Danse Bacchanale - Saint-Saëns Samson and Delilah (French: Samson et Dalila), Op. 47, is a grand opera in three acts and four scenes by Camille Saint-Saëns to a French libretto by Ferdinand Lemaire. It was first performed in Weimar at the Grossherzogliches (Grand Ducal) Theater (now the Staatskapelle Weimar) on 2 December 1877 in a German translation. Wikipedia You can download the… read more about Music for February 2019 Concert »
CALLING FOR ALL ORCHESTRA MUSICIANS, especially STRING PLAYERS: The Duke Wind Symphony is hosting its annual VIENNESE BALL on Saturday, February 16, 2019. We are looking for musicians (especially, but not limited to, string players) to play traditional Austrian Waltzes, such as Blue Danube, Sleeping Beauty, Emperor Waltz, and more, with a full orchestra. Are you interested? - please fill out this quick form (please let us know by Dec… read more about CALLING FOR ALL ORCHESTRA MUSICIANS for VIENNESE BALL »
'The Planets' At 100: A Listener's Guide To Holst's Solar System One hundred years ago, a symphonic blockbuster was born in London. The Planets, by Gustav Holst, premiered on this date in 1918. The seven-movement suite, depicting planets from our solar system, has been sampled, stolen and cherished by the likes of Frank Zappa, John Williams, Hans Zimmer and any number of prog-rock and metal bands. To mark the anniversary, we've enlisted two experts to guide us on an interplanetary… read more about NPR Article by TOM HUIZENGA »
DUSS Concerto Competition The DUSS Concerto Competition is open to all students in Concert String Orchestra and the Youth Symphony to enter. The Competition Audition is open to the public and parents, teachers, and students are welcome to come and observe in the "stadium seating" of Nelson Music Room. In order to help aid the participant’s concentration, please no photography, video recording, or young children who may not be able to sit quietly. The 2018 Duke University String School Concerto Competition… read more about Concerto Competition »
The Planets, Op. 32, is a seven-movement orchestral suite by the English composer Gustav Holst, written between 1914 and 1916. Each movement of the suite is named after a planet of the Solar System and its corresponding astrological character as defined by Holst. Wikipedia The Planets - Mars Music The Planets - Jupiter Music Masquerade was written in 1941 by Aram Khachaturian as incidental music for a production of the play of… read more about DUSS - Youth Symphony - Fall 2018 Music »
Dear Youth Symphony Students, The following are excerpts for the upcoming leadership auditions for violins, violas, cellos, and bass students for the YS. Applicants will be judged by their musicality, steady tempo, solid intonation, rhythm, posture, and technique. Throughout the year, leaders need to abide by the attendance policy and set a good example to the other orchestra members with their preparation, posture, and behavior. Please look for an email in your inbox with a Sign-Up… read more about 2018 YS Leadership Audition Pieces »
This upcoming weekend is our concert weekend! Please note: Our Saturday May 5th rehearsal will take place at our usual time, but will take place at: East Chapel Hill High School (Band Room) 500 Weaver Dairy Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 Go in main entrance road of the school. Turn right at first road (very soon). Follow that road around to the back of the school. USE CARE OVER THE SPEED BUMPS!!! Park at the back of the school near the football stadium and… read more about May 6th Concert Weekend Info »
The sectionals will take place during our regular rehearsal time, so please come to rehearsal as usual at 10.00am. Sectional Time: 11:15 am - 12:15 pm We are so excited to have wonderful sectional coaches: Violin 1: with Shelley Livingston, Room 041 Violin 2: with Sara Moore, Room 104 (inside players please bring Your music stands from Bone Hall and then return it after the Sectional back to Bone Hall) Viola: with Maria Valencia, Room 069 Cello & Bass: with Cody Rex, Room 086… read more about Sectionals Info for April 14th, 2018 »
Watch the video of our Spring March 10th 2018 concert, Baldwin Auditorium, Duke University read more about Youth Symphony Spring Concert 2018 Video »
Romeo and Juliet, a 1968 British-Italian romantic drama film directed and co-written by Franco Zeffirelli, based on the play of the same name (1591–1595) by William Shakespeare. read more about Music for Romeo & Juliet's "A Time for Us" by Nino Rota, Arr. by Rubén Flóres »
