A Little Something Extra

Memory is a funny thing.

I've been known to get up, walk to someone's office, and forget why I just got up and walked to someone's office.  More times than I care to admit, I send emails and forget to include the promised attachment. I know I've said this phrase more times than not: "Didn't I tell you that already?"

Luckily, my long-term memory is better. I can still rattle off the books of the Old Testament in seconds (taught to me as a young kid in Sunday school). I memorize lyrics quickly, and they stick with me forever. And speaking of music, my first and most poignant musical memory occurred here: 7310 17th Ave. NW Seattle, WA 98117.  My childhood home. I've never forgotten the address.

[Present occupant: Please forgive me while I blog about your house for a bit. By the way, the picture of it on Google Earth looks nothing like what I remember. What did you do?]

This week, I reach back into that good/bad memory bank of mine and recall the address where I heard Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 in B Flat Minor for the first time (on vinyl for you young kids - here's a picture just in case).



My mother kept a pretty impressive record collection of classical music.  All the masters were in our library--Beethoven, Brahms, Tchaikovsky--and these records rounded out the Crawford family's diverse musical tastes (Scott Joplin and the Kingston Trio for Dad, Elton John for brother Judd and Really Rosie featuring Carole King for me). I would come home from school and open the door with my Latchkey, invade my mother's closet in search of that fancy pale pink dress with the pleated skirt, select Tchaikovsky's first piano concerto, carefully place the needle on the record in the right spot, turn up the volume on our huge 1970s cabinet turntable (this sucker was a piece of furniture!), and dance around the room in my own little world...at least until my older brother replaced my beloved Tchaikovsky with Pink Floyd.

My memory is clear as crystal: As soon as I would hear the horns blasting those first four notes, shivers ran down my spine. I'd strike a pose once the orchestra answered. Then, that gorgeous melody by the strings put me into my dance routine of gliding and twirling until that pleated skirt was a perfect parallel to the ground. And of course, I would stop occasionally and play air piano.



I didn't need a TV to be entertained. I didn't need video games (although I tried begging mom and dad for an Atari, to no avail). I don't remember ever feeling lonely. I had music. I had Tchaikovsky.

It wasn't until I reached Music Appreciation class in college when I realized there was more to the concerto. You mean there's more to the piece than just the first movement? Fantastic. But the first movement is my first classical music memory.

If you come to the concert this weekend, look for me in the first mezzanine. I'm the one who will visually respond to the first four notes and then the melody.  It will go something like this: twitch, grin, sit back, smile, wipe a tear, close my eyes, and remember that pale pink dress.

Crash, crashed, crashing.  I've done a lot of it.

My car.  Cymbals.  A party or two.  At a friend's house.  After an 16-hour workday.  My computer.  A diet.

But I've never crashed a wedding.

These guys have -- or so to speak.

Tonight's Stella Artois Happy Hour at the Symphony, headlined with "Look Who's Crashing the Marriage of Figaro" features the ISO's new resident ensemble, Time for Three. The string trio performs a pretty diverse set list tonight--from Mozart and Bartok to Bernstein and even Imogen Heap--and includes many of its own tunes from the newly released CD 3 Fervent Travelers. 

They haven't just crashed the Marriage of Figaro--they've crashed our party.  So, what did you think?  Review it by submitting your comments!

 

I would like to thank all of you for submitting comments about our first Stella Artois Happy Hour at the Symphony concert of the season. Your reviews of any symphony concert, program or event are important to us, so check back in to this blog often and post away!

Many of you remarked about operational challenges related to the January Happy Hour.  We hear you -- we were not as prepared as we needed to be for the record-breaking attendance. We are actively planning for the next Happy Hour on Feb. 18 (featuring our charismatic ensemble-in-residence Time for Three) so that we can create a comfortable and accessible experience for everyone. 

See you at the Symphony!
 

I couldn't choose just one thing to write about this week. 

Win Joshua Bell's New CD!

Joshua Bell, world renowned violinist, Hoosier native and our guest artist for this weekend, has just been named the 2010 "Instrumentalist of the Year" by Musical America.  The Indianapolis Star's Jay Harvey recently blogged about his upcoming appearance with the ISO.  

We also have a free copy of Josh’s new CD, At Home with Friends, ready to give away.  Just post your favorite Joshua Bell moment, concert, performance or experience in this blog, and we'll select a winner on Friday at noon!

Congratulations Gabriela

Congratulations to ISO composer-in-residence, Gabriela Lena Frank, for winning a 2009 Latin Grammy Award in the category of "Best Classical Contemporary Composition" for her piece, Inca Dances! 

Give the Gift of Yuletide

The Indianapolis Symphony is proud to partner with the Children’s Bureau, an organization that sponsors families in need each year during the holidays.  As part of the gift packages for these families, you can donate $10 Duke Energy Yuletide Celebration tickets.  Click here to learn more.

Florence Henderson Performs with the ISO Nov. 20-22

It’s commonly known that Florence Henderson is a native Hoosier (and one of our favorite TV moms).  However, did you know:

Florence can be found as part of the “Global Indiana” exhibit at the Indiana State Museum?  See her picture here among other famous Hoosiers.

Florence’s voice can be heard each year at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway 500 race:  here’s a clip of her performance of “God Bless America” in 2005.

The town of Dale, Indiana (population: 1,500) is Florence’s hometown.  Did you know?  Abraham Lincoln grew up on a farm nearby.

Lucina is a pianist of great accomplishment. At 91 years young, she still teaches several students, performs various two-piano concerts and recitals, and remains very active in the musical community in Indianapolis. She attends many of the ISO’s Coffee Classical performances.
 

Lucina shares her love of music in the community by being generous as well. The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra was the recipient of that generosity this summer, as Lucina purchased a new Steinway Concert Grand Piano and donated it to the Orchestra in memory of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. William H. Ball.
 

A generous spirit, the love of music and an association with the Indianapolis Symphony are a part of Lucina’s family history. Lucina’s parents and her late husband, Sam Moxley, served on the ISO’s Board of Directors. When Lucina’s father passed away, her mother gifted two concert Steinway pianos in 1982 as a tribute to him. In 2009, Lucina paid tribute back to her parents by purchasing our Steinway in memory of them.
 

Lucina didn’t just offer to purchase the piano though. She provided us valuable expertise in choosing it! Lucina, pianist Jonathan Biss and ISO President and CEO Simon Crookall traveled to the Steinway studio in New York City this summer to select the piano which would be perfectly suited for the Hilbert Circle Theatre and our orchestra.  Lucina and Jonathan played six of them, and ultimately settled on the beautiful instrument which is now a part of the ISO collection.  Gabriela Montero will play Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue on our new Concert Grand this weekend during Opening Night Gala.


Lucina proudly owns and plays her two concert Hamburg Steinways, which she considers her greatest treasures.  Thank you Lucina—your gift of a new Steinway Concert Grand Piano is now one of our greatest treasures too.

It’s nice to have an announcement like this when a season is complete:

Headline: 

INDIANAPOLIS SYMPHONY SETS NEW ATTENDANCE RECORD AT MARSH SYMPHONY ON THE PRAIRIE

Copy:

The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra announced that it set a new all-time attendance record of 107,281 for its Marsh Symphony on the Prairie season of outdoor concerts this summer, exceeding the previous mark of 107,245 set in 1999.  (We beat it by 36 people!)

·        Total season attendance of 107,281, the largest full-season crowd to attend the series.

·        Attendance Tops 100,000 Mark for Only 2^nd Time in 28-Year History of Outdoor Series

·        Single night attendance record for a Pops concert featuring the ISO with 8,145 people enjoying the Classical Mystery Tour Beatles Tribute program on Aug. 1

·        Second largest non-July 4 weekend attendance of 14,304 July 31-Aug 1, just missing the all-time record of 14,829 (Aug. 27-29, 1999 - Big Band)

·        Fourth largest single concert attendance of 12,291 on July 3

Although we are proud of our milestones, the Prairie season is more than just facts, figures and statistics. There are stories to tell. Here is just a sample of what occurred this season:

Happy Anniversary!

Symphony on the Prairie emcee Scott Hoke surprised Paul and Georgia Bradley when he announced from the stage on Aug. 29 that the couple was celebrating 80 years of marriage. Yes, that’s right. 80 years. The crowd roared and gave Paul and Georgia a standing ovation. According to a source, the young couple brought their own flask to toast to another 80 years.

I’ve Never Won Anything in my Life”

Our very own Tim Northcutt, associate director of communications, tagged Debra Fleetwood from New Palestine as our 100,000^th patron to enter the gates on Saturday, September 5.  Fleetwood received a certificate for two Value Packs (each containing 10 tickets) to the 2010 Series, a $100 Gift Card from Marsh Supermarkets, and the ISO will donate two seven-concert Lilly Classical Series subscriptions to a local charitable organization in her name. Her party was escorted to a reserved table near the front of the amphitheater where they enjoyed the concert by the River City Brass Band and a fireworks finale in this final weekend of the summer season (see photo below). According to Tim, Debra proclaimed that she had “never won anything in her life.”

Rented Heaters…in July?

One of the coldest evenings in memory occurred during the classical music concert weekend. Evening temperatures hovered around 58-60 degrees. The operations team ordered heaters for the musicians on stage…in the middle of July!

A Day in the Life (of a Faux Beatle)

Jim Owen, one of the two original members of the Beatles tribute band, Classical Mystery Tour, currently plays the role of John Lennon, though he hasn’t always been confined to John’s duties at the piano, guitar and microphone.  Up until the late 90s or so, he usually played the part of George Harrison.  When the Classical Mystery Tour group performed for the ISO in winter 2006 on stage at the HCT, Jim’s previous experience performing as George proved fortunate.  Tom Teeley, the current George Harrison (and the other original member of CMT), was leaving a local restaurant and slipped on a patch of ice and broke his right wrist the day of a concert.  Luckily, due to Jim Owen’s previous experience as George, he and Tom Teeley switched guitars during the performance so that the difficult electric guitar solos could be played more easily.  Tom has never forgotten Indianapolis.

Anything for You Dad

For our second concert at Prairie on June 26-27, excerpts from the Harry Potter books were read by narrator Constance Macy.  However, the excerpts did not come with the music. Conductor Alfred Savia’s own daughter, Julia – a self-proclaimed expert on the Harry Potter series – carefully studied the music excerpts her father had chosen and appropriately chose the script that would be read by the narrator during the show. 

Four Score and Seven Years Ago

Dean Dorrell, our Abraham Lincoln impersonator from the July 2-4 concerts, has been a frequent visitor to the Prairie stage.  Typically he arrives several hours before the concert, sits in his dressing room in his full Lincoln garb, and reads the latest biography on the President he so uncannily resembles.  Standing one inch taller than Abe, Mr. Dorrell also keeps a copy of many of Lincoln’s speeches in his top hat (as Lincoln did), and has nearly all of his speeches memorized.  He can be seen all over Midwest visiting schools, libraries, concerts and other celebratory functions honoring our 16^th President.  And he does this on the side!  Personally, he is a very quiet, gentle and generous man.  (See photo below – Dean Dorrell as Abraham Lincoln, moments before reciting the Gettysburg Address to a crowd of more than 10,000)

How Does He Do That?

Some audience members may have been to the Rockapella show and heard the amazing sounds coming from Jeff Thacher, the group’s “percussionist.”  What they may not have seen is how he makes these sounds.  He attaches two small microphones to either side of his vocal chords with surgical tape, and is able to create the low “bass-drum” kicks with his throat, without moving his lips.  Only then does he put a normal microphone to his mouth to make the more consonant, percussive sounds.  Quite often he can make two different sounds at once – one with his throat, and one with his mouth.

Three Degrees of Separation

Larry O’Brien, the current leader of the Glenn Miller Orchestra, performed with the band in the 60s, when Ray McKinley was the leader.  Ray played with Glenn Miller in the Air Force band and acted as its unofficial leader after Miller disappeared in December 1944. 

It’s Still the 21^st Century, You Know

Glynnis Campbell, the wife of America’s bass player Rich Campbell, is a published novelist (under the pseudonym Sarah McKerrigan) with 10 books on the shelf so far in her career.  She concentrates on writing fiction set within historical contexts, usually taking place between 1100-1500 England and Scotland.  She studies the culture, music and even clothing fabrics to make sure that her stories don’t contain any anachronisms.  She delves herself into the time period so that it’s nearly second-nature to her.  That is, according to her husband, until her cell phone goes off.

Happy 09.09.09!

The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra turns over its stage to other musical ensembles in August and early September during Marsh Symphony on the Prairie. During this period, our Symphony musicians take a much-needed, well-deserved break away from their year-round schedule.

So, we’re sometimes asked… where are the ISO musicians during this time and what are they up to?  Here's a sample!

“[Our vacation plans are] certainly not exotic -- we plan to stay in Indy, work on cleaning up/organizing our home 3/4's of the time, exploring Indy and environs the other 1/4.   Plans include State Fair (seriously...), Baden Springs, and some new restaurants in Indy and Bloomington.  This may not be exciting to you, but it's very exciting to us!”

-Bev and Sylvia Scott

Beverly Scott, Assistant Principal Viola

Sylvia Scott, frequent ISO pianist

“Our family went to St. Joseph, Michigan, for a week. We also are going to Chicago for the weekend. But we have mostly stayed at home this summer.”

-Ruth Boerner, viola

“I will be composing during the break.”  www.jimbeckelmusic.com

-Jim Beckel

Principal Trombone & Composer*

*Don’t miss Jim’s world premiere piece In the Mind’s Eye: Images for Horns and Orchestra in concerts on May 14 and 15, 2009.

“My husband, John, and I will be taking our children to college at the end of August. First to return to school will be Katherine, just back from an archaeological dig in Athens where she found an ancient cooking pot.  She will be a senior at Washington University in St. Louis. Then Amy and David head east.  Amy is just completing a summer at a biological research center in Maine, and will return to Swarthmore College to continue working on her bachelor's degree in biochemistry.  David, proud of his Indiana roots, is making a Yale corn-hole set to take to school.  He has high hopes of learning to play the carillon at Yale, which happily has a silent practice keyboard as well as the one which activates the giant bells in Harkness Tower.  I am occupied practicing viola and piano, teaching viola lessons, and sewing on buttons!”

-Terry Langdon, viola

“I'll be traveling to New York City to attend the National Flute Association’s annual convention with my husband, George Evans. (My teacher, William Bennett, will be performing at the convention-- he's also traveling from London to Indianapolis in November for a masterclass and recital Nov 4 & 5.) While we’re in NYC, we’re attending a concert at the Mostly Mozart Festival at Lincoln Center. Other than that long weekend, I'll be at home working on my book, “Flute for Dummies,” which will be coming out in December of this year.”

-Karen Evans Moratz

Principal Flute

“My husband’s brother used to play professional basketball in the NBA....for the Portland Trailblazers.  He runs a youth basketball camp in Portland, and my husband and I will be going out to work at it.  Norm will coach, and I'll run the concession stand.  (Whoopee!!!)  It will give us a nice chance to visit with family.  We'll earn a small salary....enough to cover our airfare.....so we plan to go out a week early and drive over to the Pacific coast.  I'm a photographer, and I plan to come home with some great pictures of the Oregon coast.”

-Christal Steele

Assistant Concertmaster

“I will be heading out to the Northwest to visit family in Spokane, Washington, and in north Idaho (Hayden and Post Falls). My sister and I plan to bike the section of the Hiawatha Trail that crosses the Idaho panhandle. We also are going to spend a few days at Hayden Lake, ID.”

-Nancy Agres, viola

“I’ve spent time racing on such races as the Port Huron to Mackinac Race onboard a 50-foot raceboat called Goblin. We finished 3rd in our section and 13th in our division.  I also raced a regatta in Harbor Springs Michigan on Goblin.   I will be on a boat 47-foot sailboat called Big Country for the Tri-State Regatta which is a three-day, three-state regatta over Labor Day weekend.  We race from Chicago to St. Joseph, Michigan, then from St. Joseph to Michigan City, Indiana, then race back to Chicago. Happy Sailing!”

-Rick Graef

Assistant Principal Horn

Recently, ISO double bassist Brian Smith, was interviewed for a video project about the importance of arts in our community. After providing a brief answer to the question, “What argument would you make to those in non-artistic professions to support the need for the arts in society,” Brian spent some more time thinking about it and provided the following thoughts.

I was asked recently what argument I would make to those in non-artistic professions to support the need for the arts in society (the assertion by some being that the arts have no real significance in our community). I mean, it's just another form of entertainment, right?  My answer at the time was that the arts, and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in particular, provide not only an entertainment option, but an avenue to explore the emotional and philosophical aspects of our world in a way that other mediums don't allow. If we do our jobs onstage well, performances will take on a life of their own for every audience member listening and each will react differently, based on their own experience, in a personally meaningful way. I believe this is absolutely true, but there is more to the story.

The arts are everywhere in each of our lives, whether we recognize them or not. Consider for a moment going to a movie that contained no music, a wedding with no first dance, or even just turning on the radio and hearing nothing but static. There would be no plays, movies, or TV shows without actors, no sculpture or painting to enhance our homes and workplaces without artists. The arts permeate every part of our lives. They can inspire, console, frighten, and uplift. The arts are like a language that we all speak, and without knowing why, can affect us profoundly. As a musician, I know first hand the benefits of studying an art form. Music can teach us many valuable lessons applicable to other parts of our lives. One lesson of critical importance deals with problem solving and abstract thinking. Have you ever wondered why you can listen to the same piece of music played by multiple performers and have dramatically different experiences? It is due in large part to the fact that each performer must make choices and solve problems in a way that is unique to them, thus creating a new and different interpretation of the work. Among other things, performers must decide for themselves how a piece should paced, phrased, and presented. Then they must figure out a way to achieve that vision. In other words, they have to solve a myriad of problems that will likely involve techniques that they are comfortable with and the integration of new ideas that may be unexplored for them to that point of their development.

To continually progress as an artist, you must, to coin an overused cliche, "think outside the box" as often as possible. Another part of being a musician is, just like mom used to say, learning to play well with others. Most musical performances require collaboration with other artists, whether it be with a large ensemble like the ISO, or a solo recital which usually requires accompaniment of some kind. Communication and compromising skills are essential in these settings and one must learn them quickly if they wish to have success on stage. But the most beautiful and engaging part of any artistic endeavor is the opportunity for people to create and express themselves in unique and personal ways. So often in our formative years we are told to study academic subjects such as mathematics, science, and grammar. While these subject matters are crucial in all our lives, students have far fewer opportunities to explore their creativity and how it may help and impact them in other parts of their lives. Perhaps more than anything else, this is the most important reason why everyone should support the arts.

This video will be shown at the Arts Council of Indianapolis’ annual Start with Art luncheon on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009.

Thirteen-year-old Hannah Carroll began piano lessons at age eight and has been studying under Irina Gorin for the past four years. Hannah has been a finalist and winner of many piano competitions including The World Piano Competition in Cincinnati, Ohio, which earned her the invitation to play at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall for two consecutive years. In 2009, Hannah won first place in the Muncie Symphony Orchestra and the New World Youth Orchestra’s Young Artist Competition (junior divisions) and came in second in the 2009 Michael Ben and Illene Komisarow Maurer Young Musicians Contest, which earned her the chance to play with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra this weekend at Conner Prairie.

I watched Hannah rehearse the Grieg Piano Concerto today and had the chance to speak to her afterward. There’s never enough room in our program books to include everything about a guest artist. So I took a little time to get to know Hannah, the remarkably talented pianist and delightful young woman from Westfield, Indiana. 

Your first orchestra appearance was with the New World Youth Orchestra. What was that like? It was neat! I enjoyed myself up there. All the musicians were young and the sound was so different as opposed to playing with an accompanist.

Tell me a little bit about your family.

I have an older sister named Abigail, who enjoys playing piano and clarinet. Abigail also sings and has a beautiful voice. My younger brother Jacob plays trumpet and was in a band once. We are home-schooled.  My favorite subjects are English and Literature and my least favorite subject is Math.

What’s your favorite piece to play?

The Grieg Concerto I am playing with the ISO this weekend.

What’s your least favorite piece to play?

A Bach Fugue is very difficult. I like listening to Bach but playing it is hard.

What’s your favorite piece you have yet to play?

Franz Liszt’s “La Campanella.”

What’s your favorite piece to listen to?

Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto.

What’s your dream job?

Concert pianist

If you didn’t work in music, what would you like to do?

I’d be drawing or ballet. 

Outside of classical music, what other music to you listen to?

Hymns or the music from Charlie Brown.

What is your most prized possession? 

My hands.

What is your most prized possession that you don’t have but would like to have?

A Steinway.

What piano do you have at home? 

K Kawai.

What books do you enjoy? I don’t like old books very much. I do like Jane Austen.

Name your favorite book and movie. 

Pride and Prejudice.

Where do you want to go to college? IU, Julliard or Curtis.

What other instrument would you like to play other than piano? Cello (or I would sing).

What else do you enjoy doing while at home?

I like cake decorating. My mom makes the cake and icing; I then decorate it. I decorated my own cake for my birthday. It was decorated in flowers.

Do you have a nickname?

Hannah Banana from Indiana

by Shannon Neumeyer, marketing & communications intern

The year is 1990.  I was two years old, soon to be three.  We drove the slightly long drive to Connor Prairie to see a Symphony on the Prairie concert for the evening.  I was so excited to go and my favorite thing to do was run down the hills as soon as we got there.  It was warm and bright, and I watched as many other people arrived.  I was happy to see lots of other kids I could play with as the concert was going on.  We brought a blanket, food and lots of toys so I could play with my sister.  The music was pretty and I sat on my mom’s lap while watching the people play on the big stage.  Soon, it got dark and it made the stage light up.  As the concert ended, I was thrilled as I saw balloons being released into the air.  It was definitely an unforgettable evening with the symphony.