jmc's classics
It is still hot outside. There is talk of global warming. However when I was younger in the 1970's there was talk of another ice age.
Sometimes classical music is not associated with hot weather. I think that is more associated with colder weather. It is appropriate in the summer season. I enjoy outdoor concerts and theatre when it is not too hot outside. Most theatre and concert venues are off for the summer and will resume after Labor Day.
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Victor Herbert (1859-1924) was an Irish born composer in America. He is remembered mainly today for his "March of the Toys" From his operetta Babes in Toyland. Herbert was also a cellist and conductor. He wrote operettas and songs but he also wrote some orchestra music as including a string serenade and two cello concertos and other music for cello.
He is also remembered as a founder of the American Society for Composers, Authors and Publishers. This is an organization that licenses performance rights for members works to venues, broadcasters and digital streamers. Among the other founders were Irving Berlin and several other people who I have not heard of. I have only become familiar with Herbert in recent months. In addition to being both a celloist and a conductor he was a prolific composer. Wikipedia says that he wrote by the two operas, 43 operettas, nine cello compositions and orchestra music. He wrote a String Serenade (Opus#12). It is not as famous as those by Tchaikovsky, Dvorak or Elgar. The first tow mentioned are more famous. His operas are not as popular. I don't know much about them. As I may have mentioned an operetta or "lite opera" is a shorter opera. It is not as serious as regular operas and often the plot is make believe. it often has spoken dialogue in it. This genre has been out of favor for decades now. Musicals are now popular. I have recently purchased a CD of Herbert's Serenade. It is played by the Southwest German Chamber Orchestra of Pforzheim, conducted by Sebastian Tewinkle on the CPO label. I recomend this recording. it features two other of Herbert's compositions: Seven pieces for Cello and String Orchestra and Three pieces for String Orchestra. Both pieces do not have opus numbers. Maybe in the future Herbert's music will be more common throughout the year after the Christmas season. I would hope that it becomes more popular. July 11 is also the anniversary of the Boston Pops Orchestra which is another iconic orchestra in America. I remember watching them on PBS as a child. They were regularly on PBS in a show called "Evening at Pops". It is not to be confused with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. It is now associated with American film score composer John Williams who was the conductor from 1980 to 1993. Arthur Fiedler (1893-1979) was the conductor from 1930 until 1979 and was the most iconic of their conductors.
The Pops Orchestras was at first an offshoot of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. They mainly specialized in lite classical and popular music. The term "lite classical" refers to less serious classical music. Today is the 225th anniversary of the founding of the United States Marine Band. This is the oldest of the American military bands. It is also the most prestigious of the military bands. It is sometimes referred to as "The president's own" because since 1801 it has had close ties to the presidents. The tradition began in 1801 when president John Adams asked them to play at a party.
Today the band has 160 members on various instruments. They play at state events. In October and November they go on a concert tour. John Philip Sousa was one of the early directors. Thee requirements to join the band are strict. The potential member must audition and pass a security clearance and be a marine. Along with the Coast Guard Band, they are not require to undergo recruit training. They are not assigned to any unit except for the band. They usually play at the presidential inauguration. They play about 500 events a year. The term in the band is for 10 years. The band plays a variety of music including marches and some popular and classical music. There is some kind of marine chamber orchestra but I know very little about them. They have made various recordings. There are probably a lot of You Tube videos of them. There are various other military bands in America but the Marine band is the most prestigious one. Their sister band is the Marine Fife and Drum Core. The Military Band is one of 10 active duty bands. During this time of year military band music is popular. I saw on NBC news that there is violence going on at rock or pop concerts. Young people are pelting the performers. This is not civilized behavior. It is also dangerous. People were throwing cell phones at the stage! it may be funny but I don't want to buy a new phone.
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