Although styled an 'Overture-Fantasy' by the composer, the overall design is a symphonic poem in sonata form with an introduction and an epilogue. The work is based on three main strands of the Shakespeare story. Download(s): Bass Cello Viola Violin 2 Violin 1 Bassoon 2 Bassoon 1 Clarintet 1 Clarinet 2 Cymbals and Bass Drum English Horn Flute 1 Flute 2 Harp Horn 1 Horn 2 Horn 3 Horn 4 Oboe 1 Oboe 2 Piccolo Timpani Trombone 1 Trombone 2 Trombone 3 Trumpet 1 Trumpet 2 Tuba read more about Music for Tchaikovsky's Fantasy-Overture 'Romeo and Juliet' »
Download(s): Flute 1 Flute 2 Oboe 1 Oboe 2 Clarinet 1 in Bb Clarinet 2 in Bb Bassoon 1 Bassoon 2 Horn 1 in F Horn 2 in F Horn 3 in F Horn 4 in F Trumpet 1 in Bb Trumpet 2 in Bb Trumpet 3 in Bb Tuba Timpani & Percussion Harp Piano E-Guitar Strings - Bass Strings - Cello Strings - Viola Strings - Violin 2 Strings - Violin 1 Trombone 1 Trombone 2 Trombone 3 20-21-Timpani&Percussion-rescanned read more about Music for Leonard Bernstein's Overture to West Side Story »
This is our concert weekend, and our next rehearsal will be this Saturday, March 3rd, 2018. All musicians please arrive at 10.00am, so you have enough time to unpack and tune. Our Saturday rehearsal time is as always 10:15 am-12:15 pm in Bone Hall. Our dress rehearsal will take place on Sunday, March 4th from 1.45pm until 3pm at Baldwin Auditorium. All symphony members must attend the full dress rehearsal. String students need to be in Baldwin Auditorium NO LATER than 1:30pm to… read more about March 4th Concert Weekend Information »
February 20 @ 7:30 pm Conductor: Tonu Kalam Guest Conductor: Shelley Livingston As part of the Scholarship Benefit Concert Series, the award-winning UNC Symphony Orchestra will perform alongside the winners of the UNC Concerto Competition: Madeline Edwards, soprano; Margaret Lynch, piano; Adam Maloney, double bass; Daniel Winecoff, marimba. Works performed will include Massenet, Prokofiev, Bottesini, Creston, Weber and Verdi. General Admission tickets are $10, and faculty/staff… read more about Mark Your Calendar: UNC Symphony Orchestra Concert »
There will be a STRINGS ONLY REHEARSAL this Saturday, February 10th, since we will be part of the DUSS Vivaldi Project Baroque Workshop. We will have no rehearsal for Winds, Brass and Percussion, but You are welcome to observe the clinic. As part of the HIP Festival (Historically Informed Performance), The Vivaldi Project will be working with our orchestra string students during our regularly scheduled rehearsal time on the Concerto Grosso Op.6. by … read more about YS Strings will be part of the DUSS Vivaldi Project Baroque Workshop on February 10th »
From the Spring 2016 Issue of Stage & Studio | BY LOUISE LEE How you practice is a direct reflection of how you perform. Even if your playing in the practice room sounds good, you need to practice and learn the piece in a manner robust enough to withstand the pressure of onstage performance. After all, with the stage, lights, excitement, and expectant audience, performing isn’t at all like the practice studio. Hans Sturm, assistant professor of double bass and jazz studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and… read more about The Way You Approach Music in Practice Greatly Affects Your Success in Performance »
The sectionals will take place during our regular rehearsal time, so please come to rehearsal as usual at 10.00am. Sectional Time: 11:15am - 12:15pm We are so excited to have wonderful sectional coaches: Violin 1: with Shelley Livingston, Room 041 Violin 2: with Andy Bonner, Room 141 Viola: with Sara Moore, Room 069 Cello & Bass: with Erica Leavell, Room 086 WW/Brass/Perc: with Maestro William Henry Curry… read more about Sectionals Info for February 3rd, 2018 »
Watch the YouTube video of the November 12, 2017 concert at Baldwin Auditorium, Duke University read more about Youth Symphony - 50th Anniversary Concert Video »
Today's Youth Symphony rehearsal is cancelled due to Wintery weather and road conditions. Our next rehearsal will be on Saturday, January 13th, 2018. read more about Youth Symphony rehearsal is cancelled for today »
Domenico Carlo Maria Dragonetti (7 April 1763 – 16 April 1846) was an Italian double bass virtuoso and composer with a 3 string double bass. He stayed for thirty years in his hometown of Venice, Italy and worked at the Opera Buffa, at the Chapel of San Marco and at the Grand Opera in Vicenza. By that time he had become notable throughout Europe and had turned down several opportunities, including offers from the Tsar of Russia. In 1794, he… read more about Dragonetti Bass concerto »
