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State
of the Arts takes a look at “magnificent obsession” in the arts in stories profiling the career of the
legendary choral conductor Joseph Flummerfelt, the
extravagant jewelry of hip hop culture, and the
world of accordion aficionados.
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wednesday, may 30, 2007 @ 11:30 pm
2005 New York Emmy Winner
 Preview
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conductor
of the year
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joseph
flummerfelt and leonard bernstein
at carnegie hall
circa late 1980s
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Joseph Flummerfelt’s choruses are hailed as the finest in the world. Musical America selected the celebrated musician as “Conductor of the Year” in 2004, an honor usually reserved for orchestral conductors. Flummerfelt retired in 2005 from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey after serving as its music director for 30 years. At Westminster, he prepared choruses for most of America’s finest orchestras, including the Philadelphia Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic, and for most of the great conductors of our time. Flummerfelt chose to celebrate his career with a performance of Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis. The performance took place on March 27, 2004 at the War Memorial in Trenton, New Jersey. State of the Arts reviews the career of one America’s most legendary choral conductors and follows him as he prepares and conducts Beethoven’s monumental choral masterpiece.
 Hear Leonard Bernstein and the Westminster Choir perform the last movement of Mahler’s Symphony #2.
Hear the Westminster Choir sing “Sicut Cervus” by Palestrina.
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bling
bling
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| pendant
necklace with revolving plaque and pendant
necklace with cross, possibly made in
china |
Whether it's a crown of gems and quivering beads worn by a Korean bride on her wedding day, a massive gold necklace made for the sultan of Zanzibar, a Newport socialite's art deco tiara, or the diamond studded gold tooth in a rap star's smile, human beings of all cultures like to adorn themselves with jewelry. And in most cases, the bigger and flashier, the better. Viewers of the 2004 blockbuster exhibition "Baubles, Bangles & Bling Bling: A World of Jewelry" at the Newark Museum were able to see more than 300 spectacular objects, from ancient Egyptian beaded necklaces to the aggressive "bling bling" worn by today's hip hop celebrities. State of the Arts explores how jewelry relates to life's rites of passage (courtship, marriage, and mourning); position and power (from king's scepter to the diamond encrusted Super Bowl Championship ring); and even spirituality and belief, like a collection of precious stones which are thought to ward off evil spirits. As Ulysses Grant Dietz, the Newark Museum's curator of decorative arts says, "Jewelry is meant for show; it's human plumage, designed to attract attention and impress the viewer."
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the
accordion files
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performers at the 2004 aams accordion
festival |
As a classical instrument, the accordion may well be the Rodney Dangerfield of the orchestra–more associated with "Lady of Spain" than Bach and Beethoven. But for more than 40 years, the leaders of Westmont Philharmonia Accordion Orchestra (and its farm team, the Acme Accordion School) have been making the case for the accordion as a serious instrument for serious musicians. And in 2004, they hosted the annual convention of the American Accordion Musicological Society–where accordionists of all stripes came together to celebrate their passion, whether it's tango, zydeco, klezmer, jazz, ethnic folk tunes, classical or yes, even polkas.
Hear Dee Langley and Frank Hodnicki play examples of three different polka styles:
"Hot Dog Polka" (Polish)
"Dutch Hop Polka" (German)
"Ukrainian Polka"
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