Until NovemÂber 24, the RoyÂal ConÂcertÂgeÂbouw OrchesÂtra, based in the NetherÂlands, is offerÂing 10 symÂphonies as free downÂloads. You have to regÂisÂter, but once you do, you can downÂload high qualÂiÂty perÂforÂmances of Beethoven, Mahler, Brahms, and more. Hat tip to MetafilÂter for pointÂing this one out.
The 2008 MacArthurs were just announced. And one goes to Alex Ross, the New YorkÂer music critÂic who recentÂly pubÂlished The Rest is Noise, a wideÂly praised work that makes sense of 20th cenÂtuÂry clasÂsiÂcal music. Below we have Ross talkÂing about his musiÂcal backÂground, the New York music scene and the genÂerÂal gist of his book.
via Kottke.org
CourÂtesy of MetafilÂter:
“AOL SesÂsions has live videos from more than 150 difÂferÂent artists speÂcialÂly recordÂed for the series. Here are just a few of the artists on offer: Paul McCartÂney, BriÂan WilÂson, ModÂest Mouse, Tom PetÂty, Red Hot Chili PepÂpers, WeezÂer, Sarah McLachÂlan, BonÂnie Raitt, Iggy Pop, and more. To the left of the videos there’s a Q&A link that has short interÂview videos with the artists as well as behind the scenes footage and longer interÂviews.”
To the tune of the InspecÂtor GadÂget Theme. So far viewed 14.5 milÂlion times. PretÂty amazÂing. Take it away (and check out the musiÂcian’s CD here) …
Added to our YouTube playlist.
One of our British readÂers turned us on to this post by the Guardian, notÂing that they took a page from our genÂerÂal playÂbook. The post feaÂtures 50 of the best YouTube clips from across the arts, some of which we’ve feaÂtured here in the past. Among the videos, you’ll find vinÂtage perÂforÂmances by John Coltrane and BilÂlie HolÂiÂday, readÂings by Jack KerÂouac, an interÂview with Eugène Ionesco, clips of NirÂvana rehearsÂing in a garage, Vladimir Nabokov talkÂing about LoliÂta, JackÂson PolÂlock dripÂping paint outÂside his home, and MarÂlon BranÂdo doing a screen test for Rebel WithÂout a Cause. We have postÂed the BranÂdo clip below. There are some defÂiÂnite gems here. Now dive in. And don’t forÂget to work through our YouTube playlist and our piece 70 Signs of IntelÂliÂgent Life at YouTube, where you’ll find enrichÂing video colÂlecÂtions.
Thanks Stephen for the tip. And readÂers, keep the good recÂomÂmenÂdaÂtions comÂing!