An article in the Metro this morning informed readers about an interesting new study at Beth Israel Medical Centre in New York, where researchers have discovered that playing music and singing to premature babies improves their well-being and their development. Three techniques were proven in the study: In the first, well-known pop songs were modified to sound more like a lullaby and played to the babies. Secondly, the babies listened to an ‘ocean disc’ instrument, which imitated the sounds the baby heard in the womb. In the third technique, a so-called ‘gato box’ was used to create a rhythm that would replicate a mother’s heartbeat. All three methods have shown that babies’ sleep, breathing and feeding were improved.
Lullabies were also very helpful in relaxing the babies’ heartbeat and making them more alert. The parents too could relieve stress whilst singing to their babies. The study has also shown that music should be used more in hospitals and that babies should not be put in an incubator. Doctors and nurses have to see music as a non-invasive, healthy intervention for babies, as well as for children, young and old people with autism or learning disabilities.
(Written on April 25, 2013 )
Tarisio full catalogue for their April 2013 New York sale of fine instrument bows is now available online.
One of the highlights is a fine French violin by Jean Baptiste Vuillaume from 1856 and a fine Italian violin by Carlo Ferdinando Landolfi from 1772. The sale is preceded by two public viewings, enabling potential buyers to examine and try the lots before bidding. You can have a look at the selling instruments in Los Angeles in April 25th and 26th and in Boston on April 27th.
Tarisio’s online bidding enables players, collectors and members of the trade to buy fine instruments with ease. Founded in 1999, Tarisio, expanded very quickly and has now offices in New York and London. Tarisio holds up to eight auctions per year and also offers private sales, which have broken many international auction records. The highest record was gained for the Lady Blunt Stradivarius, which sold for $15,810,692 at auction in June 2011.
Bidding ends on May 1 & 2.
(Written on April 5, 2013 )
One hundred years ago today John Cage was born: the American composer whose centenary is being celebrated this year with a wealth of concerts, festivals and events around the world.
John Cage’s iconoclastic overthrow of the expectations within classical music is demonstrated by a lifetime of compositions that question the meaning of ‘music’. Thanks to Cage, the twentieth century saw an explosion of innovative performances including amplified cactuses, crumpled paper and pianos filled with nuts and bolts. His provocative and inspiring works hold an incredible potential for discussion and imagination- something explored in the documentary ‘John Cage: Journeys in Sound’ that is to be released by Accentus Music later in September.
The documentary pays tribute to the legendary composer, presenting rare and enlightening archival footage, concert excerpts and interviews with close friends such as Christian Wolff and Don Gillespie.
Shooting from many special locations prominent in his life including his former home of Stony Point, New York as well as Leipzig, the unique footage shows unique episodes, such as pianist Steffen Schleiermacher buying screws to prepare a piano for one of Cage’s compositions and looks behind the scenes at Cage’s publishers.
Accentus Music are at the top of the classical music DVD industry, having not only won an International Classical Music Award, but also 2012 BBC Music Magazine award for ‘Best DVD’.
For more information on the production please click here.
(Written on September 5, 2012 )
- Intern
- Tags: ACCENTUS Music, Allan Miller, BBC Music Magazine award, Christian Wolff, Documentary, Don Gillespie, ICMA award, John Cage, Leipzig, New York, Paul Smaczny, prepared piano, Schott Music, Steffen Schleiermacher, Stony Point
The ACCENTUS Music film team have just come back from New York shooting a documentary about American composer John Cage. The team shot many special locations connected to Cage, including his former home in the art colony of Stony Point, north of New York and behind the scenes of Cage’s publishers; C.F. Peters Corporation.
In addition, close friends of Cage such as Christian Wolff, Vivian Perlis and Don Gillespie chatted about their friend in an Italian coffee place in the village. The documentary features footage of Laura Kuhn, head of the John Cage Trust, speaking about her time working with Cage and Calvin Tomkins, renowned critic of the New Yorker, discussing the artist’s aesthetic principles.
In Leipzig, footage shot includes pianist Steffen Schleiermacher buying screws in a hardware store to prepare his piano for Cage compositions and composer Wolfgang Rihm discussing his views of the artist.
Next week the ACCENTUS Music team will continue shooting at the John Cage Organ project in Halberstadt and in May, the team will be off to Japan …
The documentary, directed by Alan Miller and to be released in autumn 2012, marks the centenary of Cage’s birth. For more information, please visit the ACCENTUS Music website here.
(Written on March 22, 2012 )
- Intern
- Tags: ACCENTUS Music, Alan Miller, C.F. Peters Corporation, Calvin Tomkins, Christian Wolff, Don Gillespie, John Cage, John Cage Trust, Laura Kuhn, New York, New York City, New Yorker, Steffen Schleiermacher, Stony Point, Vivian Perlis, Wolfgang Rihm
LA Times
The Sunday Conversation: Nick Glennie-Smith
The Oscars conductor talks about rehearsals and a love of music.
Placido Domingo concert of ‘Boccanegra’ canceled in New York
A concert version of the opera that was scheduled for March at New York’s Lincoln Center has been abruptly called off due to financial problems by the presenting company.
Gramophone
The French trumpeter Maurice André has died
Born May 21, 1933; died February 25, 2012
The Guardian
Heiner Goebbels’ A Room for London performance
The German composer and director, Heiner Goebbels, will perform a musical response to Joseph Conrad’s 1890 journal at A Room for London from 6pm–6.45pm on Sunday 26 February 2012.
Telegraph Blogs
Why The Death of Klinghoffer deserves a better platform than it gets at ENO
The problem wasn’t with the piece but the production.
NY Times
Tackling a Master’s Despair
The pianist Paul Lewis spoke recently in an interview with the 92nd Street Y about the soft-spoken drama of Schubert’s music.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/26/arts/music/mitsuko-uchida-and-schubert-sonatas-at-carnegie-hall.html?ref=classicalmusic
(Written on February 27, 2012 )
- Intern
- Tags: better platform, Boccanegra, canceled, Concert, conductor, Death of Klinghoffer, died, Domingo, ENO, financial problems, french trumpeter, heiner goebbels, Joseph Conrad's 1890 journal, maurice andre, New York, New York's Lincoln Center, Nick Glennie-Smith, opera, pianist paul Lewis, placido, rehearsals, schubert's music
