Jan 6th, 2009 · Gustav Mahler's larger-than-life symphonies have become orchestra staples. With that in mind, conductor Paavo Jarvi and the Cincinnati Symphony programmed three of Mahler's lesser-known orchestral works. The result is a fresh take on the music of the monumental but troubled genius.
Jan 2nd, 2009 · Pink Martini brought its eclectic stylings to the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles this New Year's Eve. With a splash of orchestral strings, smooth lyrics and a swig of a cha-cha, Pink Martini had the crowd raising its glasses for more.
Dec 31st, 2008 · In a new memoir, Pulitzer Prize-winning composer John Adams chronicles his life and offers insights into his acclaimed - and often controversial — operas and orchestral works.
Nov 7th, 2008 · President-elect Barack Obama's transition team is expected to take tips from Ronald Reagan's carefully orchestrated transition. James P. Pfiffner, professor of public policy at George Mason University and author of The Strategic Presidency: Hitting The Ground Running, says that Obama, like Reagan, seems to have started planning early.
Nov 5th, 2008 · Louisiana native Brooke Waggoner studied composition and orchestration at LSU before moving to Nashville to advance her career as a performing songwriter. Her quirky sense of song structure and her experimental nature bring to mind the wide range of influences that Mountain Stage host Larry Groce mentions in his introduction: from Chopin to Simon & Garfunkel to Rogers & Hammerstein.
Nov 4th, 2008 · Booomboxxx, the latest from Portland, Oregon-based Boy Eats Drum Machine, might take a while to sink in. At first listen, the seemingly random mash of glitchy drum samples comes off as disjointed and overwhelming. But after several spins, you can tell Jon Ragel, the solo force behind Boy Eats Drum Machine, is more calculated in his digital orchestrations.
Nov 3rd, 2008 · Intricate, melodic and vivid: The sound of North Carolina's Annuals is the epitome of sunny indie-pop. The band's thoughtful harmonies, anthemic orchestration and percussion, and bright electronics are given an excellent showcase on Annuals' new album, Such Fun.
Oct 18th, 2008 · Miami-based DJ Le Spam has been orchestrating Afro-Cuban beats for more than a decade. With a cadre of horn, guitar and flute players and a stack of old records, he and the Spam Allstars hold court weekly at the club Hoy Como Ayer. Here, he paints a picture of the Miami club scene and shares some of the stories behind the new album Introducing Spam Allstars.