http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts Arts interviews, reviews, and features from WFIU Public Media from Indiana University. More arts podcasts at wfiu.org/arts. Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:56:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 1999-2009 aschweig@indiana.edu (WFIU Public Media (wfiu.org)) aschweig@indiana.edu (WFIU Public Media (wfiu.org)) posts 1440 arts, performing arts, music, literature, movies, theater, wfiu, indiana, bloomington A production of WFIU Public Media from Indiana University. Arts interviews, reviews, and features from WFIU Public Media from Indiana University. More arts and culture podcasts at wfiu.org/arts. WFIU Public Media (wfiu.org) WFIU Public Media (wfiu.org) aschweig@indiana.edu No no http://wfiu.org/podcasts/images/arts/category-graphic-arts.jpg http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts 144 144 http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/wearing-sneakers-canadian-brass-celebrate-forty-years/ http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/wearing-sneakers-canadian-brass-celebrate-forty-years/#comments Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:00:17 +0000 Annie Corrigan http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/?p=5633 http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/wearing-sneakers-canadian-brass-celebrate-forty-years/feed/ 0 9:13 Forty Years and Counting Few chamber groups can boast the accomplishments of Thenbsp;Canadian Brass. nbsp;They have released over 90 CDs. nbsp;Some 80 compositions have been written ... Forty Years and Counting Few chamber groups can boast the accomplishments of Thenbsp;Canadian Brass. nbsp;They have released over 90 CDs. nbsp;Some 80 compositions have been written for the group. nbsp;And, they've been performing music all over the world for nearly a half century. nbsp;With three young musicians joining the ranks with two original members, the group certainly is not showing any signs of stopping now. Theyrsquo;re currently in the middle of a nationwide tour that brought them to Bloomington, Indiana. While here, they stopped by the WFIU studios to talk about their history, share some laughs, and play some music. ldquo;Your performance is one thing.nbsp; Getting people to come a second timehellip; thatrsquo;s what really really matters,rdquo; said Chuck Daellenbach, tuba player for the group. nbsp;He was sitting with his brass-playing colleagues: Brandon Ridenour, trumpet; Chris Coletti, trumpet; Jeff Nelsen, horn; and Gene Watts, trombone. Old and New Making Music Together Daellenbach and Watts were two of the founding members back in 1970, and they see the group moving forward from here. nbsp;Daellenbach said they have passed a critical point. nbsp;"With the legendary status of the group and the youth of our new members, we have an opportunity now to really make significant contributions to the future of live performance and the musical world in general." The group has seen eight to ten members come and go over the years, and Watts commented that it's not easy finding the right musicians to join the group. nbsp;It takes more than just being a talented musician. nbsp;He said it takes a certain person who is willing to dedicate themselves to everything that comes with being in the Canadian Brass. nbsp;"You can look at it on one side, that you give up a lot. nbsp;But you also gain a lot, and it's well worth it." A Dream Come True The two newest members also happen to be the two trumpet players. nbsp;They both met the Canadian Brass at The Music Academy of the West, a summer music festival in Santa Barbara, California. Coletti commented that he's still in awe at playing in this legendary group. nbsp;"I never thought I'd meet them in person let alone play with them." nbsp;The group shared a chuckle at Coletti's admission. While Ridenour is the youngest member of the group at 24 years old, he has taken on the task of playing piccolo trumpet on Penny Lane, a piece made famous by the Beatles and arranged for brass quintet by Chris Dedrick. He said the solo was not easy to learn, joking, "It took many nights without sleep (to learn the solo) and only taking about two or three breaths per hour." Expanding the Repertoire Over its history, the group has not only commissioned a number of new works, they have also arranged a number of pieces. nbsp;Expanding the repertoire for brass quintet has been one of the group's missions from day one. nbsp;"We get to be the groundbreakers in creating new repertoire," Nelsen said. nbsp;They take care to ensure that only the highest quality arrangements make it into their performances and onto their CDs. nbsp;"One of the great things about a forty-year history of a group is the way we select that repertoire and how many filters it goes through before it gets to a stage." Daellenbach agreed, adding that the relatively short history of the brass quintet as an ensemble is the reason they have worked to expand the repertoire. nbsp;"Wouldn't it be great it we had Beethoven?" he said. nbsp;"Yes, and it will happen. nbsp;But it takes time and energy." And in the meantime, they'll continue to put smiles on the faces of music lovers the world over. Bloomington,,Classical,Music,,Communities,,Content,Type,,Featured,in,category,,Interviews,,Podcasts,,Special,,WFIU.org,Homepage,Featured,Story WFIU Public Media (wfiu.org) no No http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/food-rules-conversation-author-michael-pollan/ http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/food-rules-conversation-author-michael-pollan/#comments Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:50:16 +0000 Annie Corrigan http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/?p=5584 http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/food-rules-conversation-author-michael-pollan/feed/ 0 5:20 Getting Down and Dirty With Food Author Michael Pollan finds it useful to have direct experience of what hersquo;s writing about. So, that idea has ... Getting Down and Dirty With Food Author Michael Pollan finds it useful to have direct experience of what hersquo;s writing about. So, that idea has found him hunting wild boar, protecting his garden from a wily groundhog, and getting down and dirty with all things corn. His books about the food system have started conversation and changed shopping habits, all with the underlying ideahellip; ldquo;Eat food. Not too much. Mostly Plants.rdquo; His new book Food Rules has a concise message that he hopes will reach a broader audience. ldquo;This book is kind of a distillation of everything Irsquo;ve learned, both about how our food is produced and how our bodies make use of it, all that reduced to some handy rules of thumb.rdquo; His other books have received numerous awards. In Defense of Food garnered him a James Beard Award, and The Omnivorersquo;s Dilemma was called one of the ten best books of 2006 by the New York Times and the Washington Post. It was also published in a version for young readers. Reaching the Masses But a criticism often leveled at Pollan is that hersquo;s preaching to the choir. People who read his books already shop at farmers markets, theyrsquo;re already concerned with food issues. Food Rules is his attempt to broaden his audience. ldquo;This is an attempt to reach people who might not read a big book about the food system but are very concerned about their health.rdquo; ldquo;In terms of the young readerrsquo;s editionhellip; I realized that at a certain point, if wersquo;re going to change our food system, itrsquo;s the next generation thatrsquo;s going to be critical.rdquo; Pollan says the younger generation is very concerned with issues relating to food, the environment, and animal welfare, which isnrsquo;t surprising because, ldquo;food choices are one of the few powers a child has.rdquo; He went on to say, ldquo;Once you introduce the issue to young people, and suggest to them that they have the ability to vote with their forks, they realize that this is a responsibility and an opportunity.rdquo; A Deadly Diet But with food issues on the radars of so many people, why are Americans still so infatuated with fast food? Hersquo;s come to some conclusions about that, one being that we want to outsource our cooking to corporations, which would be fine, he said, if we could count on them to cook well. ldquo;The fact is, though, they donrsquo;t cook very well. They tend to cook with far too much salt, fat, and sugar... three things wersquo;re eating way too much of.rdquo; He explained that this so-called ldquo;American Dietrdquo; is the culprit for the high incidences of chronic diseases such as type-2 diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers. For all those people who have managed to wean themselves off these highly processed foods, Pollan says the next step is to get behind a stove and cultivate cooking. Itrsquo;s not only better for your health, it helps farmers capture more of your food dollar. Making a Change While his book doesnrsquo;t offer a cure-all for your personal food crisis, Pollan says Food Rules is certainly a good place to get started learning about these issues. He certainly doesnrsquo;t expect people to follow all 64 rules found in his new book , ldquo;but Irsquo;m expecting people to adapt the ones that sound right, appeal to their common sense, and they can remember.rdquo; If you can get a couple rules from each of the three sections, he says, it could make a big difference ldquo;without having to revolutionize your life.rdquo; Hear More You can listen to my complete conversation with Michael Pollan on the Earth Eats website. Hear his thoughts on health care reform and even find out what he keeps in his fridge. Books,and,Literature,,Content,Type,,Culture,,Featured,in,category,,Interviews,,Podcasts,,Special,,WFIU.org,Homepage WFIU Public Media (wfiu.org) no No http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/library-stage-folkloreethnomusicology-coffeehouse/ http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/library-stage-folkloreethnomusicology-coffeehouse/#comments Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:23:02 +0000 Annie Corrigan http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/?p=5435 http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/library-stage-folkloreethnomusicology-coffeehouse/feed/ 0 6:20 On any