Listen to my music school's orchestra TONIGHT (11/7)!

[Brian]

Hey guys!
As many of you know my university's Shepherd School of Music has a long tradition of excellent orchestral concerts. However, it has had an equally long tradition of keeping such performances secret. Recordings are available only to students in the orchestra (or people who pretend to be in the orchestra ... wink wink); once I asked the guy who wrote the program notes to procure me a copy and they wouldn't even give him one. And Shepherd has never broadcast its concerts to the general public.

Until tonight.

A friend of mine has spent months wrangling with the Shepherd administration convincing them that it would be good publicity and good news for music lovers if they broadcast a concert on the radio. The school finally agreed to air tonight's concert on Rice's radio station, KTRU, as a "pilot" program to see if anybody would listen. They have done so very reluctantly and with skepticism. So, naturally, I want as many people to listen as possible. Including you.

Details:
Saturday, October 3
8:00 PM US Central Time
Shepherd School Symphony Orchestra
Larry Rachleff

BEETHOVEN | Leonore Overture No. 3
RAVEL | Suite No. 2 from Daphnis et Chloe
BRAHMS | Symphony No. 2

When the time comes you can click over to here: http://ktru.org and hit the gigantic button at the top that says "Listen Now!"

I attended last night's concert, and speaking as a critic (I am the Rice newspaper's "Dead Composer Critic"), our band is not exactly the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, but the performance will be more fun than whatever CD you were going to be playing.    The Brahms was a pretty "standard" performance, no first-movement repeat, exhilarating finale; the Beethoven had a nice flow to it, and the offstage trumpeter managed to fill the hall despite playing from the lobby; and the Ravel sunrise felt a bit too calculated, although in the following movement the alto flautist really nailed his solo. The lower strings of our orchestra are phenomenal, actually all the strings; the oboists sounded a bit sour in Ravel and the horn guy flubbed the opening of Brahms 2. But really, what sets these kids apart (and what makes them more rewarding that the pro Houston Symphony) is the passion with which they play. These guys are never timid, and I love every minute.

Hope you guys will tune in! I want the music school to see that people will tune in, and I want them to realize it's good for their image to show off.  

[Dana]

I have a friend in that orchestra

[Bogey]

If I am around I will pull it up, Brian!  Neat!

[Brian]

Half-hour, folks 

[ChamberNut]

I'm tuned in Brian!  

Listening to Sleepy Hollow right now. 

[Brian]

They should have started on time. This adopt-a-manatee announcement is really bizarre. 

[ChamberNut]

Brian,

I listened to most of the broadcast, and really enjoyed it!    Make sure to tell them that someone in Winnipeg, Canada was listening! 

[bhodges]

(I am the Rice newspaper's "Dead Composer Critic")

Love this...

So sorry I couldn't listen last night, but would definitely try to catch a future one.  (Or, an encore of this broadcast if they saved it, which hopefully they did.)  If you are inclined, definitely reinforce the idea that people around the world could be listening--and perhaps quite a few, with enough notice and publicity. 

--Bruce

[Brian]

ChamberNut, I will tell them! And very glad you enjoyed the broadcast.  
Bruce, will be doing my best to make that argument. The more they recognize that people from around the country/world will listen, the more likely it becomes that there will be a next time.
If there is a next time, it will be November 7, when the orchestra is playing Sibelius' Violin Concerto (Ying Fu, soloist) and Stravinsky's Petrushka (1947).

[ChamberNut]

If there is a next time, it will be November 7, when the orchestra is playing Sibelius' Violin Concerto (Ying Fu, soloist) and Stravinsky's Petrushka (1947).

Petrushka?    Guaranteed to be tuned in to that one! 

[Brian]

Attention Ray and all others!

Saturday November 7
8 pm Central time
ktru.org live stream

Rice's Shepherd School Symphony Orchestra presents its second concert of the year:

TCHAIKOVSKY | Marche slave
SIBELIUS | Violin Concerto
STRAVINSKY | Petrushka!
(violin soloist is a graduate student, Ying Fu, who apparently holds the "Itzhak Perlman Endowed Scholarship")

I am excited  

[Brian]

Re-posting

Saturday November 7
8 pm Central time
ktru.org live stream

Rice's Shepherd School Symphony Orchestra presents its second concert of the year with conductor Larry Rachleff:

TCHAIKOVSKY | Marche slave
SIBELIUS | Violin Concerto
STRAVINSKY | Petrushka
(violin soloist is a graduate student, Ying Fu, who apparently holds the "Itzhak Perlman Endowed Scholarship")

The host tells me there will be fewer "save the manatee" announcements between works this time.