UMS Arts Roundup: December 3
Many members of the UMS staff keep a watchful eye on local and national media for news about artists on our season, pressing arts issues, and more. Each week, we pull together a list of interesting stories and share them with you. Welcome to UMS’s Arts Round-up, a weekly collection of arts news, including national issues, artist updates, local shout-outs, and a link or two just for fun. If you come across something interesting in your own reading, please feel free to share!
Arts Issues
- Update on DSO strike, two more weeks of concerts canceled.
Artist Updates
- Kennedy Center Honors highlights.
- Grammy nominees announced here include several UMS presented artists such as Wynton Marsalis, Laurie Andersen, Rosanne Cash and The Carolina Chocolate Drops, just to name a few!
- Louis Andriessen wins Grawemeyer Award.
UMS News
- AnnArbor.com review of the Carolina Chocolate Drops in the Michigan Theater.
- AnnArbor.com review of our 132nd Messiah in Hill Auditorium.
Local Shout-Outs
- Acclaimed composer and University of Michigan faculty member Michael Daugherty has been nominated for a Grammy Award. Congrats Michael!
Just For Fun
- How much would you pay for the King of Pop’s glove? How about a scan of Einsteins brain? Find out here just how much these and other items just went for.
UMS’s Arts Roundup: October 1
Many members of the UMS staff keep a watchful eye on local and national media for news about artists on our season, pressing arts issues, and more. Each week, we pull together a list of interesting stories and share them with you. Welcome to UMS’s Arts Round-up, a weekly collection of arts news, including national issues, artist updates, local shout-outs, and a link or two just for fun. If you come across something interesting in your own reading, please feel free to share!
ARTS ISSUES
- The orchestral world continues to change as Zarin Mehta steps down as President of the NY Philharmonic.
- And so does the opera world — Placido Domingo is also reducing his commitments.
- But James Levine is finally back after months of health issues that curtailed his ability to conduct.
- Arts jobs count too–NEA chief advocates the legitimacy and worth of creative jobs in the arts during hard economic times.
- Is opera worth the expense? Alex Ross voices his opinion regarding the Met’s $16 million Wagner opera cycle.
ARTIST UPDATES
- Stephen Sondheim at 80: An interview with the man who revolutionized the world of musical theater.
- Dancer/choreographer Trisha Brown featured at the Whitney Museum of American Art in program of her seminal works.
UMS NEWS
- Rosanne Cash brings superb voice and new depth to classic and new country tunes alike during her performance of “The List” at Hill Auditorium on Saturday night [review].
- Jordi Savall brings music of Spain and Mexico to St. Francis Church [review].
LOCAL SHOUT-OUTS
- Play the piano? Always wanted to try? Now’s your chance! Pull up a seat and try out any of the seven Pianos ‘Round Town, located on the sidewalks of Depot Town and Downtown Ypsilanti.
- And you can play your own melody for UMS — at intermission of the Mariinsky Orchestra and Takacs Quartet concerts (Oct. 10 and Oct. 14 respectively).
- A potential sign of hope emerges for struggling arts institutions in Michigan with the Detroit Institute of Arts likely to get $10M from the state.
JUST FOR FUN
- Once again, the hills will be alive with the sound of music, as Oprah reunites the original Sound of Music cast members.
- Dancers morph into human sculptures around Manhattan as part of the Bodies in Urban Spaces project.
Recap: The Local “Lists” Show
Last Thursday (September 23), UMS and Ann Arbor singer-songwriter Chris Bathgate hosted The Local “Lists” Show. Local and regional musicians were charged with creating their own personal lists of essential songs everyone should know—a task inspired by Rosanne Cash’s “The List” recording and concert. Each artist performed a few tunes off their list live for an audience of about 100 at Ann Arbor’s Yellow Barn.
The night’s performances included Chris Bathgate, Chris Buhalis, Nathan K, Misty Lyn, Matt Jones, Small Houses, Jim Roll, Timothy Monger, Jen Sygit, and Josh Davis of Steppin In It.
Before we get to the lists, I wanted to take a quick moment to let folks know about some other fun and related (and free!) programming we have in the works. This season, you’ll probably notice that UMS is presenting a number of concerts arising out of a variety of American Roots Music traditions. To get folks excited, we’ve developed a four-part series we’re calling American Roots/American Routes 101—all take place at 7pm in the Cobblestone Farm Barn located at 2781 Packard Road (haven’t you always wanted to see what it looks like on the inside?).
The first of these was on September 20—Jim “DJ Tex” Manheim, host of WCBN’s Down Home Show and Bill Monroe for Breakfast, led a really great session on Country Music in advance of Rosanne Cash’s concert.