given evening in Bloomington, Indiana, you have your choice of a couple dozennbsp;events and performances to attend. However, few events offer the ... On any given evening in Bloomington, Indiana, you have your choice of a couple dozennbsp;events and performances to attend. However, few events offer the diversity, character, and just good times as the Coffeehouse performance by the Department ofnbsp;Folklore and Ethnomusicologynbsp;at Indiana University. I met up with one of the organizers of the Coffeehouse, Sarah Gordon. Shersquo;s a PhDnbsp;student studying Native North American oral traditions. She said the fun thingnbsp;about this department is that the students and faculty are devoted to studying the worldrsquo;s artistic andnbsp;expressive traditions, ldquo;but we spend so much time in the library, so much time with ournbsp;noses in books. This is the one event in the semester where everyone gets to live morenbsp;creatively with the traditions we spend so much time living with academically.rdquo; Students and Faculty Performing Together Performers include students and faculty alike. One of the mainstays of the Coffeehouse performances is Prof. Johnnbsp;McDowell. He is a professor in the Folklore Department. Recently, he spent half a yearnbsp;in Mexico researching corridos. He published a book about his work, "Poetry andnbsp;Violence: the Ballad Tradition of Mexico's Costa Chica.rdquo; McDowell is also known as the singing professor by many of his students, because as henbsp;said, ldquo;any chance I get, I bring my guitar into class.rdquo; In past Coffeehouse performances, he has enjoyed impromptu collaborations with colleagues, which gives him a chance to see a different side of the people he associates with everyday. nbsp;"It creates a kind of conviviality that you don't get from faculty meetings." An Evening of Fun All sorts of diversenbsp;interests are represented in a Coffeehouse evening, from belly dancing to bagpipes tonbsp;traditional songs. nbsp;But not all the performances are rooted in academic research. nbsp;Therenbsp;are some moments that are just silly. "Every time, there'snbsp;guaranteednbsp;to be one or two acts who get on stage with the explicit goal of having a good time and making people laugh," Gordon said. nbsp;One such group is Xiaoshi Andrew Wei and thenbsp;Jagermeisters. Andrew Wei came to Indiana University from Shanghai to study bluegrass music, and Gordon said, "he leads this bunch of amazing musicians from the Ethnomusicology Department in renditions of all kinds of ridiculous songs." The group that undoubtedly garners the most laughs takes performance art to the nextnbsp;level. That band is called The MP3s. nbsp;They use novelty instruments to recreate pop tunes. nbsp;Gordon commented, "these people are talented enough to take Hot Licks Guitars and a Nintendo DS and actually reproduce pop songs with remarkable accuracy." Hidden Gem The Folklore and Ethnomusicology programs at Indiana University are both highly respected in academic circles around the country, "and yet," according to Gordon, "we are this little department that it seems that nobody knows about." This little department will make a big noise on Sunday, March 7 at 6:00pm. Content,Type,,Featured,in,category,,Interviews,,Popular,Music,,Special,,WFIU.org,Homepage,,WFIU.org,Homepage,Featured,Story WFIU Public Media (wfiu.org) no No http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/swing-parents-family-dance-series/ http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/swing-parents-family-dance-series/#comments Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:22:37 +0000 Annie Corrigan http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/?p=5400 http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/swing-parents-family-dance-series/feed/ 0 4:35 The Family Dance series is a new event in town, geared at getting parents and kids to dance together. You donrsquo;t need to have ... The Family Dance series is a new event in town, geared at getting parents and kids to dance together. You donrsquo;t need to have a lot of skill to enjoy it ndash; you just need to be able to walk. Making Dance Accessible to Everyone I spoke with the woman making it all happen, Abby Ladin. She explained that these dances are all pretty easy to pick-up. ldquo;Theyrsquo;re all community social dances, in the square dance family of dances. Theyrsquo;re all meant for lowest common denominator of skill level, and you build on everything you learn as you go.rdquo; In the last dance event, Ladin served as the caller, and she modified some of the traditional dance terminology to fit the young audience. Words like right allemande and do-si-do wouldnrsquo;t be understood by dancers who were as young as 4 years old. So, Ladin said, ldquo;with kids, instead of saying take the inside hand, you might say take the handy hand. And instead of saying ladies and gents, we might say talls and smalls.rdquo; Ladin grew up on the east coast and has been dancing her entire life. Along with her husband, she teaches dance and music at festivals around the area. At one festival, she saw families dancing together for the first time, ldquo;and it was a revelation! Irsquo;ve been doing it all my life and Irsquo;ve never seen it done like this before. And this makes so much sense.rdquo; Widespread Interest This series has been in the planning stages for months, but with three children of her own, Ladin was apprehensive about starting something she couldnrsquo;t maintain. She also said that she had no idea how many folks would be interested in a dance event like this. ldquo;I was kind of banking on forty people. I knew that would make for a good number of people dancing. But, I really was not thinking any farther than that.rdquo; She was shocked to see that over 115 people attended the first dance in January. ldquo;And they were not all my friends!rdquo; This spoke volumes to her about the need for such an event in Bloomington. And the parents attending the events with their kids agreed. ldquo;There are lots of events for kids in town. But itrsquo;s not really parents and kids having the same experience at the same time. This kind of unites everyone on the same level.rdquo; Ladin grew up on the east coast and has been dancing her entire life. Along with her husband, she teaches dance and music at festivals around the area. At one festival, she saw families dancing together for the first time, ldquo;and it was a revelation! Irsquo;ve been doing it all my life and Irsquo;ve never seen it done like this before. And this makes so much sense.rdquo; Next Event Abby Ladin is a mother of three and the guiding force behind the Family Dance series in Bloomington, Indiana. The next dance event is taking place on Sunday, March 7 from 3:00 to 5:00pm at the Harmony School. Content,Type,,Culture,,Featured,in,category,,Interviews,,Special,,WFIU.org,Homepage WFIU Public Media (wfiu.org) no No http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/bloomington-burlesque-brigade/ http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/bloomington-burlesque-brigade/#comments Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:45:38 +0000 Annie Corrigan http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/?p=4862 http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/bloomington-burlesque-brigade/feed/ 0 6:54 "I first heard of burlesque years ago in high school," said Lisa Shelling, known to Bloomington burlesque audiences as Lolita Tart. "There was a ... "I first heard of burlesque years ago in high school," said Lisa Shelling, known to Bloomington burlesque audiences as Lolita Tart. "There was a PBS special on Sally Rand doing the fan dance. I thought, 'I don't know what that is, but I want to do it.'" Burlesque, with its comedy and music and satire, has its origins in 19th century vaudeville. Its influences can be seen in cabarets, the follies of the 1920rsquo;s and 30rsquo;s, and then in girlie shows of the 1940rsquo;s. After changing and evolving into many other types of entertainment, classic burlesque performance started to make a come-back in the mid-1990rsquo;s with some off-Broadway shows in NYC and troupes springing up in bigger cities around the country. Neo-Burlesque, as the movement is called, now has international pageants and conventions, and troupes like the one in Bloomington, Indiana are popping up all over the country. Putting the Tease in Striptease The question Shelling most often fields about burlesque is "How is it different from stripping?" Her response is that burlesque is much more concerned with the tease aspect of striptease. "It not about hurry up and get your clothes off, it's about how you're doing it... nbsp;You can perform to a three minute song and only take off a pair of gloves, and that's burlesque." Another aspect that separates burlesque from its more X-rated counterpart is the energy from the audience. nbsp;Danielle Perdue, another Bloomington burlesque superstar, mentioned that this was one of the main reasons she loved to perform. nbsp;That, and it's a supportive environment for women of all shapes and sizes. nbsp;"It helps me become positive about who I am. nbsp;It took me a long time to get to this point in terms of body image. nbsp;And I like glitz and glamor! nbsp;Who doesn't love glitter!" An Expensive Hobby But glitter costs money! For their recent performances at the Bloomington Burlesque showcase, both Shelling and Perdue had to make and purchase their own costumes. There was sewing and a lot of searching through the racks at thrift stores. nbsp;"Costumes are expensive, it's that simple," Perdue said. Pasties are especially expensive. nbsp;"The ones I have are $18 and you can't really reuse them." nbsp;Then the stockings. nbsp;"I have two boxes full of fishnets. nbsp;And these are $7 for one pair, and if you rip a hole in them, that's $7!" She also found creative ways to minimize the cost of her costume by gluing glitter onto a bra she already owned. nbsp;Her mother helped as well, making her a belt with tassels. Performance Anxiety? Even with all the money and time that goes into the costumes and the aches and pains of learning routines in the burlesque classes, they both agreed, itrsquo;s all worth it once you hit the stage. But what about the nerves? For Shelling, "it goes by so fast that when you're on stage you don't think about it at all. nbsp;Beforehand