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Surprising classical music stories, every week. Explore the complete archives here. For access to all 513 articles, subscribe now.
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Video of the Week
“Poème Symphonique”
Classical music is a little too into round numbers. It often seems that endless birth-year, death-year, on-this-day celebrations preclude proper, considered programming. But despite our cynicism, we are still pretty proud of making it to issue #101. Here’s György Ligeti’s “Poème Symphonique” for 100 metronomes, for some slightly off-kilter symbolism.
Audio of the Week
Perfect Pitch
You can’t really learn perfect pitch. But editor Jeffrey Arlo Brown got sold on the idea by a tacky website anyway. Listen to him trying, and investigating that tacky website, in episode 2 of our series Tonefoil Hat. Or, get started here.
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VAN Magazine
7 hours ago
We talked to microtonal legend Ben Johnston about his rivalries with Babbitt and Stockhausen, his forgotten works, and his new love for pop music: ... See MoreSee Less
I Did That • VAN Magazine
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An Interview with Ben Johnston.
VAN Magazine
1 day ago
In the next installment of Tonefoil Hat, our test subject does some coloring and goes deep on Goji berries and mattresses. What does that have to do with learning perfect pitch? You'll have to read to find out: ... See MoreSee Less
Tonefoil Hat, Episode 2 • VAN Magazine
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Is a popular perfect pitch course a revelation or a scam?
VAN Magazine
2 days ago
An interview with the conductor Robin Ticciati on the dark side of Carlos Kleiber and the Mount Everest of his profession: ... See MoreSee Less
Wonderful Misfits • VAN Magazine
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Robin Ticciati wants to hear internal fire.
VAN Magazine
6 days ago
Classical music concerts in alternative spaces are a popular trend. Let's not forget what the concert hall is good for: ... See MoreSee Less
The Halls Are Alive • VAN Magazine
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Why we still need dedicated classical music spaces.
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Tweets
19.04.2018 • 02:23
Microtonal legend Ben Johnston talks to us about accompanying dance, his prickly friendship with Milton Babbitt, an… https://t.co/Qt3557Qg5q18.04.2018 • 04:30
An interview with Robin Ticciati on the dark side of Carlos Kleiber and the Mount Everest for conductors: https://t.co/pZNo4j8edD17.04.2018 • 03:54
Can @glendasplenda learn perfect pitch? Who is the man charging him $130 to try? More strange exercises and a clue… https://t.co/sgUVibk6yL17.04.2018 • 02:37
Classical music is just one genre among many. There is no reason for it to be treated as inherently superior to anything else ❤️16.04.2018 • 02:10
RT @emily_doolittle:A nice interview with Betsy Jolas: "My advice, however, is that a true artist should never have the feeling of havi… https://t.co/SnzOza7c1xFollow @vanmusicmag