Next up on November 30, we’ll be taking a look at the String Band tradition and its roots in the Piedmont Region to get ready for the Carolina Chocolate Drops concert on December 3. Leading this is Bruce Conforth, a professor in the University of Michigan Program in American Culture (and the first curator of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum!). Also making guest appearances are Josh Davis of Steppin In It (and the Local List Concert!) and Anne Crawford from Orpheum Bell. Come prepared to have fun…and maybe make a little music of your own.
And now onto those lists:
Chris Bathgate:
Bottom of the World – Tom Waits
Transcendental Blues – Steve Earle
The Last Fair Deal Gone Down – Robert Johnson
I Have A New Friend – Ben and Bruno
Wild Mountain Thyme – William McPeake
Chelsea Hotel No.2 – Leonard Cohen
Somewhere Between MT and MI – Michael Beauchamp
Playing Dead – Breathe Owl Breathe
Like a Rolling Stone – Bob Dylan
Chris Buhalis:
This Land is Your Land – Woody Guthrie
To Live is to Fly – Townes Van Zandt
My Girl – Smokey Robinson and Ronald White
Thunder Road – Bruce Springsteen
Hands on the Wheel – William Callery
Chimes of Freedom – Bob Dylan
Just to Hold You – Ray Wylie Hubbard
Ballad of Spider John – Willis Alan Ramsey
Manistee River Waltz – Jay Stielstra
Save the Last Dance for Me – Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman
Nathan K
Tom Paxton – Can’t Help But Wonder Where I’m Bound
Grateful Dead – Box of Rain
Paul Simon – American Tune
Bob Dylan – Visions of Johanna
Peter Case- The Open Road Song
The Beatles – A Day in the Life
The Magnetic Fields – The Book of Love
A Change is Gonna Come – Sam Cooke
Jesus Christ – Woody Guthrie
1979 – Smashing Pumpkins
Misty Lyn:
Why Don’t You Stay Home – Nina Nastasia
Sunday Morning Coming Down – Kris Kristofferson
Everything Is Free – Gillian Welch
Cupcakes for the Army – Hezekiah Jones
Oh, My Sweet Carolina – Ryan Adams
Youngstown – Bruce Springsteen
Unevens and Evens Alike – Matt Jones
In An Aeroplane Over the Sea – Jeff Magnum (Neutral Milk Hotel)
Sodom, South Georgia – Sam Beam (Iron+ Wine)
King’s Highway – Joe Henry
Matt Jones:
Do What’s Easy – Chris Bathgate
The Snow Song – Misty Lyn and the Big Beautiful
The Meddler – TheHigh Strung
Heydays – Great Lakes Myth Society
Hey – Delta 88
What is and What for – Mirror Twin
The Great Rivers – These United States
Mosquitos – Descent of the Holy Ghost Church
Cannonball – Hezekiah Jones
Gasoline – Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent
Small Houses:
Pretty Fair Damsel – Sam Amidon
Oh Comely – Neutral Milk Hotel
Pink Moon – Nick Drake
I Dream a Highway – Gillian Welch
I Do it For Your Love – Paul Simon
Faithful Shooter – Richard Buckner
At Least That’s What You Said – Wilco
A Pack of Light Blue Birds – Ben and Bruno
Despite Our Style – Beilby’s Ball
Mountain Bed – Woody Gutherie, Billy Bragg, Wilco
Jim Roll:
Holland 1945 – Neutral Milk Hotel
Like a Rolling Stone – Bob Dylan
Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen
Baba O’Riley – The Who
Sweet Jane – Velvet Underground
Jole Blon – Dewey Balfa
Let it Be – The Beatles
Wall of Death – Richard and Linda Thompson
Rocks Off – The Rolling Stones
Wouldn’t It Be Nice – Beach Boys
Timothy Monger:
Don’t Fence Me In – Roy Rogers (Cole Porter / Robert Fletcher)
Will You Love Me Tomorrow – The Shirelles (Carole King / Gerry Goffin)
How High the Moon – Les Paul & Mary Ford (Morgan Lewis / Nancy Hamilton)
Living Without You – Randy Newman
Good Old Desk – Harry Nilsson
If I Should Fall From Grace With God – The Pogues (Shane MacGowan)
Don’t Worry Baby – The Beach Boys (Brian Wilson / Roger Christian)
Amelia – Joni Mitchell
The Parting Glass – (Traditional)
Ooh La La – The Faces (Ronnie Lane / Ron Wood)
Jen Sygit:
Passing Through – Mark Erelli
The Times They are a Changing – Bob Dylan
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down – Robbie Robertson
Nebraska – Bruce Springsteen
Ellis County – Buddy Miller
A Day in the Life – John Lennon and Paul McCartney
A Song – Gillian Welch
The Poet Game – Greg Brown
Home to me – Tom Paxton
Pigs, Sheep and Wolves – Paul Simon
Faces (Ronnie Lane / Ron Wood)
Joshua Davis:
Change is Gonna Come – Sam Cooke
Blood of Eden – Peter Gabriel
Rex’s blues – Townes Van Zandt
Somewhere Over the Rainbow – Harold Arlen
America – Paul Simon
Dark was the night – Blind Willie Johnson
Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen
That feel – Tom Waits
My Back Pages – Bob Dylan
All You Need is Love – John Lennon
UMS Arts Roundup: September 24, 2010
Many members of the UMS staff keep a watchful eye on local and national media for news about artists on our season, pressing arts issues, and more. Each week, we pull together a list of interesting stories and share them with you. Welcome to UMS’s Arts Round-up, a weekly collection of arts news, including national issues, artist updates, local shout-outs, and a link or two just for fun. If you come across something interesting in your own reading, please feel free to share!
