X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X has a score by veteran African-American composer Anthony Davis; scenario by his brother, actor-director and market research executive Christopher Davis; and libretto by their cousin, writer and professor Thulani Davis. Zachary Woolfe talks to the three of them. - The New York Times
Ara Guzelimian, who grew up in Los Angeles and now leads the Ojai Music Festival nearby, described California’s classical music culture as “the lingering positive presence of the pioneers heading West and looking to escape a kind of conformity.” - The New York Times
That triggered a subversive thought: why can’t all solo recitals be like this? Why won’t Carnegie Hall enhance its pianists with works of Pissaro or Picasso from the Metropolitan Museum? And why can’t we have live video close-ups of hands, face, hairstyle and legs in the recapitulation section of every over-long sonata? - The Critic
The 100-plus participating organizations, some large and wealthy, others neither, include professional orchestras, choruses, opera companies, youth orchestras, and educational institutions. - San Francisco Classical Voice
After all, Bach knew nothing of Halloween, and to him the organ was an instrument for church worship. (Never mind the fact that some musicologists don't think it was Bach who wrote the piece.) No, the spooky associations of the music come straight from Hollywood. - The Conversation
"Scientific research has begun to explore why music appears to have such a strong effect on health and wellness, particularly mental health, where sounds can serve as a conduit to lift someone’s mood, help them reflect and reduce stress, anxiety and depression." - The New York Times
At a time when many classical music and other traditional arts organizations are facing major challenges, a young conductor in Louisville, Kentucky, is expanding the playbook. - PBS NewsHour
"In the age of digital streaming platforms, the act of discovering music ... has become streamlined and anonymized," says Lindsay Zoladz. "I wanted to put some of the spontaneity and human connection back into that experience." - Nieman Lab
It's been 50 years since Peruvian singer Lucha Reyes - who's now often compared to Piaf - died. But technology, and devoted fans, has her name on everyone's lips. - The Observer (UK)
Though her movie fell to second at the box office, Swift still set a record over the weekend, as fans streamed her re-recorded 1989 like none before in Spotify's 15-year history. - Los Angeles Times
The state's cultural centers have "long encouraged new music, providing freedom and a sense of possibility that has made it the center of gravity for composers who work with a spirit of innovation." - The New York Times
"The Baltimore Choral Arts Society sings Amadou Diallo’s last words slowly and softly, as if they were a prayer or an invocation of a blessing." - Baltimore Sun
Presumably, Spotify will frame this as a way to combat fraud and to limit payments to ambient-noise generators, but it could also have a tremendous effect on the service’s role within the independent music world. - Stereogram
The plays have many passages marked as songs, but no indication of what the melodies were or who composed them. Identifying that music requires a lot of detective work, and scholar Ross Duffin has found art songs by composers such as Thomas Morley and popular ballads. - The New York Times
