers who've gone before us. That means there's always a composer birthday to celebrate, and there's always interesting music and stories to discover. Here are 3 noteworthy composers with July birthdays whose music...
Going for Baroque: 307 year-old party music
Some people find Baroque music hard to Handel. Bad puns aside, it's amazing to hear music that's over 300 years old in the English language, and why it was written in the first place. In July of 1713, Utrecht Te Deum and Jubilate premiered at St. Paul's Cathedral in...
‘When the Saints Go Marching In’ – New West Symphony Brass Quintet
Ain't much as fun as New Orleans-style hot jazz, complete with trumpets, trombones, horns, and a tuba! Check out the New West Symphony Brass Quintet playing "When the Saints Go Marching In" and another one you might recognize!
‘America the Beautiful’ – New West Symphony Brass Quintet
To celebrate the 244th birthday of the United State of America, here is the New West Symphony Brass Quintet performing "America the Beautiful," from our Memorial Day live online concert! Watch the whole Memorial Day online concert...
Battle of the Sections: clips from the team performances
On June 25th, 2020 New West Symphony embarked on a first-of-its-kind production. The four orchestra sections competed against each other for the honored title of "Best Orchestra Section in the History of the World." Each section performed a medley of classical...
Jukebox 20 “Battle of the Sections”
In this installment: This playlist features the (mostly) original settings of music used during the New West Symphony's Battle of the Sections: Orchestra Edition. Thank you all for your involvement in this great live event, and for your support! ...
Clarinet antics: a fun and versatile instrument
The clarinet can be an easy instrument to get along with. Okay, maybe more for the listener than the performer. They have such a bright, friendly, and open tone that charms our socks off. And that makes for amazingly clear melodies and tight harmonies. ...
As hard as can be: Bartók’s viola concerto
All too often, the viola gets a bad rap, and for no good reason. In the right hands, it can sing just as beautifully as the other members of the string family. Philipp Triggs reminds us that it can have a powerful role in the orchestra that makes it indispensable. ...
Subtle genius: Steve Reich’s Mallet Quartet
Some would say the musicians launch their shrewdest musical attacks after the work week. Team Percussion comes out swinging this morning. So maybe you grew up rattling pots and pans in the kitchen. You have a thing for rhythm, the hypnotic thrill of a constant beat....