Is there any story that typifies the mass migration of European musicians to America during the early decades of the twentieth century? Every story is a bit different, of course, but here is one that typifies the high proportion of such musicians who found success in their new country.
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A heated debate at Tanglewood among orchestra leaders in 2001 considered the question of the proper role of music directors in the 21st century. As described in this blog, what has happened since that time went well beyond what people imagined.
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Most people don’t have a clue who is responsible for the most free concerts presented over the last three quarters of a century. Care to guess? Find the answer here.
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How many things can a talented musician do well and still achieve greatness? Read here to find out.
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My most recent blog argued that arts organizations are bloated with too many administrators. The piece seems to have touched a nerve with responses both pro and con. In this one, I share some thoughtful rebuttals from people who disagree.
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How many arts administrators does it take to change a light bulb m(or run an arts organization)? Some people might say “too many!” To learn why arts organizations spend so much on administrative costs and to come up with strategies to address this challenge, read more here.
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In the 1920s, someone got the bright idea that there was a way to create performing arts series in over a thousand small towns in the United States. To learn more about the brilliant concept and how it changed the face of the performing arts in this country, read here.
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Unlike writing about a novel or a painting, it is almost impossible to use words to describe a piece of music (the actual sounds) with any degree of precision so that another person can understand. In this blog you can explore why this is the case and can find a possible solution here.
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They say that it is impossible to master musical skills at a professional level if you start late in life. But on at least one occasion, that turned out not to be true. Read on to learn how one senior managed to do it.
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Why is it that the more expert we become, the easier it is to miss the obvious? Why do children often spot errors that adults make? If you want to discover how a single misprinted note led to insight on the phenomenon, read here.
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On November 15, 1940, Eugene Ormandy, music director of the Philadelphia Orchestra, offered an all-Beethoven program. Such a concert would not have been unusual except for one thing. The three soloists that day were all trailblazing women. To learn more about them, read here..
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During the present crisis in the Ukraine, much has been made of the fate of Russian musicians who are supporters of Vladimir Putin. But what of the countless other musicians who have to live and work in an increasingly repressive, isolated, and economically challenged country? What is likely to happen to them? Let us hope that the experiences of a century ago, recounted here, are not repeated.
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Playing in an orchestra can be an intense and exhausting occupation. Maintaining a high level of performance night after night isn’t easy and sometimes orchestra musicians may give less than their best—often called “mailing it in.” To learn what causes these lapses and how they can be prevented, read this article.
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There are many reasons that people give for not listening to old recordings. But increasing numbers of music lovers know that old recordings contain remarkable performances by legendary musicians that are unavailable anywhere else. For more, read here.
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Shouldn’t we be open to exploring the vast literature of classical music? Why limit ourselves to those composers who have been established as worthy by today’s musical tastemakers? Read more here.
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What connects fly fishermen, rare book collectors, and musicians? If you think you know the answer (or especially if you don’t), read on here.
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How does a parent know when a child is ready to take on a new challenge in life—whether it is riding a bicycle, taking the subway without an adult, or playing a first concert? Sometimes the question is easy to answer. At other times, it appears to be more difficult. READ HERE TO LEARN MORE.
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The choice of a new leader may be the most important decision an organization will make for years. But in the case of classical music organizations, the issues turn out to be complex. Don’t you think it would be desirable to have some background and context for making an informed choice? If so, you might start here.
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Are music critics stupid? As we read what some of them have written over the years about works that were later deemed masterpieces, we might think so. But perhaps there is a simple explanation…and perhaps we too are guilty. Ready to take the simple test here?.
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