is terrifying and afterward is exhilarating, but while you're up there, you just do it." Perdue, on the other hand, admitted to not feeling especially confident, but her excitement was overpowering. nbsp;"You know you're doing well when the audience screams so loud that you come out of your head and hear them. nbsp;I had that moment (during a recent performance), and I was shocked." More Information If you want to find out more about burlesque in south-central Indiana and get information on classes and the performance showcases, become a fan of them on Facebook. Content,Type,,Culture,,Dance,,Featured,in,category,,Interviews,,Podcasts,,Special,,Theatre,and,Dance,,WFIU.org,Homepage WFIU Public Media (wfiu.org) no No http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/quarryland-mens-chorus-touching-hearts-funny-bones/ http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/quarryland-mens-chorus-touching-hearts-funny-bones/#comments Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:43:08 +0000 Annie Corrigan http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/?p=4713 http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/quarryland-mens-chorus-touching-hearts-funny-bones/feed/ 2 6:21 You might have heard them perform at the Farmerrsquo;s Market in Bloomington, Indiana, or perhaps at your Sunday church service. Maybe yoursquo;ve heard them ... You might have heard them perform at the Farmerrsquo;s Market in Bloomington, Indiana, or perhaps at your Sunday church service. Maybe yoursquo;ve heard them at the Pride Film Festival or as part of World AIDS Day. Thatrsquo;s the Quarryland Menrsquo;s Chorus for you, making a point of getting out in the community and singing for as many different people as they can. The group first formed in the spring of 2003, and it boasts a diverse membership, with both gay and straight members, young and old, and those with degrees in music and those who cannot read music at all. Their mission is to provide a positive performance-based community for gay and bisexual men and their allies in South-Central Indiana. But as can be seen in the diverse locations at which they perform, their mission is also to serve as ambassadors from the gay community. ldquo;In some ways, wersquo;re kind of cultural warriors,rdquo; said Barry Magee, the chorusrsquo;s artistic director. ldquo;(Wersquo;re) out there to change peoplersquo;s thoughts, misconceptions, ideas about who are gay men.rdquo; This belief affects the music he programs for the group to sing. Itrsquo;s important to select songs with which the group can develop a personal connection, Magee said. They recently performed an entire program about AIDS and AIDS awareness, and "we couldnrsquo;t even get through the first rehearsal without everyone crying.rdquo; This kind of intense connection to the music can also be felt by the audience members who hear the chorusrsquo;s performances. And sometimes they get laughs by singing songs such as ldquo;There Will Be No Bad Hair Days in Heaven.rdquo; Magee says he has received messages from people touched by their performances. ldquo;Wersquo;ll get a random e-mail from somebody saying lsquo;Irsquo;m not out to anybody else, but I noticed (your performance) and I stopped and it made a difference in my life.rsquo;rdquo; Itrsquo;s just as important, Magee says, to connect with straight people in the audience. He points to the music as the force that makes the differences between the performers and the audience members melt away. ldquo;And then at the end of that, I think therersquo;s some residual effect. They may still not understand what it means to be gay, and lsquo;I donrsquo;t know if I accept gay people or not, but they seem like okay people.rsquo;rdquo; Content,Type,,Culture,,Featured,in,category,,Interviews,,Podcasts,,Popular,Music,,Special,,WFIU.org,Homepage,Featured,Story WFIU Public Media (wfiu.org) no No http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/bit-evil-dr-horrible-stage/ http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/bit-evil-dr-horrible-stage/#comments Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:00:14 +0000 Annie Corrigan http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/?p=4561 http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/bit-evil-dr-horrible-stage/feed/ 0 4:51 Dr. Horriblersquo;s Sing-Along Blog made the rounds on the internet in 2008, and it was an instant cult hit. Itrsquo;s since been released on ... Dr. Horriblersquo;s Sing-Along Blog made the rounds on the internet in 2008, and it was an instant cult hit. Itrsquo;s since been released on DVD, and it recently won an Emmy. Now, the Dr. Horrible story will be told on stage in Bloomington, Indiana with a cast made up of students from across the IU community. It is a musical that tells the story of Billy and his alter ego Dr. Horrible. Therersquo;s a girl (Penny) and an arch nemesis (Captain Hammer) and a surprise ending. It was written by Joss Whedon (of the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer) along with other members of the Whedon family during the writersrsquo; strike of 2007. Screenwriter, director, and IU Informatics student Josh Cohen is the evil mastermind behind this production. Like so many online fans, he was initially charmed by the music and clever story. His passion for screenwriting led him to explore ways to adapt the story to the stage. ldquo;When I was watching it, I wasnrsquo;t sure if I was watching some sort of staged theater that was just recorded or if I was watching a movie.rdquo; After two months of writing, Cohen submitted his script to the Whedons for approval. While hundreds of authors like Cohen have submitted staged versions, Cohen said, ldquo;We are one of the very few licensed adaptations.rdquo; Students from around the Indiana University Bloomington campus came out in droves to audition for parts in Dr. Horrible. ldquo;I was expecting theater students and the people who typically audition for musicals at IU,rdquo; Cohen said, but the interest was far more widespread. In fact, the actor cast as Dr. Horrible, Kevin Philips, is a freshman majoring in accounting. Cohen speculated that the appeal of Dr. Horrible comes from our desire to be just a little bit bad. ldquo;Itrsquo;s a story about the little bit of evil we all have inside of us. You can indulge that desire for an evening at our show.rdquo; You can explore your evil side at the Bloomington production of Dr. Horriblersquo;s Sing-Along Blog at the John Waldron Arts Center October 9-10 and 13-15. Cohen added that a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales will go to charities in the Bloomington area. You can find out more by sending an e-mail to drhorriblebtown@gmail.com. Content,Type,,Featured,in,category,,Interviews,,Podcasts,,Special,,Theater,,Theatre,and,Dance,,WFIU.org,Homepage,Featured,Story WFIU Public Media (wfiu.org) no No http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/ladyquakes-limits-bloomington-music-scene/ http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/ladyquakes-limits-bloomington-music-scene/#comments Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:00:38 +0000 Annie Corrigan http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/?p=4527 http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/ladyquakes-limits-bloomington-music-scene/feed/ 0 5:23 Stop by any of the music venues in Bloomington, Indiana on a Friday or Saturday night, and yoursquo;ll probably catch a listen to at least ... Stop by any of the music venues in Bloomington, Indiana on a Friday or Saturday night, and yoursquo;ll probably catch a listen to at least one local band. There are rock bands, ska bands, rappers, folk singers, electronic bands, you name it. Some groups are lucky enough to develop a local following and maybe even put out an album or two. [set_id=72157622369201869] Wersquo;ll be profiling one such local band on Artworks today ndash; I met them at the recording studio as they were putting the finishing touches on their first album. This group has garnered some attention from local venues for being a bit different, theyrsquo;ve got the raucous fan base, theyrsquo;ve linked themselves with organizations on campus and in the larger Bloomington communityhellip; And oh yeahhellip; theyrsquo;re all girls. Theyrsquo;re The Ladyquakes! While some all-girl bands try to distance themselves from being labeled according to their sex, The Ladyquakes! have chosen to embrace it. But that doesnrsquo;t mean they donrsquo;t still fight stereotypes. ldquo;Itrsquo;s the shock that I find most annoying,rdquo; said Jada B, the grouprsquo;s lead singer. ldquo;They hear us and then say, lsquo;Wow, you guys are good!rsquo; And itrsquo;s like, lsquo;Well, yeah we are.rsquo;rdquo; Itrsquo;s not just the personnel that makes the group unique on the Bloomington, Indiana music scenehellip; itrsquo;s the music, too. Their unique brand of blues/funk/jam band rock has made it somewhat difficult for promoters to fit them onto a bill with other local bands. But, as Jada B said, ldquo;when people hear us, they want to book us because we donrsquo;t sound like everything else thatrsquo;s in town. But we have had to crack open the egg a little bit for ourselves.rdquo; Cracking open the egg has meant connecting themselves with groups around the IU campus and the larger Bloomington community as well. Guitarist Anna Saraceno mentioned that they have played a number of benefit concerts, one of which was part of World AIDS Day. Itrsquo;s a way for the band to support groups and causes that are important to them, and ldquo;it brings us closer to the community.rdquo; Theyrsquo;re still a young band, having only played together for one year, but they already have a solid reputation for playing blistering live shows. Getting that same energy and excitement in a studio recording is the current task for The Ladyquakes! But for Saraceno, it all comes back to connecting with the fans. ldquo;I want our music to be accessible. I want people to feel like they were part of the show and to go home wanting to listen to the music more.rdquo; Content,Type,,Featured,in,category,,Interviews,,Podcasts,,Popular,Music,,Special WFIU Public Media (wfiu.org) no No http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/elite-anymore-opera-theater-beginners/ http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/elite-anymore-opera-theater-beginners/#comments Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:00:20 +0000 Annie Corrigan http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/?p=4529 http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/elite-anymore-opera-theater-beginners/feed/ 0 9:32 With the first couple weeks of classes in the books at Indiana University in Bloomington, new students are starting to settle in and get acquainted ... With the first couple weeks of classes in the books at Indiana University in Bloomington, new students are starting to settle in and get acquainted with the town. For those new students looking for something more than the usual party scene, Bloomington is an especially rich community with museums and galleries, ballet and dance performances, classical and rock concerts ndash; something for everyone. Today on Artworks, we highlight two organizations on the IU campus that new students might want to check out: the IU Opera Theater and the IU Department of Theater and Drama. Maria Levy is the executive administrator of the IU Opera and Ballet Theater. She says that the opera program is like a training ground for the young singers. ldquo;We try to provide them with an experience that is as close to what they will encounter in the real world as possible.rdquo; Some former student have ended up on major opera stages around the country and around the world, so ldquo;you get to see the stars of tomorrow on our stage.rdquo; For first-time opera goers, Levy recommends seeing Romeo and Juliet by Charles Gounod. She says the opera story sticks very close to the Shakespeare play, and audiences will find it familiar. For audience members concerned about not being able to understand French, there are supertitles, which translate the main points of the opera. But, she says, the experience of hearing the music and seeing the action on stage could be translation enough. ldquo;If you like music and if you have feelings in you, you will understand it.rdquo; But donrsquo;t take her word for it. Check out the complete IU Opera Theater season. The first production of the season is The Italian Girl in Algiers by Gioachino Rossini. From the opera to the theater ndash; two departments that share the same block on Jordan Avenue on the Bloomington campus. And not too far away from each other in terms of productions really. The IU Department of Theater and Drama will be presenting two musicals this year, Blood Brothers, which is the first production of the season and A Little Night Music by Steven Sondheim. Jonathan Michaelson is the Chair of the IU Department of Theater and Drama. Hersquo;s been doing this his whole life: acting in productions, directing, and watching theater. But I wanted to know what he loves so much about it, what makes theater so unique. Michaelson says itrsquo;s the community theater creates. ldquo;You come together with total strangers. You have total strangers in front of you. And by the end of it, yoursquo;ve all had a communal experience. I think thatrsquo;s what brings people to theater.rdquo; The 2009-2010 season at the IU Department of Theater and Drama includes two musicals, some new plays, and As You Like It by Shakespeare. They try to present a variety of works not only to challenge their students, but to engage their audience members in different ways. And the audience is incredibly important to the success of live theater, Michaelson says. ldquo;We rehearse all this time, and then if no one shows up in the audience, it would all be for naught.rdquo; He also wants to emphasize how accessible live theater is in that ldquo;itrsquo;s easy to get a ticket, itrsquo;s easy to come to the theater.rdquo; And itrsquo;s easy to visit their website to find out more about the 2009-2010 IU Department of Theater and Drama season Classical,Music,,Content,Type,,Featured,in,category,,Interviews,,Opera,,Podcasts,,Special,,Theater,,Theatre,and,Dance,,WFIU.org,Homepage WFIU Public Media (wfiu.org) no No http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/music-summer-camp-youngsters-making-music-making-friends/ http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/music-summer-camp-youngsters-making-music-making-friends/#comments Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:29:36 +0000 Annie Corrigan http://wfiu.org/arts/?p=4234 http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/music-summer-camp-youngsters-making-music-making-friends/feed/ 0 5:26 Every summer, young string players from around the country come to Bloomington, Indiana to eat/breath/sleep music. Itrsquo;s the Indiana University Summer String Academy, in ... Every summer, young string players from around the country come to Bloomington, Indiana to eat/breath/sleep music. Itrsquo;s the Indiana University Summer String Academy, in its 25th year. Sure, the program is designed for youngsters to grow as musicians, but itrsquo;s also an opportunity to create connections: student to student, student to teacher, and student to accompanist. To get a better idea of the inner-workings of the string academy, I met up with a student from Pennsylvania, Linda Numagami. She plays the viola, and she just turn 16 years old. Her days consist of lots of practicing, lessons, coachingrsquo;s, rehearsals, ldquo;and every night we have a concert to go to. And theyrsquo;re all really good!rdquo; Then, therersquo;s another side to the string academy, the IU students who accompany the string academy kids. Bethany Pietroniro was assigned to one particular studio for the string academy, so she was responsible for rehearsing and performing with 8 students, Linda included. Bethany enjoyed working with the students, but also itrsquo;s also exciting to see their musical development. ldquo;What everyone says about the string academy and what I say too is itrsquo;s remarkable to see what progress can be made in four weeks,rdquo; she said. With regular rehearsals, Linda and Bethany got to know each other as musicians and people. Sure, it was a job for Bethany, getting paid by the hour, but it ended up being more than that. ldquo;I think with her, mainly what charmed me was the way that we seemed to understand each other from the very beginning.rdquo; They had an open line of communication during the rehearsal process as well, bouncing musical ideas off one another. Although, they are both very soft-spoken so much of the communication happened through whispers! ldquo;LAUGH I think that we found that we have a lot of similarities as people and as musicians more importantly,rdquo; Bethany mentioned. ldquo;Therersquo;s another part of why this is so rewarding for me. Irsquo;m put into a position that doesnrsquo;t have the full responsibility of teacher. Itrsquo;s somewhere between coach and collaborator, and I love that!rdquo; And what about Linda? Being away from home for four weeks, in a strange place with strange people, living every moment for the viola. I asked her what the hardest thing for her has been, and she didnrsquo;t really have an answer for me. ldquo;I really have loved it! They hardest thing probably is keeping up with the schedule, because you just go go go go go.rdquo; But, the non-stop schedule of the string academy hasnrsquo;t deterred her from wanting to pursue music as she grows older. ldquo;Irsquo;m not really too good at anything else, so I figure this is the only thing,rdquo; she joked. ldquo;But I really like doing it, and I want to do something with it. It doesnrsquo;t have to be anything fantastic ndash; just something to keep me happy with what Irsquo;m doing.rdquo; Learn more about the IU Summer String Academy. Classical,Music,,Content,Type,,Featured,in,category,,Interviews,,Podcasts,,Special,,WFIU.org,Homepage WFIU Public Media (wfiu.org) no No http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/high-notes-young-singers-journey-nyc/ http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/high-notes-young-singers-journey-nyc/#comments Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:00:15 +0000 Annie Corrigan http://wfiu.org/arts/?p=4156 http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/high-notes-young-singers-journey-nyc/feed/ 4 7:55 Starting a career in music takes more than just hours in a practice room. It takes connections, it takes luck, and it takes moneyhellip; ... Starting a career in music takes more than just hours in a practice room. It takes connections, it takes luck, and it takes moneyhellip; lots and lots of money. Amanda Biggs is a young opera singer trying to make, trying to get to New York City to make a career for herself. But it hasnrsquo;t been an easy process. In this audio profile, we get a sneak peak into the process of turning talent into dollar signs and then into a profession. My name is Amanda Biggs, and Irsquo;m an opera singer. This famous opera singer Irsquo;m working with in New York has presented me with, ldquo;Get to New York. Get to Manhattan, and I will have you sing for all the right people.rdquo; I was in Manhattan last fall, trying to live. Within a few days after I moved to Manhattan to live with my friends, Lehman Bros. and everything went crashing to the ground. And so thousands and thousands of New Yorkers were out of jobs and way more qualified for even temp jobs than I was. So, I spent seven weeks looking for a job. And then my friend who I met at IU, who also lives in Manhattan, said ldquo;I have a connection with this famous soprano. Wersquo;ve e-mailed each other a few times, and I think she would be really excited to hear your voice. If I can arrange it, would you be willing to sing for her?rdquo; And of course I said yes. So she just heard me. And this person doesnrsquo;t just do that. Shersquo;d never done it before, and she charges a lot of money for master classes, you can imagine. She didnrsquo;t charge me a thing and stayed for a few hours. And then later, she told me that she just wasnrsquo;t expecting to hear what she heard from me. She immediately began telling me that I needed to sing for this person and that person, and I needed to get back to New York, because she knew I was leaving after not being successful in finding a job. ------------------------------ Irsquo;m having to raise a lot of money, because the start-uphellip; Thatrsquo;s where itrsquo;s difficult for any young artist trying to launch a career the way Irsquo;m trying to launch a career. AB: So, average rent and