Strauss Ein Heldenleben

Artist: Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Description: Semyon Bychkov, conductorPoulenc Concerto for 2 Pianos in D Minor? Katya and Marielle Labèque, piano Strauss?Ein Heldenleben, Op. originally recorded at concerts on November 17 and 19, 2011 Brahms Symphony No. 4 in E Minor, Op. 78 ? David Robertson, conductor originally recorded at concerts on November 1, 3, and 4, 2006


View the original article here


Download CSO Annual Report 2012

Trumpet Artist Wayne Bergeron

Wayne Bergeron

Get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Wayne Bergeron's latest album project. Featuring interviews with L.A. band mates and trumpet legend Maynard Ferguson, this 20 minute episode will make you feel as if you were there.

Hear Wayne discuss his involvement in the development of the new Yamaha YTR-8335LA trumpet, his thoughts on big band trumpet playing and the inside scoop on his new album. Check out www.waynebergeron.com for additional info on Wayne Bergeron.

View the original article here

Trombone and Cello Artist Dana Leong

Dana Leong

Dana Leong is a prodigious anomaly of the highest order. By the age of 8, Dana was already performing and competing internationally on the cello and trombone. When Dana won an audition to perform with the 1997 and 1998 Grammy High School All Stars and Boys II Men, he was introduced to Will Smith, Gwen Stefani and Diddy. "After seeing the magnitude of New York City and the wonderful impact these artists had, I wanted to be a musician for life," he says. Since his entrance into New York City in 1998, Dana has been sprinting steadily through the ranks of the music scene. 

At the ripe age of 25, Dana has held roles as a performer on stage and in the studio as well as a composer and producer with top performers in almost every musical genre such as: The 2006 Grammy Nominated Jazz Chamber Trio led by Paquito D'Rivera (where Leong now fills a chair frequented by Yo-Yo Ma,) Ray Charles, Diddy, Kanye West, Matisyahu, Norah Jones, Earth Wind and Fire, Barry White, Erykah Badu, Talib Kweli, Lauryn Hill, Alanis Morrisette, Zap Mamma, Wynton Marsalis, Yoko Ono, Boyz II Men at the 40th Annual Grammy Awards, Dark Latin Groove at Shea Stadium NYC, Christian McBride and the Balkan Beat Box. 

He was also invited to perform at Bing Crosby's house. On screen, Dana has acted and performed on screen in a number of different settings such as Steven Spielberg's feature film "The Terminal," Robin Williams's "August Rush," NBC's "Law and Order," "The Today Show," and with The Roots "Live at Wetlands." Dana has even performed for fashion shows and high fashion events by Alexander Hercovitch and Dianne von Furstenberg. Dana's sound is a fusion of computerized electronic hip-hop funk rhythms and rock propulsions. While playing the cello or trombone, Dana also uses his laptop onstage to integrate electronic soundscapes.

View the original article here

Symphony Ball Gala Package - September 21 2013

Symphony Ball’s  sumptuous evening begins with celebratory preconcert celebration at Symphony Center. This cocktail reception will be throughout Symphony Center for all who are attending the concert and feature open bar and hors d’oeuvres.All ticketholders are invited to a preconcert reception beginning at 6 p.m. Attire for the evening is black tie.The concert will begin at 7:00 p.m. featuring Maestro Riccardo Muti conducting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in some of Verdi’s most popular and rousing choruses, including the invigorating anthem Va, pensiero from Nabucco.?

Renowned Italian opera stars Barbara Frittoli and Luca Dall'Amico sing the impassioned second act finale of La forza del destino.Gala package guests will enjoy postconcert cocktails, dinner and dancing to The Bill Pollack Orchestra at the Palmer House.

Call the Symphony Ball voicemail at 312-294-3185 to order a gala package now!
Download the Symphony Ball Package RSVP form (PDF)

THIS PAGE IS FOR GALA PACKAGES ONLY.

