This week: instrument x-rays, a huuuuuuge piano, opera tech, and in case you haven't heard it enough, "Despacito" turned classical.
- Let's get the ball rolling here with a video featuring a little guy plummeting down an unknown landscape, set to Grieg. I imagine the Mountain King himself would be a fan:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIz3klPET3o&feature=youtu.be
- A look inside the technological world of opera. Here's a quote:
"The earliest-known bootleg recording (1888) was of an opera. The earliest-known sound movie (c. 1895) used opera music. The earliest-known off-air recording (1920) was of an opera singer. The first compatible-color television program seen at home (1953) was an opera. The first commercial digital recording (1976) was of an opera. Stereo radio? Live TV subtitles? Consumer headphones? Electronic home entertainment? All first used for opera."
- Check out this 6-meter-long piano that weighs more than a ton:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmH5maOUeHc&feature=youtu.be
- A group of German researchers are using high-powered x-ray machines to scan old instruments and uncover their secrets.
- One of my favorite writers on the internet, Fran Hoepfner, is finding solace in Debussy this week. Here's her playlist:
- The Boston Public Library is planning to digitize and make public over 200,000 vinyl records in its collection, including this 1947 recording of Grieg's Piano Concerto:
- While I don't agree that classical music OR radio are dying media, I'm certainly all for making classical more accessible and welcoming to people who know little about it. On the front lines: Drew Forde, who uses social media in the hopes that he'll be the Neil DeGrasse Tyson of classical music.
BRAND NEW TUTORIAL: Everything you need to know about vibrato! If you're still having trouble, watch this!!! https://t.co/nfCyUX4DLm
— tvk (@ThatViolaKid) October 7, 2017
- And finally: the song of the summer, made classical:
Thanks for checking out this week's link roundup! Come back next Friday for more.