utilities in Manhattan would be around $1400/month, in what will probably be a tiny little cracker box. AC: hellip;with a roommate. AB:: With a roommate! That doesnrsquo;t include the fact that I have to rent studio space to rehearse. Studio space is usually about $25-$50/hour. So wersquo;re at about $1950. AC: You gotta eat. AC: Well, I do have to eat. I donrsquo;t like to think of myself as a starving artist. LAUGH If my apartment comes with a kitchen and I get to cook, I would sayhellip; everything is more expensivehellip; $100/week for groceries. So $400/month times 12, which you can average up to $5000. Because part of the deal is when yoursquo;re schmoozing, yoursquo;ve got to be able to go to swanky nice restaurants, hope to God they buy which they usually do, but you canrsquo;t expect it. AC: Then voice lessonshellip; AB: I would say voice lessons would be $5000-$7000/year. AC: Transportationhellip; AB:: The subway I think is something like $1500-$2000/year. AC: And if you would fly placeshellip; AB: LAUGH AC: Well, yoursquo;re NOT going to fly places! AB: Irsquo;ll take the Amtrak! AC: You need dresseshellip; AB: I do. I just purchased my recital gown, which was $220. And people donrsquo;t want to see the same gown on you for two recitals. So, itrsquo;s like getting married every time. And $7750 to pay my current student loanshellip; So, $45,000 to eke by for one year in New York City. Daunting. ------------------------------ Irsquo;m planning two benefit recitals, one in Bowling Green, Kentucky where I did my undergraduate degree, and one in Bloomington. Irsquo;m having several private dinner parties. These are dinner parties hosted by friends who have connections. So, Irsquo;ll go, wersquo;ll have a nice dinner, and Irsquo;ll sing for these ... Classical,Music,,Content,Type,,Featured,in,category,,Interviews,,Opera,,Podcasts,,Special,,WFIU.org,Homepage WFIU Public Media (wfiu.org) no No http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/ice-cream-architecture-zaharakos/ http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/ice-cream-architecture-zaharakos/#comments Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:45:43 +0000 Annie Corrigan http://wfiu.org/arts/?p=4080 http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/ice-cream-architecture-zaharakos/feed/ 0 6:36 On hot and humid summer days, therersquo;s nothing better than a cool soda and an ice cream sundae. Sounds pretty great, righthellip; ... On hot and humid summer days, therersquo;s nothing better than a cool soda and an ice cream sundae. Sounds pretty great, righthellip; I met up with Chef Daniel Orr recently to check out the scene at a new and yet old ice cream parlor in Columbus, Indiana. Chef Orr will be a familiar name to restaurant goers in Bloomington, Indianahellip; he runs FARM Bloomington on Kirkwood Ave. And, we use him here at WFIU for our program Earth Eats. Being born and raised in Columbus, he remembers Zaharakorsquo;s from his childhood. For those of you not familiar with the little burg of Columbus, Indiana, let me fill you inhellip; Itrsquo;s world-renowned for its modern architecture. Itrsquo;s received numerous awards by various magazines and organizations, but to site the most recent, National Geographic Traveler ranked Columbus, Indiana 11th out of 109 historic destinations worldwide ndash; higher than any other US destination. Seriously! We met up with Tony Moravec, the man behind the mission of restoring Zaharakorsquo;s. He not only has experience renovation old buildings, but he worked in an ice cream parlor as a kid. ldquo;So I thought, 'how could I go wrong?'rdquo; Zaharakorsquo;s is really part-museum, the center-piece of which is the Welte Pipe organ. This instrument was part of Zaharakorsquo;s at the turn of the century, but it was sold to a California collector in 2006. Moravec said, ldquo;When I acquired the building, my thought was the most important thing to do would be to get the Welte pipe organ back if at all possible.rdquo; After negotiating with the collector and refurbishing the instrument, Moravec succeeded in returning this ldquo;iconic piecerdquo; to Zaharakorsquo;s. In addition to the organ, therersquo;s lots of memorabilia from the turn of the century, there are the authentic marble soda fountains, photos from when the ice cream parlor first opened in October of 1900, lots of things to see and touch. At the beginning of this whole process, Tony traveled around the country educating himself about all things soda and ice cream, ldquo;(and) fortunately or unfortunately, I started collecting the stuff!rdquo; But letrsquo;s not forget, that this place serves soda and ice cream, and therersquo;s no way Chef Orr and I are getting out of here without trying some! I ordered a scoop of the Dreamsicle ice cream, and Chef Orr went for the natural flavors of vanilla ice cream, peanuts, pecans, caramel, and topped with some whipped cream. It was exactly what we were hoping for on that hot summer day! Content,Type,,Culture,,Featured,in,category,,Interviews,,Podcasts,,Special,,WFIU.org,Homepage WFIU Public Media (wfiu.org) no No http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/home-brave-performing-national-anthem/ http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/home-brave-performing-national-anthem/#comments Mon, 15 Jun 2009 23:00:59 +0000 Annie Corrigan http://wfiu.org/arts/?p=4164 http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/home-brave-performing-national-anthem/feed/ 0 6:40 Everyone stand up, hats off ndash; The National Anthem! We hear it at sporting events, graduations, demolition derbies, roller derbies, beauty pageants, everywhere these ... Everyone stand up, hats off ndash; The National Anthem! We hear it at sporting events, graduations, demolition derbies, roller derbies, beauty pageants, everywhere these days. Many if not most Americans can at least hum along with the tune, but can you imagine standing in front of a crowd of thousands with a microphone performing it? I certainly canrsquo;t. The tune itself is rather tricky, as it covers the range of an octave and a half. It was written in 1780 by John Stafford Smith, and it lived for years as a popular British drinking song. Which I guess makes sense... alcohol might be just the thing to give you a boost up to the high note on ldquo;and the rocketrsquo;s red glare.rdquo; Amanda Biggs: SINGS ldquo;hellip;and the home of the brave.rdquo; Annie Corrigan: The crowd at the farmerrsquo;s market goes wild! Thank you, it was beautiful. Biggs: Itrsquo;s okay, I picked a half-step too high. Corrigan: You had the high notes. Biggs: They were in my head voice LAUGHS. And even the professionals worry about the high notes! Thatrsquo;s why selecting a comfortable key is of utmost importance ndash; provided yoursquo;re singing a cappella. I caught up with Colonel Carr at the Salute Memorial Day concert in Columbus, Indiana. He had the misfortune of singing the National Anthem with an orchestra, which meant he was at the mercy of the key written on the score. ldquo;Tonight the key was a little higher than I normally sing it in, but I practiced it a couple times,rdquo; he mentioned. ldquo;It helps when the crowd sings along!rdquo; Then there are the words, which were taken from a poem by Francis Scott Keyhellip; Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight Orsquo;er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming Colonel Carr said he has never forgotten the words, same with Biggs. Irsquo;m not so sure I believe that. But I did find someone who was upfront about his nerves singing the National Anthem. Christopher Johnson is a classical trained baritone who is accustomed to singing on an opera stage, but he still gets nervous singing the National Anthem. ldquo;Everybody knows it! Everybody remembers the National Anthem, and yoursquo;re the one who is supposed to bring everyone together. And if you donrsquo;t do that, then yoursquo;re even worse off than you started.rdquo; Most of the time, the National Anthem is forgettable ndash; start the baseball game already! But, sometimes it sticks with you, and most of the time itrsquo;s because something has gone terribly TERRIBLY wrong. Think, Roseanne Barr at a baseball game in 1990, and my personal favorite by Olympic runner, Carl Lewis in 1993 at a basketball game in Chicago. For performers, of course, you hope to not have too many stories like those! Colonel Carr said that every time he sings it is memorable because hersquo;s only sung it publically three times, twice in Columbus at the Salute concert, ldquo;and then I did it one other time publically at a Pacer game right after I returned from a deployment to Bosnia.rdquo; He went on to describe how they gave him a warm-up room before the game, and then it hit him what he was about to do, and he thought, ldquo;What part of this sounded like a good idea!rdquo; And then sometimes, you can tap into something deeper and get an emotional connection with the music. This happened to Amanda Biggs one afternoon at a roller derby bout in Bloomington. ldquo;I was having an emotionally trying day, and I was debating whether or not to sing.rdquo; But she decided to use that emotion in her rendition of the National Anthem. ldquo;If I ever sang the National Anthem and blew the roof off, that had to be the day.rdquo; You can hear the National Anthem, well, probably just about anywhere this summer! Sing along, if you dare! Listen to WFIU's Annie Corrigan's interview with Annie Biggs as she takes on the Big Apple in search of her dreams. Classical,Music,,Content,Type,,Culture,,Featured,in,category,,Interviews,,Podcasts,,Popular,Music,,Special,,WFIU.org,Homepage WFIU Public Media (wfiu.org) no No http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/virtuosic-adventures-young-string-players-france-storm/ http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/virtuosic-adventures-young-string-players-france-storm/#comments Tue, 26 May 2009 13:00:41 +0000 Annie Corrigan http://wfiu.org/arts/?p=3652 http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/virtuosic-adventures-young-string-players-france-storm/feed/ 2 4:59 The Indiana University String Academy has a reputation... Itrsquo;s open to children as young as 5-years-old, some famous names started their studies in this ... The Indiana University String Academy has a reputation... Itrsquo;s open to