To purchase SINGLE TICKETS for Symphony Ball, please click here >

Verdi Overture to Nabucco Verdi Ballet Music from Macbeth Verdi Patria oppressa! from Macbeth Verdi Si ridesti il Leon di Castiglia from Ernani Verdi Va, pensiero from Nabucco Verdi Act 2 Finale from La forza del destino Verdi Overture to I vespri siciliani.

View the original article here

Symphony Ball - September 21 2013

Join us for a special Symphony Ball celebration of the bicentennial of Italy’s greatest opera composer, Giuseppe Verdi. Riccardo Muti conducts the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in some of Verdi’s most popular and rousing choruses, including the invigorating anthem Va, pensiero from Nabucco. Renowned Italian opera stars Barbara Frittoli and Luca Dall'Amico sing the impassioned second act finale of La forza del destino.

Symphony Ball’s sumptuous evening begins with celebratory preconcert celebration at Symphony Center. This cocktail reception will be throughout Symphony Center for all who are attending the concert and feature open bar and hors d’oeuvres.All ticketholders are invited to a preconcert reception beginning at 6 p.m. Attire for the evening is black tie.

THIS PAGE IS FOR SINGLE TICKETS ONLY.
To purchase GALA PACKAGES for Symphony Ball, please click here >Verdi Overture to Nabucco Verdi Ballet Music from Macbeth Verdi Patria oppressa! from Macbeth Verdi Si ridesti il Leon di Castiglia from Ernani Verdi Va, pensiero from Nabucco Verdi Act 2 Finale from La forza del destino Verdi Overture to I vespri siciliani

View the original article here

Clarinet Artist Bil Jackson

 Bil Jackson

Bil Jackson enjoys a varied musical career that includes solo, orchestral, and chamber music performances. Currently principal clarinet with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra and the Aspen Chamber Symphony, Mr. Jackson has performed as principal clarinetist with the Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Cincinnati, and Honolulu orchestras, and, has appeared as a soloist with the Colorado, Honolulu, Denver, Charlotte, Dallas Chamber, and Aspen Chamber orchestras.

Mr. Jackson is currently professor of clarinet at the University of Northern Colorado and on the Artist-Faculty of the Aspen Music Festival. Join Yamaha Product Manager Jeff Hawley as he chats with Bil about the history of the orchestral clarinet in the United States and the development of the Yamaha YCL-CSG clarinet. 

Feel free to send your comments and suggestions to bandandorchestra@yamaha.com. 

Also - if you have time, we'd appreciate you filling out a short 2-minute survey about the Yamaha Podcasts on the www.yamaha.com/podcasts webpage.

View the original article here

Clarinet Artist Dan St. Marseille

  Dan St. Marseille

Jazz saxophone and clarinet recording artist Dan St. Marseille plays in the tradition of all the jazz legends. Employing a warm tone and melodic approach, he has won praise from jazz critics worldwide. Dan's recordings are heard internationally on jazz radio and have been the subject of articles in such publications as Downbeat, Jazztimes, Los Angeles Times, Japan's Jazz Critic magazine, among others. Three of St. Marseille's CD's received four star ratings in the third edition of the All Music Guide To Jazz - The Experts Guide To The Best Jazz Recordings. 

In addition to local and national tours, Dan has performed in Europe, Canada and many jazz clubs and festivals including a headline performance at the prestigious Coleman Hawkins Festival in Topeka, Kansas. Dan's own composition "Claxography", written for renowned jazz photographer William Claxton, was chosen as the title of Claxton's new book of photographs. In May of 2001, Dan was the music director for an international event entitled "Clickin' With Clax" at the Los Angeles County Museum Of Art. "Swinging With The Saint", Dan's latest album, features jazz clarinet in many roles - from traditional gospel tunes to contemporary Herbie Hancock. Joining Dan on the album are Chris Dawson - Piano, Chris Colangelo - Bass and Thomas White - Drums. 

Find out more about Dan by visiting, www.danstmarseille.com.

