Are You Interested in Photography?

Run, don't walk, over to the Houston Symphony this weekend for a stunning production of Strauss' Alpensinfonie, accompanied by photos taken by photographer/cellist Tobias Melle.

The photos are projected on a giant screen over the orchestra and change with the various points of narrative in Strauss' music. Since the name of the piece is "The Alpine Symphony," you can infer the subject of the photo montage. Thanks to today's technology, all sorts of fade in/out effects are seamlessly used (though at one point during the dress rehearsal today, I experienced a little motion sickness- the panoramic shot that panned a little too fast).

Richard Strauss is one of the few composers that dealt almost exclusively in program music; that is to say, music that is composed specifically with a story in mind. In music this is not quite as obvious as it is in art, (think Soup Cans vs. splatters) but really most of the time with "Program Music" the themes and their subjects are pretty obvious. But hey, this is America, home of "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?" where apparently it PAYS to be obvious.

My small tangent of bitter dissatisfaction with the dumbing down of our country aside, in the case of this production, the photos really do add to the piece. Its like accessing visual umami (take THAT "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader!!"). It adds another dimension to the listening experience that actually in adding, creates something more than the sum of its parts. People who have experienced listening to great works of music while traveling through breathtaking scenery may know of what I speak.

While I have yet to find light waterproof speakers with sufficient decibel levels that I can attach to my hiking daypack, I have had moments like this while driving at top speed through the Arizona desert at night, blasting either Elgar's or Dvorak's Cello Concerto through the car stereo with the windows rolled down. And here's an eerie coincidence- we are ALSO, on the same program, playing Elgar's Cello Concerto with our Principal Cellist Brinton Averil Smith as the soloist. There won't be any accompanying scenery for the Elgar, you will have to use something called "your imagination" for that one. But never fear, the multi media show commences at the start of the second half, and you will be pulled along with us on the breathtaking journey.

I hope to see you there (though you won't see me, we will be in the dark) and welcome any descriptions of musical umami from you loyal readers! Where were you and what was playing when you had your transcendental experience? Inquiring minds want to know!