children as young as 5-years-old, some famous names started their studies in this program, and heyhellip; the String Academy even has its own PBS documentary! Well, specifically the Violin Virtuosi. This group of musicians is made up of the nine top players and the oldest kids in the String Academy. And this summer, they get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunityhellip; to spend two weeks in France playing music. I met up with the director of the String Academy, Mimi Zweig. Shersquo;s done this before, taking groups to Japan, Sweden, Spain, and Italy. Violin Virtuosi members have come and gone over the years, and she said that this is the pay off for THESE kids, this incarnation of the VV. ldquo;We canrsquo;t forget to give all these wonderful kids the experience of traveling,rdquo; Zweig explained. While in France, the musicians will be experiencing home stays and developing a close relationship with a family. The tour then is about both the musical and the cultural experiences, as Zweig described. ldquo;Itrsquo;s a two-way street. They have to play beautifully, and they get themselves ready to play at the highest artistic level. And then they affect the lives of these people who are listening to them.rdquo; This tour is different from tours of previous years, as two cellists have joined the ranks for the first time. This has affected their repertoire, which includes Tchaikovskyrsquo;s sextet Souvenir de Florence and the Concerto for Four Violins by Vivaldi. But what does it take to prep for a tour like this? I guess lots and lots of performing, something that the kids in the VV are just used to at this point. In fact, last month, the group was in Utah for a small concert tour. This is in addition to regular concerts in Indiana, as well as performances in Chicago and Milwaukee. ldquo;So,rdquo; Zweig said, ldquo;performing is the reward for all the hard work they put in.rdquo; I had the opportunity to meet up with these musicians, where else, but backstage at a concert in Bloomington one Saturday afternoon. They were standing in a circle, rehearsing a bit, fine-tuning some details, laughing and having fun. None of them use music ndash; they all play from memory. And itrsquo;s obvious that they love this. They love playing music and they love being in this group! Preparing for this tour was nothing out of the ordinary for them. For Sang-Woo Kim, hersquo;s just used to it, ldquo;We just do what we always do!rdquo; What was most striking, talking to these young musicians, is how they combine music-making with fun and friendship. Jake Woolen mentioned how he values being able to make music with peers, who are ldquo;equal and in most cases better than myself. And I think that we make some great music together.rdquo; Stephanie Zyzack expressed what all of the kids were feelinghellip; excitement for this tour and camaraderie with her fellow musicians. ldquo;Irsquo;ve never been to France, number one. And number two, itrsquo;s with the VV which is always a blast.rdquo; But what did most of them say they were most excited about? The food. The Violin Virtuosi will be presenting nine concerts as part of their two-week tour of France in late May and early June. The tour is being sponsored by the Starling Foundation. Classical,Music,,Content,Type,,Featured,in,category,,Interviews,,Podcasts,,Special,,WFIU.org,Homepage WFIU Public Media (wfiu.org) no No http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/standards-preview-iu-summer-music-festival/ http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/standards-preview-iu-summer-music-festival/#comments Wed, 13 May 2009 12:25:55 +0000 Annie Corrigan http://wfiu.org/arts/?p=3583 http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/standards-preview-iu-summer-music-festival/feed/ 0 5:27 For music lovers in Southern and Central Indiana, this summerrsquo;s Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Summer Music Festival will certainly be something exciting. ... For music lovers in Southern and Central Indiana, this summerrsquo;s Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Summer Music Festival will certainly be something exciting. In addition to the numerous chamber music concerts being presented throughout the summer, the orchestra and the opera programs are gearing up for an exceptional series of performances. Letrsquo;s begin with the summer opera, a work by Adam Guettel The Light in the Piazza. I spoke with Maria Levy, Executive Administrator of the IU Opera and Ballet Theater. She told me that she has been trying to secure the rights to perform this work since 2005, ldquo;So we were very excited to be allowed to (perform) this show.rdquo; Itrsquo;s a love story, set in Florence, Italy, with some twists and turns along the way of course. Although, Levy assured me that there is a happy ending. This is the collegiate premiere of The Light in the Piazza, a tradition at the Jacobs School. Dan Riddle, leading a cast of students in The Light in the Piazza. You can catch those performances on July 31, August 1, 7 and 8. Now, itrsquo;s the orchestrasrsquo; turn, the aspect of the festival that gets me most excited. I met up with the guy who knows all about the summer orchestra series, Tom Wieligman, the Executive Administrator of Instrumental Ensembles and Special Performance Activity. He spoke with me about the make-up of the two summer orchestras. In the Festival Orchestra, itrsquo;s a mix of professionals from all over the country and Jacobs School of Music faculty members sitting in the principal chairs. And then filling out the sections are students. Wieligman explained how this is a very real-life musical experience, with only a few rehearsals per concert cycle, ldquo;and therefore the students and principal players see the light at the end of the tunnel quickly. It has to be ready now.rdquo; The Symphony Orchestra is the student-manned orchestra, and those two concerts will be taking place on July 14 and August 11. Cliff Colnot is a regular guest at the Jacobs School of Music, coming down from Chicago where is the principal conductor of the Civic Orchestra. Music of Ravel, Hindemith, Tchaikovsky, and Schubert on those concerts. Speaking of repertoire, for the Festival Orchestra, there are some standards and some definite crowd-pleasers. But there are some surprises as well. In the first Festival Orchestra concert on July 2, conductor David Robertson, the Music Director of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, will present music by Danish composer Carl Nielsen. Thatrsquo;s not a name that generally pops up on orchestra programs. Then, on August 8, the Festival Orchestra plays music of Sibelius and the Symphonie Fantastique by Berlioz. The conductor for that program is a new name to the IU Summer Music Festival, Giancarlo Guerrero. A name familiar to Indiana music fans, Mario Venzago, will conduct the middle concert on July 23. He is the Music Director of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. ldquo;I guess I call it a war-horse program,rdquo; Wieligman said, with music of Mussorgsky, Strauss, Debussy, and Ravel. Classical,Music,,Content,Type,,Featured,in,category,,Interviews,,Opera,,Podcasts,,Special,,WFIU.org,Homepage WFIU Public Media (wfiu.org) no No http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/nonmajor-accomplishment-ius-allcampus-orchestra-tackles-music-fit-professionals/ http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/nonmajor-accomplishment-ius-allcampus-orchestra-tackles-music-fit-professionals/#comments Fri, 01 May 2009 16:21:55 +0000 Annie Corrigan http://wfiu.org/arts/?p=3490 http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/nonmajor-accomplishment-ius-allcampus-orchestra-tackles-music-fit-professionals/feed/ 0 5:08 This semester was something special for a group of musicians at Indiana University. They were challenged in ways that they never had been before, ... This semester was something special for a group of musicians at Indiana University. They were challenged in ways that they never had been before, playing music that many thought was way beyond their ability level, and finally coming together as a cohesive performing ensemble. Would you be surprised if I told you that these musicians were actually business and biology majors? Well, itrsquo;s true! The All-Campus Orchestra is comprised of students from all walks of life at IU who just love to play. Typically, groups like this play easy bits of classical music or arrangements of pop tunes. But not the case this semester! Under the direction of Ben Bolter, the All-Campus Orchestra is being stretched to play music of Vivaldi, Dvorak, and Tchaikovsky. I met up with Ben to talk music, conducting, and to ask the question so many people are askinghellip; Can you pull this off? Ben is a passionate musician, and he seems to thrive on challenging situations. His enthusiasm has spread to the musicians in the orchestra, as he raves about their work ethic and desire to create a high-quality musical product. I decided to pay Ben and the All-Campus Orchestra a visit during one of their Monday evening rehearsals. I found an empty chair next to Ella Hartley in the back of the cello section. Her major? Near Eastern Languages and Cultures with a concentration in Arabic. Oh, and shersquo;s a Religious Studies minor, too. Shersquo;s been playing cello for about 11 years, and as we were chatting DURING rehearsal (hellip;sorry Benhellip;) she told me that she loves how playing takes the stress away from school. While Ben spends most of his time conducting classical music, he has a wide range of musical interests. ldquo;Therersquo;s a genre for everyone,rdquo; he said. He went on to say how he values musicrsquo;s power to transform or accentuate your mood. ldquo;And now these people get to take it a step forward and have a hand in creating it,rdquo; he said about his young orchestra members. Ben Bolter studied oboe at the New England Conservatory before coming to IU to get his masters in Instrumental Conducting. He now serves as an adjunct lecturer at the Jacobs School of Music. The All-Campus Orchestra did recently perform this ambitious program, and from all accounts, it was wildly successful. Classical,Music,,Content,Type,,Featured,in,category,,Interviews,,Podcasts,,Special,,WFIU.org,Homepage WFIU Public Media (wfiu.org) no No