Modern Symphony

	Vivendi to Purchase BMG	News
	Vivendi announced that it has agreed to pay about $2.08 billion to acquire the Bertelsmann Music Group, making Vivendi the largest music publisher in the world. BMG's catalog includes artists such as Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey, Coldplay, Barry Manilow, Beach Boys, as well as the classical artists Ravel and Puccini. Doug Morris, Universal Chairman and CEO, pointed out that the acquisition would diversify the company's portfolio in classical and Christian music. >>>

7 September 2006

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	Panasonic Battery Recall	News
	Yesterday Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. announced the recall of 6,000 lithium-ion batteries used in Panasonic-brand notebook computers on concerns they might overheat. According to this report, the recalled batteries were not made by Sony Corp., and have nothing to do with huge recent recalls by Dell Inc. and Apple Computer Inc. >>>

6 September 2006

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	Scottish Opera Hits Sour Note!	News
	Founded in 1962 by Sir Alexander Gibson, the Scottish Opera is the largest performing arts organization in Scotland. Based in Glasgow, Scotland , they have committed to bring the widest range of opera to the maximum audience in Scotland and the United Kingdom. Their educational unit, "Scottish Opera For All", delivers socially inclusive outreach and educational productions for all to enjoy. >>>

6 September 2006

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	"The End" of Piracy in Russia	News
	New law aimed at digital piracy went into effect a few days ago in Russia. The new amendments make it illegal to share copyrighted material on the Internet. Until now, there was no law in Russia that protected copyright holders from piracy online. It is estimated that about 97 percent of music on the Russian Internet is sold illegally. >>>

6 September 2006

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	Apple Battery Recall	News
	Apple Computer is recalling 1.8 million batteries that use Sony's battery cell technology, which also was at the root of Dell's historic recall last week. The recall affects users of iBook G4 and PowerBook G4 laptop models sold between October 2003 and August 2006. Users are advised to remove the batteries immediately and store them in a safe place. Additional information can be found by calling 1-800-275-2273 or visiting an Apple Web page for the recall.

25 August 2006

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	The End of Guitar Sites?	News
	The president of the Music Publishers' Association Lauren Keiser, the man who wanted web sites carrying the lyrics to songs shut down with a "jail time" sentence, is now after sites with guitar tablatures. He says the sites reduce the earnings of songwriters. "In the last few months, trade groups representing music publishers have used the threat of copyright lawsuits to shut down guitar tablature sites, where users could exchange tips on how to play songs such as 'Knockin' on Heaven's Door', 'Highway to Hell' and thousands of others", says The New York Times >>>

23 August 2006

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	The American Modern Ensemble Plays Steven Stucky	Editor\'s Picks
	... at Tenri Cultural Center Why or how a composer reaches a plateau of professional esteem translating to awards, commissions and prestigious residencies during his lifetime remains, in the end, a mystery more elusive than the verdict of history. In truth, history has told us of composers who enjoyed great prestige during their lives only to be neglected by future generations; or of others who toiled in relative obscurity, earning canonization after their deaths. Why do some artists navigate skillfully through fame and fortune while others miss the mark in their own time? Is it that some commit to an expressive path against the thrust of a prevailing style? Or some others are based on locations without resources of marketing, connections, or funding? Is it perhaps that some know how to explain themselves to the public even before the music begins? In the end, even those composers unknown to the powers-that-be have at least a close circle of admirers who will champion their music for years to come. The reception of a work, intimate or global, coexists with it and has a meaning of its own. >>>

21 August 2006

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	Artemiy Artemiev	Music Pantry
	Artemiy Artemiev, born in Moscow in 1966, is one of Russias' most famous electronic composers. His works have been described in a myriad of ways, depending on the listener. Some describe his music as poetic. Others describe it as the work of a master, who evokes a naked emotion which strikes a balance both emotionally and mentally, an almost spiritual connection. Perhaps the greatest compliment of all however, is that his music grabs your attention in such a way that you are totally riveted and absorbed in the sound. >>>

19 August 2006

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	Movieland.com Sued by Washington State	News
	Life on the Internet gets more complicated every day. It seems like even legitimate companies are trying to install spyware on your computer nowadays; we all remember the Sony DRM rootkit fiasco. Movieland.com took it a step further offering a three-day "free trial" download for viewers wanting to test its software. According the to company's terms of service, unless you cancel the service during the three- day period, the company will bill you $29.95 a month. >>>

18 August 2006

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	An Interview with Frank J. Oteri	Music Pantry
	Q&A with a composer, writer, and editor of NewMusicBox. You mean there's more to classical music than just performers and dead composers? There sure is and if you take the time to look under some of the more fascinating rocks within the classical music environment, you'll eventually unearth something besides decaying Mozart manuscripts and another recording of Beethoven 7. Composer, writer, journalist, and new music advocate Frank J. Oteri is one of the more intriguing discoveries you can run across. He's followed a decidedly less traveled path that has led him to uncharted cultural territory. Although he's an active composer, he currently spends much of his time centered on his duties as editor for the American Music Center's web magazine, NewMusicBox. >>>

16 August 2006

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	DELL: Battery Recall	News
	The batteries, which were bundled with Dell notebooks and also sold as add-ons via the company's Web site and catalogs, can overheat and thus pose a fire risk, Dell said in a statement. The 35,000 recalled batteries were sold with several models of Latitude and Inspiron machines and Precision mobile workstations between Oct. 5, 2004, and Oct. 13, 2005. Dell customers should contact the company and have the battery's identification number available in order to determine whether it is subject to recall. More information at: https://www.dellbatteryprogram.com/Default.aspx

15 August 2006

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	I Should Pay for Hindemith?	Music Pantry
	... Or, Why I Canceled My Orchestra Subscription On April 19th, I called subscriber services at the Philadelphia Orchestra and cancelled my subscription renewal for the 2006-2007 season. If you’ve been reading my essays on this website, you can imagine that it wasn’t an easy decision. I’ve enjoyed almost all the Orchestra concerts I’ve attended this year; I was treated like a prince when I asked for adjustments to my seating last year (when I was a mere customer, not a critic); and in all my years in Philadelphia, I don’t think the Orchestra has ever sounded better. The graciousness of the woman I spoke to on the phone didn’t make my decision any easier. Nonetheless, I cancelled. Here’s why. >>>

14 August 2006

Views: 454 Read more