Tag: cello

  • Rebecca Foon (Saltland, Esmerine) on Exploring the Ocean of Her Subconscious

    Rebecca Foon (Saltland, Esmerine) on Exploring the Ocean of Her Subconscious

    Welcome back to our interview series, Incorrect Music, curated by guitarist, singer, and composer Lora-Faye Åshuvud (of the band Arthur Moon). In this series, we present intimate conversations with artists who are striving to push the boundaries of their process and craft. Saltland is the solo cello and voice project of Montreal’s Rebecca Foon, who also plays in Esmerine, and…

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  • Hear 9 Inspiring String Quartet Arrangements Written by Soundfly Students

    Hear 9 Inspiring String Quartet Arrangements Written by Soundfly Students

    Last fall, we debuted the first-ever session of our course Orchestration for Strings that included personalized support for students from a Mainstage Mentor — a handpicked expert in his or her field who offered feedback on the student’s work. The course itself was a big success, garnering a 100% completion rate and a ton of validating feedback from our students,…

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  • Scales from the Crypt: 10 Freaky & Frightening Musical Instrument Mishaps

    Scales from the Crypt: 10 Freaky & Frightening Musical Instrument Mishaps

    It’s easy to romanticize the lives of famous musicians. From larger-than-life rock stars to groundbreaking pioneers of sound, and dazzling technical virtuosos, we look up to our musical heroes and strive to live and create the same way that they do. But no one is free from the potential disasters that lurk around every corner.…

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  • Why a Video of a Young Ukrainian Accordionist Went Viral

    Why a Video of a Young Ukrainian Accordionist Went Viral

    By Shinjoo Cho If you’ve spent any extended time scrolling social media this year, you’ve probably come across a video of Ukrainian musician Alexander Hrustevich playing “Summer” from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons (formally, the Violin Concerto in G Minor, Opus 8, No 2 “Summer”: III. Presto) on his bayan accordion. This footage of a spellbinding, virtuosic performance by a young…

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  • Breaking Down Radiohead’s Orchestration in “Burn the Witch”

    Breaking Down Radiohead’s Orchestration in “Burn the Witch”

    Radiohead’s new release “Burn the Witch” marks the end of a long period of silence from the band. It is a patient, driving piece with an engaging form that seamlessly incorporates orchestral string instruments into the music. Often when rock songs use strings, they feel like an extra topping daubed on at the end of…

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  • 10 Epic Collaborations Between Bands and Orchestras

    10 Epic Collaborations Between Bands and Orchestras

    We’re going through an orchestral-indie golden age right now. Here are 10 bands blurring the lines between classical, indie, hip-hop and pop to epic effect.

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  • The Weird and Creepy World of String Harmonics

    The Weird and Creepy World of String Harmonics

    Experimenting with string harmonics can lend an eerie, etherial sound to your compositions. Here’s how to get started.

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  • How to Run a Flawless Recording Session with Strings

    How to Run a Flawless Recording Session with Strings

    In order to create all the videos, resources and course assets for our popular Mainstage course, Orchestration for Strings, we worked closely with the incredible young composer, Ian Davis, who writes and arranges in the band, Landlady as well as his solo project Relatives, and has composed for such notable acts as My Brightest Diamond. Specifically for the course,…

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  • How to Travel with String Instruments

    How to Travel with String Instruments

    Summertime is upon us, and so is the glory of festival and touring season. If you are lucky enough to travel around to perform music at venues all over the country or world, chances are you’ll spend at least a little bit of time airborne en route to your next exotic destination. Many of us…

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  • Laura Moody: “I’m terrified… which is why I’m doing it”

    Laura Moody: “I’m terrified… which is why I’m doing it”

    Laura Moody is a wildly alternative cellist, singer, and performer based in London. As a member of the genre-defying string ensemble, the Elysian Quartet, and a performer for Hot Chip, The xx, Aphex Twin, and more, she has toured extensively, performing the works of both classical and contemporary music in the great halls of Europe…

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