52 Things - Thing 21
Music is just beyond me. I can't read it. I can barely hum a tune. I've never learned to play an instrument. My baseline familiarity is whatever is on the radio. And I don't even listen to much radio. If I were to equate this to reading, it's as if I've never gotten past Dr. Seuss, and pretty basic Seuss at that. None of your complicated stuff!
But I like music. And I would like to know more about it in the same way I think that people should know about artists and art. It's part of our cultural history. So I was thrilled to discover that the Chicago Symphony created a wonderful series for people like me. It's called Beyond the Score.
The series explains the background to a piece of a music, including details of what was going on with the music: the historical background, the composer's inspirations, and explanations of the major thematic bits. For someone as ignorant as me it's a true gift. For someone like Mark who's pretty knowledgeable, it's enriching because you get so much added depth about a piece.
And it's fun.
Sunday we went to see the Seattle Symphony's Beyond the Score of Dvorak's New World Symphony and I learned a lot. Both about Dvorak as well as the baseline inspirations for the piece. Longfellow's "Hiawatha"! Who knew? There was a lot of fascinating history that made it a wonderful hour well spent.
Then, after this symphonica interruptus (the symphony plays bits and pieces while it's being explained so you hear phrases as they explain) there was the intermission. When we returned, they played the whole thing and it was so wonderful. Really, really fine.
The conductor, Christian Knapp, is very young and adorable and athletic. Honestly, I thought he was kind of cute. He was active and lively and jumped up and down and wrung a fantastic performance from the musicians. The audience gave them all a standing ovation -- people shouted and hooted like it was a rock concert. He had to come back twice. It was awesome!
Then we left. Because we were in the front an usher scooted us out a side way so we avoided the crowds. Another usher gauged our (relative) youth and let us exit to the parking lot by the performers' exit because we could handle the stairs. So we left in a herd of musicians. And let me tell you, those people DASH out of that place. We were nearly run over by violists and oboists running down stairs. It was a reminder that while for us it was a delightful afternoon out, for them it was the end of a workday and we'd kept them late already with all that applause business.
Here you can see the hour-long program on The New World Symphony. I love that they make these available on the web. However, it doesn't match the experience of seeing it in person. And Benaroya is a fabulous hall. Wherever you are, I highly recommend keeping your eyes open for these. They are so good.
But I like music. And I would like to know more about it in the same way I think that people should know about artists and art. It's part of our cultural history. So I was thrilled to discover that the Chicago Symphony created a wonderful series for people like me. It's called Beyond the Score.
The series explains the background to a piece of a music, including details of what was going on with the music: the historical background, the composer's inspirations, and explanations of the major thematic bits. For someone as ignorant as me it's a true gift. For someone like Mark who's pretty knowledgeable, it's enriching because you get so much added depth about a piece.
And it's fun.
Sunday we went to see the Seattle Symphony's Beyond the Score of Dvorak's New World Symphony and I learned a lot. Both about Dvorak as well as the baseline inspirations for the piece. Longfellow's "Hiawatha"! Who knew? There was a lot of fascinating history that made it a wonderful hour well spent.
Then, after this symphonica interruptus (the symphony plays bits and pieces while it's being explained so you hear phrases as they explain) there was the intermission. When we returned, they played the whole thing and it was so wonderful. Really, really fine.
The conductor, Christian Knapp, is very young and adorable and athletic. Honestly, I thought he was kind of cute. He was active and lively and jumped up and down and wrung a fantastic performance from the musicians. The audience gave them all a standing ovation -- people shouted and hooted like it was a rock concert. He had to come back twice. It was awesome!
Then we left. Because we were in the front an usher scooted us out a side way so we avoided the crowds. Another usher gauged our (relative) youth and let us exit to the parking lot by the performers' exit because we could handle the stairs. So we left in a herd of musicians. And let me tell you, those people DASH out of that place. We were nearly run over by violists and oboists running down stairs. It was a reminder that while for us it was a delightful afternoon out, for them it was the end of a workday and we'd kept them late already with all that applause business.
Here you can see the hour-long program on The New World Symphony. I love that they make these available on the web. However, it doesn't match the experience of seeing it in person. And Benaroya is a fabulous hall. Wherever you are, I highly recommend keeping your eyes open for these. They are so good.