DaCapo Chamber Choir’s “Starry Night”
I attended the DaCapo Chamber Choir’s concert “Starry Night.” Here’s the program: Sven-David Sandström – Ah, Sunflower! Nicholas Kelly – Earthrise Leonard Enns – Nocturne Eriks Ešenvalds – Stars Morten Lauridsen – Sure on this Shining Night* Laura Hawley – Be Music, Night Eric Whitacre – Water Night Randal Thompson – Choose Something Like a […]
WDR Funkhausorchester
WDR Funkhausorchester is an orchestra in Cologne, Germany. They have some terrific videos, both of classical and soundtrack music. Frank Strobe is the current conductor. I’m not going to attempt to say anything about their classical pieces here today, but if you have a favourite classical piece they’ve probably played it. Here are their best […]
DaCapo Choir’s “My Spirit Sang All Day”
I attended the DaCapo Chamber Choir’s concert “My Spirit Sang All Day.” DaCapo is celebrating its 25th anniversary and aside from the one premiere all of the other pieces are ones they’ve sung before. As such, this was a very satisfying concert for me as I knew a bunch of the pieces. The Whitacre was […]
The fall of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony
The KW Symphony is the symphony that I went to — I was in the habit of going to several concerts each year. They were a terrific symphony — superbly talented musicians, and conductors who created splendid programs that you wanted to hear. Just days before this season was supposed to start, the board declared […]
Unique versions of songs, part 3: classical
Here’s the final list of superb videos, this time showing unique presentations of classical songs. Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Air on the G String” played by 2 cellos 2CELLOS Samuel Barber’s “Adagio for Strings” played by one person playing all the parts on cello That Cello Guy Ludwig van Beethoven’s 4th movement from Symphony No. 5 […]
Unique versions of songs, part 2: soundtracks
Here are some more great videos of songs — this time it’s soundtrack music. I previously linked to the amazing Vinheteiro and the astonishing Ohio State University Marching Band. Klaus Badelt’s “Pirates of the Caribbean” performed by 2 cellos 2CELLOS Dick Burnett’s “Man of Constant Sorrow” (O Brother, Where Art Thou?) sung a cappella Home […]
Unique versions of songs, part 1: pop
Here are some videos of unique versions of songs — for this 1st post, it’s pop (and folk) songs. I already posted about a couple of others here. ABBA’s “Mamma Mia” sung by a group recording all their parts from home “Mamma Mia!” London cast a-ha’s “Take On Me” played by a small orchestra Brooklyn […]
DaCapo Chamber Choir’s “Restoration”
I went to the DaCapo Chamber Choir’s concert “Restoration.” Here is the program: Leonard Enns – The Hymn of the Cherubim Don Macdonald – Tabula Rasa Caroline Shaw – And the Swallow Leonard Enns – A Great Tide of Love (premiere) When Music Sounds The Farmer is King Foothils Carry Me Over the Deep David […]
KW Symphony’s “Elegance and Innovation”
I attended the KW Symphony’s concert “Elegance and Innovation.” Here’s the program: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart — Symphony No 31 “Paris” Riho Esko Maimets — Ecdysis: Double Concerto for Piccolo, Harp, and Orchestra Ricard Strauss — Suite from Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme The orchestra was conducted by Alexander Shelley, the National Arts Centre Orchestra’s music director. He […]
Film Symphony Orchestra
There are lots of videos of orchestras playing soundtrack music, some of higher audio quality than others. There’s one orchestra that specializes in film music — it’s the Czech orchestra Film Symphony Orchestra. The director is Constantino Martinez-Orts. Unsurprisingly, they play lots of John Williams music. They do sometimes go overboard with lighting effects. Here […]