This week's FEATURED NEW MUSIC VIDEO brings us a "classic" - a piece we've probably heard a hundred times without realizing what genius there is in it. "As with almost all his other compositions, Leroy Anderson wrote The Typewriter (1950) for orchestra, completing the work on October 9, 1950. The Typewriter received its first performance when Anderson conducted the short piece (only a minute and forty-five seconds long) for a Decca Records recording session on September 8, 1953. Since then The Typewriter has been used as a theme for numerous radio programs and television shows, but the classic performance appeared in the 1963 film Who's Minding the Store?, where Jerry Lewis pantomimes playing the typewriter part in mid-air." [from PBS's "Once Upon a Sleighride: The Music and Life of Leroy Anderson"] ... ENJOY!

Composer Gary Kulesha is one of Canada’s most active and visible musicians. Although principally a composer, he's often seen in his other roles as pianist, conductor and teacher. His music has been commissioned, performed and recorded by musicians and ensembles across North America, as well as in Europe and Australia. Listen to him speak about music and the art of composing in a "NACO-cast" (National Arts Centre of Canada in Ontario) with Chris Millard - this week's PYTHEAS COMPOSER PORTRAIT. And hear a performance of his Symphony No. 3 (2007), featured as this week's PYTHEAS EARFUL.

A native of Turin, Italy, Ezio Bosso is a world-renowned double bass player, performing as guest soloist with orchestras around the world. He is also very busy writing music for theaters throughout Europe, film soundtracks for silent and feature length films (I'm Not Scared, 2003), operas, concert works and music for contemporary dance. His Symphony No. 1 for Cello and Orchestra (2008) is the basis for Rafael Bonachela's latest dance piece We Unfold (2009), our current DANSES PYTHEUSES.

And finally, relax and enjoy Leo Brouwer's lovely guitar piece un dia de noviembre (1963) - this week's FROM THE PYTHEAS ARCHIVES, performed by Peo Kindgren.

Explore, Listen and Enjoy!
Vinny Fuerst
Pytheas Center for Contemporary Music