Comments on: On Music: The Maestro Quiz

By: Harold

Harold — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 02:46:20 +0000

100% – this one was not too tough for me, I have been listening to classical orchestras for a long time. BTW, the lush strings and slow tempi of the Philadelphia Orchestra started with Ormandy, himself a string player. They had a different sound under Stokowski.

By: AmyB

AmyB — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 23:16:51 +0000

This was harder than I expected — I was tripped up by the New York Philharmonic, in part because Zubin Mehta was music director of the NYPhil for 13 years (1978-91), which is certainly long enough to shape an orchestra’s sound and have a lasting impact…

By: n2y2

n2y2 — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 17:47:23 +0000

As long as we are talking about the London Symphony Orchestra covering pop music, why not mention the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s dip into pop music: “Hooked on Classics”? It was the collection of well-recognized classical snippets played to a rock beat which acted as a segue between pieces. It was conducted by Louis Clark of Electric Light Orchestra fame.

I cannot confirm it, but I was told that “Hooked on Classics” was born when Princess Diana told Charles that the RPO was boring. The whole thing was created to appease her.

At the time, I thought that it was high art (I was 10). Now I marvel that the RPO produced such kitsch.

By: Roger

Roger — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 13:15:22 +0000

There was a cool story on All Things Considered yesterday evening ~ mainly about a scientific study of individuals with ‘perfect pitch.’ An interesting bit of trivia, though — orchestras of different nationalities also have a different overall sound because the tuning note — in America, for instance, A at 440 hertz — can differ. In short, there is a range for A. The Berlin Philharmonic, the story reports, tune to A at 446 hertz; some classical orchestras tune to an A as low as 415 hertz. It was really interesting, but it’s one of those stories that is better listened to. There’s an audio link (and the transcript where I got these factoids!) at

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14005779

By: Dusty

Dusty — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 12:52:06 +0000

20% Yikes!

Unfortunately, I am one of those who when I listen to classical music I rarely pay attention to the orchestra or the conductor. I blame it on the DJs who talk in that hushed mellow tone that kind of lulls you into a meditative state.