Blog
The harp: how many strings?
It's not just the national symbol of Ireland. The harp has existed in some form for over 5,000 years, and it's still seen today in the concert hall. It's easy to see why it's on Team Strings - they can have up to 47 strings! Harp technique is unlike any other...
Sneak peek: Team Woodwinds’ Battle of the Sections performance
Here’s a taste of Team Woodwinds' performance from the Battle of the Sections: Orchestra Edition on June 25th, 2020. The event may be over, but you can still support New West Symphony’s education programs and help us prepare to return to the concert hall! Donate now....
Harpsichord: the piano’s older sibling
[youtube]J6VO5lWRtbg[/youtube] Sometimes people can't decide whether the piano is a string or a percussion instrument. After all, it's made up of dozens and dozens of strings! But the key element is the fact that pianos make their sound when little hammers strike...
See you bassoon!
Maybe you don't think about the bassoon all that often, but it has stand-out moments in much of your favorite music, from the opening of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring to the music for Harry Potter: The Sorcerer's Apprentice. New West Symphony bassoonist Duncan Massey...
Sneak peek: Team Strings’ Battle of the Sections performance
Here’s a taste of Team Strings' performance from the Battle of the Sections: Orchestra Edition on June 25th, 2020. The event may be over, but you can still support New West Symphony’s education programs and help us prepare to return to the concert hall! Donate now. ...
An instrument across cultures: the violin
The violin just may be the universal instrument; instruments like the it have been around for centuries. Bartok was known for studying and preserving folk music of Eastern Europe, a reminder that string instruments have played a role in almost every nation's culture....
Tuba: the biggest brass instrument
Blake Cooper, principal tubist of the New West Symphony, has a ton of fun with the biggest brass instrument in the orchestra: the tuba. We love how it shakes the room and always makes us smile. But it also plays one of the most menacing themes in pop culture: the...
Sneak peek: Team Percussion’s Battle of the Sections performance
The teams are getting ready for the Battle of the Sections, this Thursday, June 25th! Here's a sneak peek of Team Percussion's performance. Pick your favorite instrument family, then get your ticket for the live online event, Thursday June 25th at 7PM! ...
Now that’s what I call percussion!
[youtube]TKoq4KOHUEU[/youtube] You may have heard Steve Reich's Mallet Quartet, a mallet purist's dream. But now let's hear how beautifully the percussion section can enhance and drive the orchestra. Carlos Chávez' Sinfonia No. 2 "India" will make you jump out of your...
The singing cello in the William Tell Overture
Wendy Velasco, New West Symphony assistant principal cellist, loves the cello's unique voice. Today she reps Team Strings and shares a musical moment where the strings shine. [youtube]M58sM94xCw8[/youtube] Rossini, the master melody maker, wrote what is perhaps...