http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/joyful-ring-bell-choirs-community-music-making-churches/ http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/joyful-ring-bell-choirs-community-music-making-churches/#comments Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:00:08 +0000 Annie Corrigan http://wfiu.org/arts/?p=3331 http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/joyful-ring-bell-choirs-community-music-making-churches/feed/ 0 4:17 Therersquo;s an old Irish saying, ldquo;Poor is the church without music.rdquo; Throughout the past few weeks on Artworks, wersquo;ve explored just how churches in Bloomington, IN ... Therersquo;s an old Irish saying, ldquo;Poor is the church without music.rdquo; Throughout the past few weeks on Artworks, wersquo;ve explored just how churches in Bloomington, IN convey their musical wealth. In the final segment today, we step outside the box a bithellip; no singing, no organhellip; and instead, a bell choir. Such a unique sound.And tough to achieve! Thatrsquo;s the St. Markrsquo;s United Methodist bell choir, under the direction of Elaine Sonnenberg, performing ldquo;Now the Green Blade Risethrdquo; during the communion portion of a Christmas service. It takes 12 people and 5 octaves of bells to create this amazing wash of sound. Generally each player has one bell in each hand. So itrsquo;s all a matter of finding your two notes on a page of music COVERED with notes and playing them in exact rhythm. The epitome of teamwork. And a lot more difficult than you might think! I caught up with Elaine Sonnenberg, the bell choir director at St. Markrsquo;s United Methodist Church and a doctoral student in organ at Indiana University. She directs two bell choirs at the church, one for adults and one for children. Sonnenberg explained that all of her bell choir members have some level of musical background, even the children, and this allows her to program more complicated pieces. I had never played the bells before, but I was excited for her to show me the ropes. First things firsthellip; Put on the white gloves with the textured palms. ldquo;You donrsquo;t want to drop the bell while yoursquo;re ringing,rdquo; Sonnenberg cautioned. Grab it right underneath the bell, with your thumb and fore-finger parallel to the rim of the bell. Then, swing the bell in a circular motion with the open-end of the bell always pointing toward the ceiling. Itrsquo;s a smooth, graceful motion, and one that I didnrsquo;t quite master! To dampen the bell, touch it right under your clavicle bone. But make sure to do this in rhythm as well! Itrsquo;s just as important to dampen your bell in time with the music and it is to ring the bell in time. This is the complicated part for a novice such as myself. After our quick lesson, Sonnenberg and I played through Beethovenrsquo;s ldquo;Ode to Joyrdquo; melody. She played three bells (two in one hand ndash; very impressive!) while I struggled knowing just when to play the two bells for which I was responsible. The experience of playing in a bell choir was a unique one for me. After my morning with Sonnenberg, listening to her choirrsquo;s rendition of ldquo;Now the Green Blade Risethrdquo; was that much more impressive. --------------------------- Listen to Church Musicians Part I: Choir Director Susan Swaney Listen to Church Musicians Part II: Children's Choir Director James Guyer Listen to Church Musicians Part III: Church Organist Edwin Penhorwood Classical,Music,,Content,Type,,Featured,in,category,,Interviews,,Podcasts,,Special,,WFIU.org,Homepage WFIU Public Media (wfiu.org) no No http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/king-instruments-dissected/ http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/king-instruments-dissected/#comments Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:00:24 +0000 Annie Corrigan http://wfiu.org/arts/?p=3329 http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/king-instruments-dissected/feed/ 0 6:57 Maybe the busiest musician at a Sunday service is the organist. And whether he or she is in front of the congregation or hidden up in ... Maybe the busiest musician at a Sunday service is the organist. And whether he or she is in front of the congregation or hidden up in the choir loft in the back, their contributions to the service are often taken for granted. But all you have to do is take a look at the organ itself to appreciate the job a church organist has! Edwin Penhorwood is the organist at the First United Church in Bloomington, Indiana. Hersquo;s been playing organ since he was 13-years-old. While he did receive a music degree from the University of Iowa, it was not in organ! He is a pianist, a composer, and a vocal coach as well. Penhorwood might indeed be best known for his work as a composer. The two worlds often overlap for him because the organ has such an orchestral palate of sound. There are a number of different stops that create different sounds, from high-pitched flutes to bright and pointed reeds. Thinking like a composer when he plays, Penhorwood is especially interested in mixing it up during hymns. He feels very strongly about re-voicing and re-harmonizing the recurring verses of a hymn. He truly uses the full range of color of the instrument, in this case First United Church's Schantz organ. Even though, at this point in his career, he does not need to put in hours and hours of preparation for a weekly service, he still does take his job very seriously. And when listening to Penhorwood play, it is hard to imagine any congregation not feeling compelled to join in the music making. --------------------------- Listen to Church Musicians Part I: Choir Director Susan Swaney Listen to Church Musicians Part II: Children's Choir Director James Guyer Listen to Church Musicians Part IV: Handbell Director Elaine Sonnenberg Classical,Music,,Content,Type,,Interviews,,Podcasts WFIU Public Media (wfiu.org) no No http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/childrens-choirs-teach-scripture/ http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/childrens-choirs-teach-scripture/#comments Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:00:30 +0000 Annie Corrigan http://wfiu.org/arts/?p=3335 http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/childrens-choirs-teach-scripture/feed/ 0 4:11 Itrsquo;s through church choirs that many kids are first exposed to music and specifically MAKING music. And the folks who lead childrenrsquo;s choirs can be pretty ... Itrsquo;s through church choirs that many kids are first exposed to music and specifically MAKING music. And the folks who lead childrenrsquo;s choirs can be pretty influential to young peoplehellip; they teach music theory, they teach religious beliefs, and they try instill a love for music makinghellip; In the second installment of our Church Musicians Series, I spent the evening with the childrenrsquo;s choir at Trinity Episcopal Church in Bloomington, Indiana. This group of young musicians is lead by the tall and soft-spoken James Guyer. Guyer is a music educator first and foremost. And he expects a lot of these kids. He is a proponent of the Kodaacute;ly method of music education, where he uses hand signs to show the children which notes to sing. He has also taught them solfege syllables, and the children are quite adept! Guyerrsquo;s patience was never truly put to the test, as the children were attentive and excited for the entire rehearsal. Running a fast-paced rehearsal is important to keeping their attention, he mentioned. I visited some with the children during my visit as well. They were snacking on carrots and fruit slices during their break time. After a few minutes of hearing them talk about their experiences, I wanted to sign up for a choir. Their love of singing is so pure. Brock, the only boy at the eveningrsquo;s rehearsal, spoke briefly about the stigma surrounding boys singing in choirs. His female colleagues echoed his thoughts on the matter: ldquo;Boys should just give it a try!rdquo; --------------------------- Listen to Church Musicians Part I: Choir Director Susan Swaney Listen to Church Musicians Part III: Church Organist Edwin Penhorwood Listen to Church Musicians Part IV: Handbell Director Elaine Sonnenberg Classical,Music,,Content,Type,,Interviews,,Podcasts WFIU Public Media (wfiu.org) no No http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/sing-joyful-noise-lord-languages/ http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/sing-joyful-noise-lord-languages/#comments Tue, 03 Mar 2009 13:00:54 +0000 Annie Corrigan http://wfiu.org/arts/?p=3333 http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/sing-joyful-noise-lord-languages/feed/ 0 4:55 I stopped by the Unitarian Universalist Church one Thursday night to visit with Susan Swaney, whorsquo;s been the director there for 16 years. I heard them ... I stopped by the Unitarian Universalist Church one Thursday night to visit with Susan Swaney, whorsquo;s been the director there for 16 years. I heard them sing music by Bachhellip; and they also rehearsed a South African freedom song and Hindu piece all in one night. Itrsquo;s this sort of musical diversity that makes the Sue and UU choir stand out from other church choirs in the area. But therersquo;s so much more to this group just below the surface. The most striking aspect of this choir is the sheer number of voices. There were upwards of 60 people at this Thursday evening rehearsal, equal parts women AND men. Swaney admits that she has been very lucky with the participation of her male singers as some choirs struggle mightily finding lower voices. There was also diversity of ages, from high school students to singers in their 80s. However, Swaneyrsquo;s favorite aspect of the choir is the familial connection. Her son and husband sing in the choir. Colleagues from her college years sing in the choir. She works with some of her dearest friends in this choir. Like many church music groups, it truly is a family. With so many singers, it is understandable that the musical ability levels range from people with advanced college degrees to those who cannot read music. Swaney uses a variety of educational techniques to teach the music to her choir. Upon my arrival, the members were wandering around the sanctuary chanting their text in rhythm. This was to solidify a very complicated fugal section in a piece by Bach. She also had them sit in small