London Symphony Plays Graffiti Composition
Swiss performance artist Christian Marclay assembled the makings of a musical score from Berliners’ graffiti, according to the British newspaper The Telegraph. Marclay made posters featuring traditional five-line staves and placed them around the city at sites where people could write music and messages on them.
After collecting more than 800 posters, 150 were selected for the composition, realized by composer Steve Beresford. The London Symphony Orchestra played the work March 22 at Barbican Hall, where the graffiti-festooned posters were also on exhibition so the audience could see the origins of the music.
www.telegraph.co.uk
Florescu Goes to Florentine Opera
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that William Florescu has been appointed general director of that city’s Florentine Opera Company. Florescu replaces Dennis Hanthorn, who now heads Atlanta Opera. A trained singer and stage director, Florescu has been leading the Lake George (N.Y.) company since 1999. He will continue to assist in New York through this summer, but has already begun his work in Wisconsin, said the “Sentinel.”
www.jsonline.com/onwisconsin/arts/mar05/312544.asp
Beecham Minces No Words!
Famed British conductor Sir Thomas Beecham was riding in a non-smoking railway car when a woman holding a lit cigarette attempted to join him. The woman said she was sure Beecham would not mind if she smoked. He replied that she should not mind if he was physically ill from the smoke.
When the woman pointed out that she was one of the directors’ wives, Sir Thomas replied that he would still be sick from the smoke—even if she was the director’s only wife!
www.geocities.com/~kashalinka/beecham.html
Study Measures Sound Level in Orchestra Pit
At the request of the Canadian Musicians Union, the University of Toronto’s Institute for Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering measured the decibel level in the Canadian Opera Company’s orchestra pit during 18 sessions—both rehearsals and performances—of two complete operas, says the website 4hearingloss.com.
The Canadian findings showed that sound levels never exceeded the 85 decibels considered to be a safe level by international and U.S. standards, even though unsafe levels had been seen in earlier measurements taken by the Association of British Orchestras.
www.4hearingloss.com/archives/2005/03/university_of_t.html
What Happened to Public Domain?
The works of long-dead composers are usually thought to be available for performance with no charge for royalties. If a musicologist edits an older masterpiece, however, he or she has to be paid for the work done to produce a performable copy. If that editor has added anything that could be considered original, does it mean he or she has a copyright on the work?
When Ex Cathedra performed and Hyperion Records Limited recorded some choral works by Michel-Richard de Lalande (1657-1726), they paid the editor of the edition, Lionel Sawkins. Sawkins sued for more money, however, asserting that he has a copyright because he reconstructed a great deal of the material. Sawkins won, but his case is being appealed before the British courts, according to London’s The Times.
www.carter-ruck.com/articles/2204sum-Sawkins.html www.timesonline.co.uk
Could Conventional Programming Wisdom Be Wrong?
If symphony orchestras want to sell tickets, most people think they should program a good bit of Beethoven, Brahms, and Mozart, according to the Detroit Free Press. In smaller communities, particularly, conservatism is thought to be a must.
“Not so,” says Nan Washburn, music director of southeastern Michigan’s Plymouth Symphony. She says that attending a concert should keep the listener up to date with the latest in music, just as seeing the latest movie puts people in touch with what is happening in film. Washburn promotes the works of living composers in concerts constructed around central themes—and audiences come from far and wide. The result? An expanding budget, a lengthening season, and a growing outreach program.
www.freep.com and search for “Plymouth Symphony”
www.plymouthsymphony.org
Former Atlanta Opera Artistic Director to Teach
William Fred Scott, Atlanta Opera’s former artistic director, has begun work on designing the new International Opera Workshop at Brenau University in Gainsville, Ga., according to AccessNorthGeorgia.com
Scott and Brenau president Ed Schrader plan to look at the programs available at various music schools across the country to ascertain what educational needs are not now being met. The Georgia school then hopes to design programs to meet the previously unfulfilled requirements, said the site.
www.AccessNorthGa.com
Composer Distributes Works on the Net
Composer Sir Peter Maxwell Davies is distributing his music directly from his “Maxopus” site, rather than relegating that function to a middle man, according to the newspaper The Scotsman. Collins Recordings recorded Davies’ music and sold it to a firm that did not want the classical fare, so the composer got his copyrights back.
The new site allows buyers to select tracks and either download them or order a CD to be sent in the mail. Both are accompanied by an owner’s booklet with notes and a libretto, where applicable. One CD costs approximately $13.
www.music.maxopus.com