View the original article here

Vamos Celebration - September 1 2013

Vamos Celebration will celebrate the musical legacy of two of the world's most influential living pedagogues - Roland and Almita Vamos. Over the course of 45+ years, the Vamoses have shaped several generations of America's finest violinists and violists. This momentous occasion?brings together countless former and current students of the Vamoses in a reunion?of epic proportions. 

Current And Former Students of Roland And Almita Vamos include Rachel Barton Pine, Pacifica String Quartet, Members of The Ying Quartet with Eric Kim, Stephanie Arado, Korey Konkel, Elisa Barston, Benny Kim, Vincent Meklis, Matthew Lippman Handel (arr. Halvorsen) Passacaglia for Violin and Viola Mendelssohn Violin Concerto Mozart Sinfonia Concertante Vivaldi Concerto in B Minor for four violins Bach Concerto in D minor Mendelssohn Octet Tchaikovsky Serenade for Strings

View the original article here

Muti Conducts Verdi and Brahms - September 19 2013

Music Director Riccardo Muti leads Giuseppe Verdi’s powerful ballet music from Macbeth in honor of the opera composer’s bicentennial and rounds the concert off with the sunniest of Brahms’s symphonies, which opens with horns rising like the dawn over brooding lower strings.

The splendid melodies of Johann Strauss, Jr.’s overture to Indigo and the Forty Thieves are filled with heroic swagger.J. Strauss, Jr. Overture to Indigo and the Forty Thieves Verdi Ballet Music from Macbeth Verdi Overture to La forza del destino Brahms Symphony No. 2

This performance is part of the:
Thursday A Series >
Thursday F Series >

View the original article here

Mariinsky Orchestra - October 2 2013

The celebrated Mariinsky Orchestra and their renowned conductor Valery Gergiev take the stage for a trio of Stravinsky’s most beloved ballet scores. Each vividly portrays a compelling dramatic story: the heroic Prince Ivan and his magical Firebird battle an evil sorcerer; a clown-puppet comes to life to pursue a beautiful ballerina; and a young maiden dances to her death in an ancient pagan sacrifice.

Please note that this concert will be performed with two intermissions.
Stravinsky The Firebird Stravinsky Petrushka Stravinsky The Rite of Spring

This performance is part of the:
SCP Orchestra Series >

View the original article here

Woodwinds (Clarinet)

Clarinet

The clarinet, a member of the woodwind family, usually consists of a long tube with a mouthpiece at one end and a bell-shaped opening at the other end. Usually made of wood, the clarinet has tone holes that are covered by small metal levers. To create sound, the musician blows on a flat cane reed that is attatched to the mouthpiece. As the reed vibrates, a full, rich tone is produced. By pushing the keys to close and open the tone holes on the instrument, the pitches of the tone can be changed. Clarinets are manufactured in four keys; the most common band instrument is the B-flat clarinet. This clarinet has a range of about three-and-one-half octaves.

Clarinet

History:

The clarinet was invented in the early 18th century by Johann Cristoph Denner, a German flute maker, as a modification of a folk reedipe, the chalumeau. By the 1840s two complex systems of keywork had been developed for the instrument. Clarinets became common in orchestras by about the 1780s. Early works featuring the clarinet include an overture written by George Frideric Handel for two clarinets and a horn and the clarinet concerto by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Lets you guys enjoy >>>Beethoven Oboe Trio

Hello Guys, Enjoy it!! ^^
Beautiful sounds are coming into yours ears.....
Feeling like I am relaxing and nothings pressure in My Life....
Hope you all can Enjoy it and helpful in your life.....

Woodwinds (Oboe and English Horn)

Oboe

The Oboe is the smallest and highest pitched double reed instrument. It has a cylindrical wooden body with keys along the length of its body. The oboe has a range of about three octaves but is extremely difficult to play. The oboe requires a lot of air to play, and the musician must learn proper breathing techniques.

Oboe

History:

The oboe was invented in the 17th century by Jean Hotteterre and Michel Philidor, two French musicians. They modified the louder shawm into a new instrument, the hautbois. The hautbois had a narrower body than the shawm and was split into three sections. By the 18th century most orchestras had incoporated oboes into the ensemble. Throuhgout history, several copmosers have written solo pieces for the oboe. These composers include George Frideric Handel, Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Motzart, and Ludwig van Beethoven.

