SHAPING THE FUTURE
Singing ‘No Riskier Than Talking’ for Virus Spread
BBC News: Lauren Moss
Singing does not produce substantially more respiratory particles than speaking at a similar volume, a study suggests. But it all depends on how loud a person is, according to the initial findings which are yet to be peer reviewed.
RESEARCH AND OPINION
How TikTok Became the Future of the Music Industry
The Ringer: Alyssa Bereznak
TikTok’s one-two punch of discovery and engagement has made the app a crucial conduit in how young people discover artists.
Aaron Dworkin in Discussion with Mellon Foundation President Elizabeth Alexander
The Violin Channel
In this episode, Aaron sits down with Elizabeth Alexander, President of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to discuss her thoughts on the intersection of social justice and the arts.
Black Excellence Series: Composer William Dawson
The Violin Channel
This week, JDW Sheet Music released a new episode of their ‘Black Excellence Series’ – focusing on introducing international audiences to black composers and musicians.
‘The Battle for the Ballot’ by Stacy Garrop
The Violin Channel
Commissioned by the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, the piece was inspired by the 100th Anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which secured the right for women to vote in the United States for the first time in history.
Ani DiFranco’s ‘Long Time Gone’ Is the Perfect Mix of Activism and Creativity
Shondaland: Sandra Ebejer
For her latest project, DiFranco collaborates with incarcerated men at New Folsom Prison to share the experiences of those who are usually voiceless.
Finding Indigenous futurism through dance
High Country News: Tovah Strong
A Santa Fe-based Native contemporary dance company makes reciprocity and community-building part of its performances.
How Wagner Shaped Hollywood
New Yorker: Alex Ross
“The Birth of a Nation”, based on a baldly racist novel, set the pace for a century of Wagnerian aggression on film.
Is New York’s Arts Diversity Plan Working? It’s Hard to Tell
NY Times: Sarah Bahr
While the CreateNYC program increased funding for smaller neighborhood arts organizations, it never required institutions to disclose the demographic data that would help measure progress.
Why Grand Avenue and Frank Gehry are L.A.’s path out of the pandemic
Los Angeles Times: Mark Swed
There is little doubt that the financial fallout from the nasty novel coronavirus has made matters only worse. We also mercifully know one certain way to help: Build and renovate concert halls.
The Insurmountable Wall
Van US: Olivia Giovetti, Sammy Sussman Illustrator
Was “South Pacific” racist at the Aspen Music Festival?
‘WAP’ Is Good, Raunchy Fun. On TikTok, It’s at Home.
NY Times: Jon Caramanica
Men rap and sing about sex in preposterous and sometimes awkward detail all the time. It’s beyond time that the same courtesy is extended to women like Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion and ppcocaine.
Michael Barenboim named Michelangelo String Quartet’s new violist
The Strad
Known primarily as a violinist and concertmaster of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, Barenboim replaces violist Nobuko Imai.
Orchestras Looking to Broaden Horizons? Start Improvising
NY Times: Seth Colter Walls
Programming works involving improvisation would be one way to encourage ensembles to make classical music more inclusive.
NATIONAL NEWS
Charlie Parker at 100: What to Read, Watch and Dig
NY Times: Alan Scherstuhl
How to celebrate the groundbreaking saxophonist — who died at 34 in 1955 — via books, albums, tributes and more.
With a Pickup Truck and an Open Mind, the Philharmonic Returns
NY Times: Joshua Barone
The NY Phil Bandwagon’s pop-up concert series, the orchestra’s first public performances since March, debuted despite rain and other obstacles.
Itzhak Perlman, Violin Legend, Still Proves the Critics Wrong
New York Times: Corinna da Fonseca-Wollheim
Turning 75 this month, he has been so ubiquitous for so long that it is easy to take him for granted.
‘Nothing short of miraculous’: BSO and musicians sign contract guaranteeing performances through 2025
Baltimore Sun: Mary Caroline McCauley
The contract significantly cuts the players’ pay for the first year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. But future years will restore the lost pay and include raises. For the final year of the contract, the musicians will receive a base salary of $90,100.
Milwaukee Symphony Announces Cancellation of 2020 Season
The Violin Channel
A series of virtual performances will begin in January 2021, with the plan for regular, live concerts to resume in September of 2021.
Boston Symphony Orchestra Lays Off 50 Staff Members
The Violin Channel
The organization estimated a loss of over $35 million due to cancelled performances during the 2019-2020 season and the Tanglewood Festival summer season.
Leonard Cohen Estate Considering Legal Action After RNC Plays “Halleujah”
Slate: Daniel Politi
The estate of late singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen is angry that the Republican National Convention decided to use not one but two different covers of Hallelujah to close out the event.
Yacht Rock’s Creators Curate Their Smooth-Music Genre
Slate: Chris Molanphy
An interview with the coiners of Yacht Rock about how they define the genre they invented.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
More Australians support the arts – and want them publicly funded – than ever before
The Guardian: Ben Eltham
Appreciation for the creative arts is on the rise as the industry languishes, according to a landmark report which Australia Council calls a ‘portrait of what we stand to lose’
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment to launch new digital platform
The Strad
OAE Player will launch on Thursday 22 October 2020.
BBC Proms reveals full details of Last Night amid Rule, Britannia! Controversy
The Strad
Rule, Britannia! and Land of Hope and Glory will be performed in new orchestral arrangements.
Glasgow’s BBC Scottish Symphony Names New Associate Conductor
The Violin Channel
English conductor Alpesh Chauhan is the new Associate Conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
Julian Lloyd Webber To Leave Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
The Violin Channel
British cellist Julian Lloyd Webber will step down from his role as Principal at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.
Canadian Opera Company’s Alexander Neef To Start As Head Of Paris Opera This September
Ludwig can TORONTO: Michael Vincent
Canadian Opera Company has confirmed General Director Alexander Neef will be departing Toronto one year early to begin as head of Opéra national de Paris.
London Symphony Orchestra moves autumn season to LSO St Luke’s
The Strad
The Autumn season will take place online on various platforms.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Opera Hack winners unveil high-tech solutions for 400-year-old art form
The San Diego Union-Tribune: Pam Kragen
On Wednesday, the public finally got a look at the three ideas that earned the green light to move forward.
Google Has a Plan to Disrupt the College Degree
Inc.: Justin Bariso
Google’s new certificate program takes only six months to complete, and will be a fraction of the cost of college.
Vinyl sales rock on in spite of Covid-19
Quartz: Dan Kopf
After more than a decade of increasing sales, and the boom continuing through a pandemic, it’s safe to say it: Vinyl is back, baby.
Streaming Forward Report
Digital Media Association
View the 2020 Streaming Forward Report.
OFF THE BEATEN TRAIL
Das Bockwurstklavier … The Sausage Piano
The Violin Channel
YouTuber Patrick of Patrick’s World created a piano out of sausages…
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