MUSEUM OF TELEVISION & RADIO EXHIBITION SERIES, THE:
THE NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC: A RADIO AND TELEVISION
TRADITION: BACKSTAGE WITH THE NEW YORK
PHILHARMONIC
Summary
Prepared for The Museum of Television & Radio exhibition "The New York Philharmonic: A Radio and Television Tradition," this compilation includes the programs "See It Now: Anatomy of a Symphony Orchestra" (1954) and the first two parts of "Camera Three: Boulez x 3" (1975), as well as an interview with Walter Rosenberger, former principal percussionist with the Philharmonic, who talks about these programs and about working with conductors Dimitri Mitropoulos and Pierre Boulez. In "See It Now: Anatomy of a Symphony Orchestra," Edward R. Murrow profiles the New York Philharmonic and interviews Mitropoulos. Topics covered include Mitropoulos's conducting techniques and the selection that the orchestra will perform for an upcoming Sunday afternoon radio broadcast, Manuel de Falla's "Homenajes." Included is footage from a six-hour rehearsal of the piece, with backstage shots of the musicians, and the performance of the first and last movements of "Homenajes" three days later (introduced by Jim Fassett). In "Camera Three: Boulez x 3," host Faubian Bowers examines contemporary music by interspersing clips of an interview with Philharmonic music director Pierre Boulez and Philharmonic administrators Amyas Ames, David Keiser, and Carlos Moseley with performance footage of Boulez conducting. In part one, "Management and Contemporary Music," Bowers interviews Boulez and discusses his innovations in contemporary music. Bowers also gives a brief biography of the composer Edgar Varese (1883-1965) and discusses his work "Offrandes" ("Offerings"). In an excerpt from a 1971 "Camera Three" program, the work is performed by Boulez, the CBS Chamber Orchestra, and mezzo-soprano Jan DeGaetani. Bowers concludes with a brief profile of the composer Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951) and a discussion of his "Ode to Napoleon," based on Byron's poem, written for string quartet, piano, and voice. A clip is shown of Boulez conducting members of the New York Philharmonic and guest baritone Richard Frisch in a performance of the piece. Part two, "Musicians and Contemporary Music," focuses on the role of the musician in an orchestra and features a panel discussion with Boulez and six members of The New York Philharmonic who share their thoughts about contemporary music and new musical techniques. Panelists are percussionist Walter Rosenberger, concert master Eliot Chapo, clarinetist Stanley Drucker, violist Ralph Mendelson, trumpeter Gerard Schwarz, and double bassist Orin O'Brien. Interspersed with the discussion are performances of the percussion piece "Ionisation" by Edgar Varese (with Rosenberger), and the second half of the Cello Concerto by Peter Lieberson (b.1946) featuring cellist Paul Tobias, both of which are preceded by Bowers' brief introductory comments about the composers.
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: November 30, 1992
- RUNNING TIME: 1:34:30
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:26483
- GENRE: Music
- SUBJECT HEADING: Biography; Composers; Concertos (cello); Conductors (music); Music - Analysis, appreciation; Orchestral music; Percussion music; Vocal music
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Walter Rosenberger … Guest
- For "See It Now":
- Edward R. Murrow … Producer, Editor , Reporter
- Fred W. Friendly … Producer, Editor
- Palmer Williams … Director
- Edmund Scott … Director
- Dimitri Mitropoulos … Conductor, Guest
- New York Philharmonic, The … Symphony Orchestra
- Manuel de Falla … Composer
- James Fassett … Announcer
- For "Management and Contemporary Music":
- Merrill Brockway … Producer, Director
- Pierre Boulez … Conductor, Special Guest
- Faubion Bowers … Host
- Amyas Ames … Guest
- David Keiser … Guest
- Carlos Moseley … Guest
- CBS Chamber Orchestra … Music Group
- New York Philharmonic, The … Symphony Orchestra
- Jan DeGaetani … Singer, Mezzo-soprano
- Richard Frisch … Singer, Baritone
- Edgar Varese … Composer
- Arnold Schoenberg … Composer
- For "Musicians and Contemporary Music":
- Merrill Brockway … Producer, Director
- Pierre Boulez … Conductor, Special Guest
- Faubion Bowers … Host
- Walter E. Rosenberger … Guest
- Eliot Chapo … Guest
- Stanley Drucker … Guest
- Ralph Mendelson … Guest
- Gerard Schwarz … Guest
- Orin O'Brien … Guest
- Paul Tobias … Instrumentalist, Cellist
- Edgar Varese … Composer
- Peter Lieberson … Composer