English Horn

The English Horn is part of the oboe family. It is also called an alto oboe because it is tuned one-fifth lower in pitch than an oboe. Its shape is similar to that of an oboe and is often played by the third oboe player in an orchestra.

History:

Prototypes of the English Horn appeared before the end of the 17th century. These instruments were curved and leather covered with holes in the body. The holes were usually bored at an angle to accomodate the stretch of the fingers. It is believed that the oboe da caccia (hunting oboe) which was used by Johann Sebastian Bach was almost identical to the English Horn. Its distinctively dark and plaintive tone has been featured by such composers as Hector Berlioz, Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky, and Richard Wagner.

Oboe and English Horn Duet:

CU Flute Ensemble: Four Flutes Concerto Vivaldi

^.^ Enjoy it ! Amazing Ensemble.....
I love it so much !!
Hope You all Like it! 

Bass Flute

The bass flute was for many years the lowest member of the flute family. However, in recent years the rise in popularity of flute choirs and developments in low flute design have resulted in the addition of contrabass and subcontrabass models in G and C.

Pitched in C, the bass flute sounds one octave lower than the standard concert flute (C flute), and the standard bass flute has a workable range of almost three octaves from the C one octave below middle C.

Different makes of standard-model bass flute are relatively similar to each other in terms of design; all have curved headjoints, to reduce the amount of arm stretch required of the player, and the vast majority are held horizontally to the side of the player.

The basic design of a standard-model bass flute is the same as the C flute, with the specifications proportionally larger and extra levers and touchpieces added to some of the keys to allow for more comfortable hand positions. The standard model has a C footjoint and closed holes, and may not have trill keys. As a result, there are many constraints in terms of extended techniques, especially in the area of multiphonics, which often need additional venting in order to sound. The tube length is around 146cm and the instrument requires a large capacity of air at slow speeds. The instrument can be slow to respond, especially when cold, and it is not unusual for the bass flute to be amplified in performance, especially when heard with large ensembles.

Specification:
Level	Professional	Tone Holes	Drawn
Key of	C	Key Types	Plateau
Body Style	Type-1	Key System	Offset G
Body Material	Gold Brass; Wooden Hand Rest	Key Mechanism	N/A
Headjoint	Curved; Gold Brass Sterling Silver Lip Plate and Riser	Spring Type	Blue Steel
Key Material	Nickel Silver (posts and ribs)	Screw Type	Tapered Pivot
Footjoint	C	Bumper Type	Leather
Plating	Silver (keys)	Options	N/A

Alto Flute in G

Alto Flute in G is one of the most sought-after alto flutes in the world. It is characterized by an agile response and precise intonation, but its best feature is its warm, beautiful sound.

The alto flute is a lower and somewhat more unusual member of the flute family than the piccolo and concert C flute. Sounding a perfect fourth lower than the flute in C, it has a sounding range from G below middle C to the G three octaves higher. Its sound differs from that of the C flute, despite its similar compass, due to the fundamental differences in size necessary to enable to lowest pitches to sound. The internal diameter (bore size) of the alto may be up to seven millimetres larger than that of the C flute, and is considerably longer, measuring approximately 880mm, compared to the 685mm of the C flute. 

Alto Flute in G

The basic design of a standard alto flute is the same as the C flute, with the specifications proportionally larger and extra levers attached to some of the keys to allow for the large space between tone holes.

The exact origin of the alto flute is unknown, although large flutes have been in existence for several hundred years. Early flutes were tuned to different pitches, to cover a wider range of pitches than was possible with the limited compass of instruments without keys. Early use of flutes was predominantly military. Flutes were later used to add an instrumental colouring to vocal lines, and eventually became exponents of instrumental music in the form of a consort of similar sounding instruments with different pitch ranges. 

