Intervalic interventions
A tried and true approach to accurate sight singing is to become familiar with the first two notes of well known pieces of music and commit them to your accoustic memory. When you need to, recall the tune you learnt and hear the interval in your mind the next time you have to sing it. Compiling your list of tunes could be a…
NSW Doctors’ orchestra feels the beat
Dr Clare Skinner works in the Emergency Department of Sydney’s Royal North Shore Hospital. She also plays the oboe and once a year joins around 60 other medicos from around the state to indulge their passion for music, performing as the NSW Doctors’ Orchestra. The proceeds go to the charities related to music and medicine. She tells…
‘Vor Singet’ – composer Joseph twist takes us between the lines
This weekend the Sydney Chamber Choir (see our post), presents their concert “Bach to the Future” performing three of JS Bach’s great motets, and building on them with the works of contemporary composers who include Richard Marlowe, Stephen Paulus, and Gabriel Jackson. Amongst this cohort is a young Australian composer, Joseph Twist who is in fact, a…
…conducted by Carolyn Watson
This is an introduction to look out for in Sydney as conductor Carloyn Watson builds her career after two years of studies in Europe. She has a gleam in her eye. “I absolutely luuurve opera and want to do more…. it has to be the most fun you can have with your clothes on! For…
Beginning with Bach
Gramophone magazine has published a list of the ten best works by JS Bach, especially aimed at newcomers to his music. Glorious as they are, the St Matthew Passion and the Mass in B minor, are possibly better suited to more experienced listeners, we think. Notable absentees from the list are gentler introductions to his music – including…
future directions for symphonic music
The Managing Director of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Matthew VanBeslen, discusses new ways of sustaining “classical” music. (See post on “Where To Next For Symphonic Music?”) http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/orchestras-strike-chord-with-their-communities/story-e6frg8n6-1226071948052
Where to next for symphonic music?
Symphony orchestras the world over face an uncertain future. To what extent should they change in order that they survive? http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/symphonies-learn-the-score/story-e6frg6z6-1226068483453
Got a spare $200,000 for a Mahler original?
Mahler’s personal copy of his 3rdand longest symphony was recently discovered in a private collection. If that isn’t exciting enough, it is notated in the composer’s hand, and is to be auctioned this week. http://gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/the-score-of-the-third-symphony-by-mahler-to-be-auctioned
choir seeks conductor
The Jacobean Singers Inc is looking for a new music director to replace our existing director who is going to the US. We are looking for an experienced choral conductor /organist. The Choir has an extensive library and over the past fifteen years has built up a repertoire of sacred and secular music from Renaissance…