CGF Newsletter 31: Don't Let the Door Hit You
An unceremonious end to a US orchestra; Twilight of an era in Chicago; An exclusive concert video
Name That Tune
This week’s Name That Tune is a Maestro Will special. I’m going to give an extremely generous hint this week and say that the composer of this excerpt was the teacher of an artist named in this week’s newsletter.
As always, your goal is to provide as much accurate analysis as possible. First try to get the nationality, year, and genre, then make educated guesses about the composer and — if possible— the piece. If you know the piece immediately, send us an email at classicalgabfest@gmail.com instead of commenting so the rest of us can have fun guessing.
Last Week’s Results
CGF Newsletter 30
Alfredo Casella, Scarlattiana
This turns out to be a fascinating little piece that precisely zero people weighed in on. In my case, I have the excuse that Joey was sitting right next to me when I listened to the clip, and having no idea what it was, I bugged him for more clues and finally just made him tell me the answer. We should all be so lucky.
Think you can stump your fellow Listeners? Go ahead and try!
Head to our Google Form to upload a 30-second clip of an unidentified piece of classical music for us to try to identify.
NEWS!
Our policy on the podcast was never to comment on an unsourced post by Norman Lebrecht, but this time around I just can’t help myself.
Chairman Fires Professional US Orchestra an Hour Before Concert
The Punta Gorda Symphony in Florida was set to give their last concert of the season yesterday. While it was announced some time ago that the music director of ten years (Raffafele Ponti) would be leaving after this season, the Board had not communicated with the Players Committee regarding a replacement music director, only that they had hired someone. Seven days before the final concert, all musicians were asked to submit a video recording of substantial excerpts/solo pieces by Sunday, purportedly at the request of the newly hired mystery conductor. During the dress rehearsal on Sunday April 2, it was revealed to the orchestra (not by the Board) that the Board’s plan was actually to merge a nearby orchestra with Punta Gorda Symphony, effectively meaning that not only the conductor, but that all musicians would be let go at the conclusion of the concert that evening.
There was an indication by the conductor that he planned to address the audience regarding this situation. An hour before the performance, we were notified that the Chairman of the Board had canceled the concert, and that we could retrieve our checks and leave the premises. Upon arrival at the concert hall, the local police were seen escorting the conductor off the property, and the venue’s security guards were blocking musicians from entering the hall. With an escort, we were allowed back on stage to retrieve our personal belongings. Several of the Board members that had shown up for the performance were totally unaware of the Chairman’s decision to cancel the performance. Many of these musicians have been playing with the orchestra for 10-20 years, and for it to end like this is unspeakable.
Muti Exit Interview
The End of a Voyage, a great read from our friends at VAN Magazine, features this quote from Maestro Muti himself:
Today, a music director is a principal guest conductor, he just conducts more concerts, that’s all. But a real music director has to take care, and not only musically. The musicians must feel free to knock on your door and say, “Maestro, we have this problem.” It’s not only musical. That is a music director. If not, what is your profession? Just to say, “It’s sharp. It’s flat. It’s sharp. Obbligato”? That’s nothing. Today, it’s changing. The world is changing. And now conductors have two orchestras and a theater? Three theaters and an orchestra? That is… Well, let’s not say that it’s immoral. But certainly, it is not artistic. In this way, I am of the old school.
A Magnificent Chamber Concert
Filmed from a church balcony, here’s the Joseph Vaz–Harmonia collaboration you’ve been waiting for, feat. Will White on page turns. Just for you fabulous CGF Newsletter people!
And just a reminder to our NYC pals to join Joseph and myself for his recital on Friday, April 21.
Classical Mixtape
Ryuichi Sakamoto, M.A.Y. in The Backyard
In honor of the passing of Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, this week’s mixtape features another cut from the CMBYN soundtrack.
NTT: Some of the orchestration and melodic contours put me in mind of Dvořák, so I'll make Czech basket with him, Smetana, and Janáček. Not sure that any of them would fit the hint, though...
NTT: Will’s generous hint has provided me no assistance. I was reminded a bit of Vaughan Williams, but I think that might be because I want to hear VW. So, maybe I should go more French? There were a lot of students at the Conservatoire. So I’ll throw in Fauré and for funsies, even though I really don’t know his stuff, D’Indy….I now expect to be wildly off base.