There are thought to have been soprano, alto, tenor and bass flutes, tuned a perfect fifth apart with a pitch range limited to approximately an octave. The modern C flute, with a much greater extension of range than the earlier instruments, is an amalgamation of the alto and tenor versions of these early flutes. The bass member of the family, pitched in G, suffered from a number of impracticalities due to its necessary size, and became virtually obsolete until Boehm's work to modernise it in the mid 19th century.

Specification:
Level	Professional	Key Types	Plateau
Key	G	Key System	Offset G
Body Style	Type-1	Key Mechanism	N/A
Body Material	Gold brass	Spring Type	Blue Steel
Headjoint	Straight; Curved; Gold brass Sterling silver lip plate and riser	Screw Type	Tapered Pivot
Key Material	Nickel silver (posts and ribs)	Options	Curved Headjoint (YFL-A421UII); Straight and Curved Headjoints (YFL-A421BII)
Footjoint	C	Key Types	Plateau
Tone Holes	Drawn	Key System	Offset G

Woodwinds (Flute)

Flute

The flute is the instrument that serves as the soprano voice in most bands, orchestras, and woodwind groups. Most flutes are made of metal and consist chiefly of a tube with a mouthpiece near one end. The musician holds the flute horizontally and blows across an oval shaped hole in the mouthpiece.

At the same time, the musician presses levers on the flute, called keys. The keys, when depressed and released, open and close tone holes on the flute to produce different notes. The concert flute, which is tuned in the key of C, is the most popular flute and has a three octave range. Other members of the flute family include the piccolo, the alto flute, and the bass flute.

History:

The transverse flute, the flute that is most commonly used in Western music, was known to have existed in China about 900 BCE. The flute reached Europe during the 12th century where it became most used as a military instrument in German speaking areas. This led to its formal name, the German flute. The flute then evolved into a chamber music instrument during the 16th and 17th centuries. These early flutes were often made in one piece with six fingerholes. 

Bohem flute

Demo For Bohem Flute:

During the 1600s, however, the flute was redesigned and was built in three sections with joints which connected them together. Gradually, more keys were added to the flute, and it began to replace the recorder in orchestral pieces. By 1800, a four-keyed flute was most common, but during that century, an eight-keyed flute was also developed. Currently, the cylindrical Bohem flute is the most commonly used with thirteen or more tone holes controlled by a system of padded keys

Noah's Ark Story and Orchestra Song

A few generations after Adam and Eve,  God despaired of the people of Earth. They were violent and corrupt. God announced He would wipe out the entire population and begin afresh. One man, however, was honest and blameless and that man was Noah.  God told Noah that he and his family would be saved. He instructed Noah to build an ark, a huge vessel that can hold two of every kind of animal. 

It took months of hard work, but at last the ark was finished. The animals were still climbing aboard as the rains began to fall.  Never before and never again has so much rain fallen from the sky. By the time it stopped, even the mountain tops were covered. It took almost a year for the flood water to drain away, but at last, Noah removed the covering of the ark and saw that the land was dry.

Noah presented a sacrifice to God and God told him that from then on, he and his descendants could kill animals to eat meat but must drain the meat of blood. God promised that He would never again destroy the Earth by water.  The promise was marked across the sky with a rainbow.

Professional Handmade Piccolo> YPC-82

YPC-82

Only the finest Grenadilla woods go into this entirely handcrafted piccolo.

These piccolo are handcrafted by accomplished artisans and have bodies of top grade grenadilla. The YPC-82 features a sterling head-joint while the YPC-81 features a head-joint of grenadilla.

Specifications

Level	Handcrafted	Tone Holes	Undercut
Key of	C	Key System	N/A
Body Style	Standard	Key Types	Concave contoured with ribbed key post
Body Material	Grenadilla Wood	Key Mechanism	Split E
Headjoint	Sterling Silver / Conical	Spring Type	Stainless Steel
Key Material	Nickel Silver	Screw Type	Straight
Footjoint	N/A	Bumper Type	Neoprene
Plating	Silver (keys and posts)	Tone Holes	Undercut

Demo: