Interlochen Arts Academy Webcast Featuring Alexander Fitterstein

Alexander Fitterstein will be playing Weber's Recitative and Polacca with the Interlochen Arts Academy Orchestra. You can watch the live stream for free March 18 at 3:00pm Eastern Time. 

Link to live stream: http://macad.interlochen.org/livestream

Here's a sample from a rehearsal:

Dogs Have Perfect Pitch

The dogs were first trained to recognize solfege syllables. By playing the correct note on the keyboard the dogs were rewarded with food. Later the person carrying out the tests played a pitch on the ocarina in order to see if the dogs could find the note based upon pitch instead of a verbal solfege command. Surprisingly the dogs immediately understood and were able to find the notes. The dogs were also able to mimic basic tunes played on the ocarina.

"Wolves are known to have absolute pitch. They are able to recognize their pack mates by their individual vocalizations. Pavlov's students showed that dogs also possess absolute pitch."

Inside the Case (responses thus far)

Anthony McGill, Principal Clarinet Metropolitan Opera Orchestra

   

Chris Peryagh

Hilary Zirkle, Junior Peabody Conservatory

Charles Sonoda, Freshman DePaul University

Joshua Anderson, Sophomore Peabody Conservatory

Jennifer Hughson, Masters Student Peabody Conservatory

Joel Weszka, Masters Student Peabody Conservatory

James Duncan, Sophomore Peabody Conservatory

Yuri Kim, Junior Peabody Conservatory

Inside the Case

I am starting a project called "Inside the Case." The idea is that people take a photo of the inside of their clarinet case and then share it online for others to see. All this can be done easily by sharing a photo over on the Curious Clarinet Facebook Page. I have uploaded my picture and I hope to see many others! Don't forget, to take part you have to use the Facebook Page.

"Art Direction: Instruments From Inside"

A new Berlin Philharmonic advertising campaign takes advantage of macro photography, using the effect to make the small spaces within instruments seem much larger. The photographs, including a cello, flute, violin, and pipe organ, were taken by Bjoern Ewers. More photographs can be found in Bjoern's portfolio HERE.

Ricardo Morales has "resigned" NY Phil Position, Decides to Stay with Philly

Mr. Morales has decided to "resign" his position with the New York Philharmonic and remain with the Philadelphia Orchestra.

"For family reasons, Mr. Morales has chosen to remain in Philadelphia, where he currently holds the position of principal clarinet with the Philadelphia Orchestra. The New York Philharmonic wishes Mr. Morales well in his future endeavors," said a statement from the New York Philharmonic.


A Philadelphia Orchestra spokeswoman said, "We are pleased to have him rejoin the orchestra."

Article from Philly.com HERE
Article from NY Times HERE

Lorin Levee, Principal Clarinet LA Phil, passes away at age 61

Lorin Levee, clarinet player with the LA Phil since 1976, passed away Wednesday after a long battle with a blood disorder. 

"It is with great sadness that we pass on the news that our Principal Clarinet, Lorin Levee passed away yesterday. He fought a long and courageous battle with a fatal blood disorder; a battle so valiant that he played his final concert with us only on January 8. Lorin joined the orchestra in 1976 as our bass clarinetist and in 1981 won the position as Principal. He was a great clarinetist, a dedicated member of our New Music group, and had appeared with the orchestra as a soloist on numerous occasions. This is a real loss for us all."

- Taken from the LA Phil Facebook Page

Levee first joined the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 1976 playing bass clarinet before being promoted to principal clarinet at the start of the 1981-1982 season. Before playing with the LA Phil, Levee was an active performer in his home city of Chicago, playing with the Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra, the Chicago Chamber Orchestra, Chicago's Grant Park Symphony, and the American Ballet Theatre Orchestra. 

"A concert on Thursday at Walt Disney Concert Hall will be dedicated to Levee. The orchestra has added an extra piece to the program -- Ravel's "Le Jardin Féerique" (The Enchanted Garden) -- in honor of the musician. In addition, Deborah Borda, president of the L.A. Philharmonic, is scheduled to speak."

          - Los Angeles Times