Dear musicians, I am looking for all strings, horns, trumpet, trombone, and tuba players for the annual DUWS Viennese Ball. The Duke Wind Symphony is hosting its annual VIENNESE BALL on Saturday, February 10, 2018. We are looking for musicians (especially string players) to play traditional Austrian Waltzes with a full orchestra. Are you interested? - please respond to this email (verena.m@duke.edu) to confirm your participation: … read more about Musicians needed for the Viennese Ball 2018 »
Strings to follow Candide is an operetta with music composed by Leonard Bernstein, based on the 1759 novella of the same name by Voltaire.[1] The operetta was first performed in 1956 with a libretto by Lillian Hellman; but since 1974 it has been generally performed with a book by Hugh Wheeler which is more faithful to Voltaire's novel. The primary lyricist was the poet Richard Wilbur. Read more about Candide here… read more about Overture to Candide, by Leonard Bernstein »
Violin Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 22, by the Polish violin virtuoso, Henryk Wieniawski, may have been started in 1856, but the first performance did not take place until November 27, 1862, when he played it in St. Petersburg with Anton Rubinstein conducting. It was published in 1879, inscribed to his dear friend Pablo de Sarasate. The work is in three movements: Allegro moderato in D minor/F major Romance: Andante non… read more about Wieniawski Concerto No 2, Opus 22 »
The Concerti Grossi, Op. 6, or Twelve Grand Concertos, HWV 319–330, are 12 concerti grossi by George Frideric Handel for a concertino trio of two violins and violoncello and a ripieno four-part string orchestra with harpsichord continuo. First published by subscription in London by John Walsh in 1739, in the second edition of 1741 they became Handel's Opus 6. Taking the older concerto da chiesa and concerto da camera of… read more about Handel Concerto Grosso Op. 6, No. 6 HWV324 »
Watch "60 Minutes" about Alma Deutscher NOVEMBER 5, 2017, 8:10 PM| Alma Deutscher was playing piano and violin by the time she was 3 years old and wrote her first opera at 10. For her, making music seems as natural as breathing. Scott Pelley reports. Watch the full report Hilary Hahn Commits to Practicing for 100 Days in a Row—with Unexpected Results -Stringmagazine, By Megan Westberg Even professional violinists have to practice. It’s a consistent, integral thread in their lives that ties them firmly… read more about Violins in the News »
Hello Youth Symphony Musicians and Families, This is our concert weekend! We will be rehearsing this Saturday, November 11th. All musicians please arrive at 10:00 am, so you have enough time to unpack and tune. Our Saturday rehearsal time is as always 10:15 am-12:15 pmin Bone Hall. Our… read more about November Concert Weekend Info »
Our next rehearsal will be this Saturday, October 28th. Ms Shelley Livingston is out of town and we are very fortunate to have Professor Tõnu Kalam fill in for her at this weeks rehearsal. Prof. Kalam was born of Estonian parents and has lived in the United States since the age of two. Trained as a conductor, pianist and composer, he studied with conductor Max Rudolf and composers Leon Kirchner and Andrew Imbrie. His summer credits include fellowships at Tanglewood and Aspen as well as many years at the Marlboro Music… read more about October 28th Rehearsal conducted by Tõnu Kalam »
Sunday, November 12 Dress Rehearsal: 1.45 pm - 3:00 pm at Baldwin Auditorium Concert Call Time: 5:10 pm - 5:45 pm All strings orchestra students arrive at 5:10pm to get placed to run Orange Blossom Special All other YS players please arive at 6.00 pm Concert start @ 6:30 pm, at Baldwin Auditorium, Reception following All symphony members should be present for the full dress rehearsals. Youth Symphony Concert Dress Code All black… read more about Fall Semester Concert Information - 50th Anniversary Celebration Weekend! »
Youth Symphony Sectionals - Saturday, Sept 30th The sectionals will take place during our regular rehearsal time, so please come to rehearsal at 10.00 am. Sectional Time: 11:00 am - 12:15 pm We are excited to have wonderful sectional coaches: Violin 1: with Shelley Livingston, Room 104 Violin 2: with Ian Livingston, Room 041 Viola: with Sara Moore, Room 069 Cello & Bass: with Dr. Cody Rex, Room 086 WW & Brass:… read more about Sectionals Info for September 30th »
The application for the Concerto Competition is due on Sept. 30th. All Youth Symphony students are eligible, that includes all Strings, Winds, Brass and Percussion. The 2017 Duke University String School Concerto Competition will take place on October 28th starting at 1:00 pm in the Nelson Music Room on Duke's East Campus. If you are interested You can read more about the Concerto Competition and apply read more about Concerto Competition 2017 Dates »