groups so that stronger singers could provide a foundation for those struggling with the notes. But for Swaney, itrsquo;s not about the notes. ldquo;Notes are gone in an instant,rdquo; she said, but the musical line is what lasts. Since the Unitarian Church service is not bound to any specific Christian ritual, Swaney has the freedom to program music that is not necessarily always heard in a worship service. Again, itrsquo;s the diversity makes this choir stand out from other church choirs. And the laughter! Amidst a serious working rehearsal, Swaney and her singers found ample opportunity to laugh and enjoy each otherrsquo;s company. This, perhaps above anything else, is truly what matters in church choirs. --------------------------- Listen to Church Musicians Part II: Children's Choir Director James Guyer Listen to Church Musicians Part III: Church Organist Edwin Penhorwood Listen to Church Musicians Part IV: Handbell Director Elaine Sonnenberg Classical,Music,,Content,Type,,Interviews,,Podcasts WFIU Public Media (wfiu.org) no No http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/student-recital-journal-liana-gourdjia/ http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/student-recital-journal-liana-gourdjia/#comments Fri, 20 Feb 2009 12:00:20 +0000 Annie Corrigan http://wfiu.org/arts/?p=2537 http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/student-recital-journal-liana-gourdjia/feed/ 1 5:23 With lessons and classes and rehearsals, music students are busy folks. Then, on top of that, they have personal practice time that can be ... With lessons and classes and rehearsals, music students are busy folks. Then, on top of that, they have personal practice time that can be a daily commitment of a couple hours to upwards of half the day. For most students, the light at the end of this musical tunnel is some sort of recital. That's an opportunity to put it all together... show what you've learned, how you've improved, and to just PLAY! The preparation up to a recital is a closed-door sort of activity for musicians, but today we take a special glimpse into one student's journey... Classical,Music,,Content,Type,,Featured,in,category,,Features,,Podcasts,,Special,,WFIU.org,Homepage WFIU Public Media (wfiu.org) no No http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/allure-vivaldis-seasons/ http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/allure-vivaldis-seasons/#comments Mon, 26 Jan 2009 15:45:45 +0000 Annie Corrigan http://wfiu.org/arts/?p=1980 http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/allure-vivaldis-seasons/feed/ 0 4:32 Antonio Vivaldi's The Four Seasons (1723) has been a staple of violin and string repertoire since its composition. Many virtuosi have cut their teeth on ... Antonio Vivaldi's The Four Seasons (1723) has been a staple of violin and string repertoire since its composition. Many virtuosi have cut their teeth on this charming set of four violin concertos which are paired with four sonnets from Vivaldi's own hand. In 2008, violinist, and Indiana Native, Joshua Bell released a new recording of The Four Seasons with the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields.nbsp; WFIU's Annie Corrigan spoke to two violin professors from Bell's alma mater, the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, who weighed in on the monumental work and this recording. Classical,Music,,Featured,in,category,,Interviews,,Podcasts,,WFIU.org,Homepage,,WFIU.org,Homepage,Featured,Story WFIU Public Media (wfiu.org) no No http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/frank-sinatra/ http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/frank-sinatra/#comments Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:23:45 +0000 Annie Corrigan http://wfiu.org/arts/?p=1702 http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/frank-sinatra/feed/ 0 4:12 The soundtrack to much of American life during the mid-twentieth century was sung by one unique performer. He was a star of stage and screen, ... The soundtrack to much of American life during the mid-twentieth century was sung by one unique performer. He was a star of stage and screen, and his legacy reaches to today, and, it seems, far into the future as well. Artworksrsquo; Annie Corrigan talked to the creator of WFIUrsquo;s ldquo;Afterglow,rdquo; Dick Bishop, and got his take on the life and music of Frank Sinatra. Featured,in,category,,Jazz,,Podcasts,,WFIU.org,Homepage,,WFIU.org,Homepage,Featured,Story WFIU Public Media (wfiu.org) no No http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/regional-orchestras-part-3-catherine-marchese/ http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/regional-orchestras-part-3-catherine-marchese/#comments Sat, 06 Dec 2008 15:52:48 +0000 Annie Corrigan http://wfiu.org/arts/?p=2193 http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/regional-orchestras-part-3-catherine-marchese/feed/ 0 5:37 Indiana is home to a myriad of local orchestras which draw on the talents of the communities in which they reside.In thenbsp; final installment of ... Indiana is home to a myriad of local orchestras which draw on the talents of the communities in which they reside.In thenbsp; final installment of our Regional Orchestras series Annie Corrigannbsp; talks with community member Catherine Marcese, who's one serious musician. Classical,Music,,Interviews,,Podcasts WFIU Public Media (wfiu.org) no No http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/indiana-music/ http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/indiana-music/#comments Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:39:46 +0000 Annie Corrigan http://wfiu.org/arts/?p=1407 http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/indiana-music/feed/ 0 5:40 As a student musician, the regional orchestra plays a vital role in developing the skills necessary to succeed. In the first installment of her Regional ... As a student musician, the regional orchestra plays a vital role in developing the skills necessary to succeed. In the first installment of her Regional Orchestras series, arts reporter Annie Corrigan talks to two young musicians who are making the rounds in southern and central Indianarsquo;s ensembles. Classical,Music,,Interviews,,Podcasts,,WFIU.org,Homepage WFIU Public Media (wfiu.org) no No http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/driftwood-valley-music-festival/ http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/driftwood-valley-music-festival/#comments Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:40:22 +0000 Annie Corrigan http://wfiu.org/arts/?p=2364 http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/driftwood-valley-music-festival/feed/ 0 00:01:01 Every September Columbus, Indiana's Mill Race Park comes alive with the sights and sounds of a festival celebrating American folk arts.nbsp; WFIU's Annie Corrigan visited ... Every September Columbus, Indiana's Mill Race Park comes alive with the sights and sounds of a festival celebrating American folk arts.nbsp; WFIU's Annie Corrigan visited the Driftwood Valley Music Festival and brought back this report. Culture,,Featured,in,category,,Interviews,,Podcasts,,WFIU.org,Homepage WFIU Public Media (wfiu.org) no No http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/aholes-aureoles/ http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/aholes-aureoles/#comments Sat, 23 Aug 2008 16:24:32 +0000 Annie Corrigan http://wfiu.org/arts/?p=2356 http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/aholes-aureoles/feed/ 0 7:30 A new play is coming to the Rose Firebay at Bloomingtonrsquo;s John Waldron Arts Center, and it promises to push you to the edges of ... A new play is coming to the Rose Firebay at Bloomingtonrsquo;s John Waldron Arts Center, and it promises to push you to the edges of your comfort zone. With more, herersquo;s WFIUrsquo;s Annie Corrigan. Featured,in,category,,Features,,Podcasts,,Theater,,Theatre,and,Dance,,WFIU.org,Homepage WFIU Public Media (wfiu.org) no No http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/festival-orchestra-principles-part-3-john-tafoya/ http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/festival-orchestra-principles-part-3-john-tafoya/#comments Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:01:34 +0000 Annie Corrigan http://wfiu.org/arts/?p=2341 http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/festival-orchestra-principles-part-3-john-tafoya/feed/ 0 6:57 Annie Corrigan talks to timpanist John Tafoya for the third and final installment in our Festival Orchestra Principals series. Annie Corrigan talks to timpanist John Tafoya for the third and final installment in our Festival Orchestra Principals series. Classical,Music,,Content,Type,,Interviews,,Podcasts WFIU Public Media (wfiu.org) no No http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/festival-orchestra-principles/ http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/festival-orchestra-principles/#comments Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:54:37 +0000 Annie Corrigan http://wfiu.org/arts/?p=2335 http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/festival-orchestra-principles/feed/ 0 5:00 Part two of our Festival Orchestra Principals series seats us first chair in the viola section with Michael Strauss. Part two of our Festival Orchestra Principals series seats us first chair in the viola section with Michael Strauss. Classical,Music,,Content,Type,,Features,,Podcasts WFIU Public Media (wfiu.org) no No http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/flute-section-kate-lukas/ http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/flute-section-kate-lukas/#comments Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:03:57 +0000 Annie Corrigan http://wfiu.org/arts/?p=2320 http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/flute-section-kate-lukas/feed/ 0 5:00 In the first installment of her Festival Orchestra Principals series, WFIU's Annie Corrigan speaks with principal flutist Kate Lukas who tells Annie about the role ... In the first installment of her Festival Orchestra Principals series, WFIU's Annie Corrigan speaks with principal flutist Kate Lukas who tells Annie about the role of the flute in the orchestra. Classical,Music,,Content,Type,,Featured,in,category,,Interviews,,Podcasts,,Special,,WFIU.org,Homepage WFIU Public Media (wfiu.org) no No