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Instruments of the Orchestra IX: The Horn
In the back of the orchestra are the brass-winds: the wild brass instruments that have been tamed and brought into the orchestra, but who remain with the potential to put a wild call out over the rest of the ensemble.
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When the Detective goes to a Concert: Elliot Paul and Homer Evans
The American journalist and author Elliot Paul (1891-1958) was born in Massachusetts, served in France in WWI, and returned home to become a journalist and author. He returned to Paris in 1925 to become a writer and part of the
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Singing with William Byrd
William Byrd (1543-1623), in the preface to his Psalmes, Sonnets and Songs of 1588, set out Eight Reasons why everyone should learn to sing.
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A Helping Hand with Music
Guido of Arezzo (991-2 to after 1033) was a famous music teacher first at the Benedictine Abbey of Pomposa then in Arezzo, where he moved around 1025. At the time when Guido was teaching music, he came up with some
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Nicolai Gedda: Alive, well and thoroughly immortal
Last weekend, unconfirmed reports hit the internet about the great Swedish tenor’s death. By the following Monday the reports were denied by publicists and friends: Nicolai Gedda (born July 11, 1925) is alive and well.
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Instruments of the Orchestra VIII: The Bassoon
The woodwind’s bass support is the mighty bassoon. Another double-reed instrument like the oboe, the bassoon need to be a long wood wind in order to get the low notes and is designed rather folded back on itself in order
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An Orchestra Gets With It – Turn Your Phone On!
Handsome, longhaired composer and conductor Eric Whitacre instructed the audience, “Turn your phone on. Put it in airplane mode and wait for my cue.” Throughout the Orchestra Hall lobby were instructions regarding how to download the Deep Fields app prior
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Ten Tips for Productive Practice
When it comes to practising instruments, most people are concerned about quantity. ‘But I practised 20 minutes every day!’ ‘I practised yesterday!’ ‘I spent a total of five hours practising this week!!!’ But I urge you to concentrate on quality,
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