First Nights! Named a Notable Book for 2000 by the New York Times Book Review of The Five Musical Premieres of all time! This lively book takes us back to the first performances of five famous musical compositions: Monteverdi’s Orfeo in 1607, Handel’s Messiah in 1742, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in 1824, Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique in 1830, and Stravinsky’s Sacre du printemps in 1913. Thomas Forrest Kelly sets the scene for each of these premieres, describing the cities in which they took place, the concert halls, audiences, conductors, and musicians, the sound of the music when it was first performed (often with instruments now extinct), and the popular and critical responses. He explores how performance styles and conditions have changed over the centuries and what music can reveal about the societies that produce it. Kelly tells us, for example, that Handel recruited musicians he didn’t know to perform Messiah in a newly built hall in Dublin; that Berlioz was still buying strings for the violas and mutes for the violins on the day his symphony was first played; and that Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony was performed with a mixture of professional and amateur musicians after only three rehearsals! The premiere of Symphony No. 9 involved the largest orchestra ever assembled by Beethoven and required the combined efforts of the Kärntnertor house orchestra, The Vienna Music Society (Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde), along with a select group of capable amateurs. While no complete list of premiere performers exists! So tell me who says only the professional can play Beethoven 9th? Below is a little excerpt of a rehearsal by Singapores oldest community orchestra, Braddell Heights Symphony Orchestra (BHSO)rehearsing the 4th Movement of Beethoven 9th which is going to be performed on 25th January 2015 at a world stage Esplanade Concert Hall of Singapore! The musicians of the BHSO are mostly amateur musicians, devoting their time to pursue their passion and love for music. Most of them are born and bred in Singapore. There are also some among them who hail from across the world and now call Singapore home. The orchestra has been their source of inspiration during their time here. The choir is a great representation of the Singapore community. From families to friends to individuals, seniors to the young, trained musicians to some who have absolutely no formal training in music, these are the people involved in the choir. A Film will be created which will take you into the lives of these musicians and choristers as you find out – •What was their motivation for wanting to be a part of this concert? •The trials and tribulations as they prepare for this concert •Their greatest fear when participating in this concert The film will culminate on 25 January 2015 when all musicians and choristers take centre-stage at one of the world’s most iconic performance venue, the Esplanade Concert Hall, where we will get a glimpse on how nerves will get the better of them, their sources of comfort as they seek to calm themselves, their coming together as a community to support each other. The film will also play witness to their joys as they finish the symphony with a triumphant note of hope. Finally, the film will also document the musicians’ and choristers’ thoughts on how this concert has impacted them and what their plans are after this. Source: First Nights! - yalepress.yale.edu/book.asp?isbn=9780300091052 BHSO- Theres Music in Every One of Us! wikigives/campaigns/407-there-s-music-in-every-one-of-us
Posted on: Sat, 24 Jan 2015 04:00:00 +0000
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