If you thought YouTube was just for cheap audio/visual kicks, many of them along the lines of the people-falling-down, pets-going-nutty stuff that turns up on tacky home-video TV shows, think again. This week, an ambitious, very 21st-century project called the YouTube Symphony Orchestra was launched, creating an online community of aspiring musicians.
YouTube and parent company Google put together this cyber ensemble, which has no less than eminent conductor Michael Tilson Thomas as artistic director. Carnegie Hall, the London Symphony Orchestra and stellar pianist Lang Lang are also involved.
Professional and amateur musicians alike are invited to audition for the orchestra by downloading individual parts to a new work written by exceptional composer Tan Dun for the cyber orchestra. To help the player along, there are videos of the composer conducting his colorful, propulsive score, which is inflected with references to Beethoven.
Once prepared, the musician submits a video performance of the individual part. Eventually, a collaborative video of submitted entries will be turned into a kind of communal YouTube performance of the Tan Dun work.
But that's just step one in the project.
The next step involves auditions for a live orchestra that will perform at Carnegie Hall in April, conducted by Tilson Thomas. The player checks out a list of recommended audition pieces for each instrument, chooses what to play and submits a video performance via YouTube.
A panel will determine the best players for the New York concert. Those chosen will have their travel and lodging expenses taken care of; the promoters even promise to secure visas for winners outside the U.S.
It's easy to imagine musicians all over the world trying out for this. And it's easy to imagine future ventures by an online community of musicians of all technical levels, working on music together through increasingly innovative means. Above all, it's great to see YouTube going so classy.
Deadline for entries is Jan. 28. For the full rules, explanations, materials and the chance for a starry night on the stage of Carnegie Hall, go to you tube.com/symphony.
Peabody attractions
Local music lovers know that some of the most interesting and affordable programs can be found nearly every week at the Peabody Conservatory. Those watching their entertainment budgets carefully also know that Peabody events typically represent quite a bargain. I was reminded of all this while glancing at the early December concert calendar.