Arts Issues
- New innovation in orchestral organization may be on the horizon – a look at how restructuring could open up new possibilities for management and musicians alike.
- The Guggenheim expansion to Abu Dhabi brings human rights concerns to the forefront.
Artist Updates
- A look at the challenges that arise in preserving Merce Cunningham’s impeccable dance legacy beyond The Legacy Tour, coming to the Power Center stage in February.
- Cecilia Bartoli adds “artistic director” to her bag of tricks.
UMS News
- Do you have tickets to the Rosanne Cash concert? Consider picking up her book, too – Composed: A Memoir
- Laurie Anderson’s Delusion opened the BAM Next Wave Festival this week: reviews from The New York Times and the Village Voice.
Local Shout-Outs
- The DIA uses geocaching to engage the community in exploring the metro Detroit area and draw attention to the Inside|Out project.
Just For Fun
- Would you ever watch an opera in the Big House? In Washington D.C., they’re not too far off…“Play Ballo!”
- In Sweden, a robotic swan created by Mälardalen University dances to Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake.
- Shocked by Lady Gaga’s meat-dress at the Video Music Awards? Believe it or not, she’s not the first to dress carnivorously. Check out the art history behind her meaty wardrobe.
Rosanne Cash – What’s on your List?
I’m not the biggest country fan in the world, but when I learned of Rosanne Cash’s upcoming UMS concert, The List, I was set on attending. When Rosanne Cash was 18 her father gave her a list entitled “100 Essential Country Songs.” This list of essential songs is the inspiration for Rosanne’s UMS performance. Even if you aren’t well acquainted with the music performed this Saturday, this concert is sure to be revealing. Rosanne Cash will perform songs that showcase the weight music holds in shaping a person’s identity, or in her case, her identity as an artist.
I’m always amazed at music’s ability to evoke memories and their associated emotions, like how I’m transported to the warm, simplistic summers of my childhood whenever I listen to Motown, or how I tear up with sympathy at every listening of “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.” I marvel at how we parallel our own experiences to themes expressed through music and are comforted by these associations. I love that these songs, their stories, remain embedded in my identity, accompanying me forever like a personal soundtrack of my life.
I can’t wait to see which songs Rosanne will choose to share with us on Saturday during The List. Her selections will certainly be memorable, partly as a tribute to her musical roots and partly as a narrative to her own unique history. I look forward to a glimpse of the world through her lyrical inspirations and perspective.
Inspired by The List performance, we at UMS want to know what’s on your list. I hope you will share your “essentials” with us! Don’t forget to include why these songs/pieces of music have made it on your list — feel free to include them in the comments below or to tweet them using the hash tag #umslobby. Who knows, maybe I’ll add them to mine.
See you Saturday at the show!
P.S. Be sure to check out The Local “Lists” Show on Thursday, September 23, at 9 pm at the Yellow Barn, 416 W Huron St, Ann Arbor, for an evening of local musicians performing songs from their lists of essential and influential music, inspired by Rosanne Cash’s The List concert.
UMS’s Arts Round-up: August 13
Many members of the UMS staff keep a watchful eye on local and national media for news about artists on our season, pressing arts issues, and more. Each week, we pull together a list of interesting stories and share them with you. Welcome to UMS’s Arts Round-up, a weekly collection of arts news, including national issues, artist updates, local shout-outs, and a link or two just for fun. If you come across something interesting in your own reading, please feel free to share!
Arts Issues
- Just how do recording artists get paid? A look at the love/hate relationship with music copyright enforcers
- Cleveland music critic loses lawsuit against The Plain Dealer and Cleveland Symphony Orchestra
- Tales from the Fringe: A different kind of theater experience
Artist Updates
- Rosanne Cash’s memoir, Composed, was released this week
- More on Rosanne Cash, with a “Day in the Life” Profile by New York Magazine
Local Shout-Outs
- The Michigan Theater goes green with solar panel installation thanks to XSeed Energy Project
- Alleged Bansky graffiti piece excavated from Detroit’s Packard Plant up for auction on E-bay
Just For Fun
- Wondering what to do with those extra office supplies? Post-It Brand hosted the 30th annual Student Design Contest for the world’s largest artistic billboard made entirely of, you guessed it, Post-Its. Check out the winner!