September 23, 2024

The Cleveland Institute of Music is pushing back against faculty unionization, with Robert Vernon arguing that unions work for orchestras but aren't suited for the school's unique needs. His take: “We don’t need a union, we’ve got a Faculty Senate — what could go wrong?”

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In this week’s email:

• The big idea: Music to our (aging) ears
• Making news: Classically-trained artist Jeremy Dutcher wins historic second Polaris Prize
• Talking points: New York Philharmonic musicians reach new labour deal including 30% raise
• Laugh of the week

CLASSICAL CHARTZ

Weekly selections are based on sales numbers and albums we simply love and think you NEED to hear!

For the complete top 20, tune into Classical Chartz with the New Classical FM’s Mark Wigmore every Saturday from 3-5 pm EST!

THE BIG IDEA

Music to Our (Aging) Ears

It turns out that Johann Sebastian Bach’s 300-year-old masterpieces might do more than soothe the soul — they’re helping scientists understand how aging brains adapt to remember.

Turns out, Johann Sebastian Bach’s 300-year-old masterpieces might do more than just soothe the soul — they’re helping scientists understand how aging brains adapt to remember. A new study from Aarhus University and the University of Oxford scanned the brains of younger adults (18–25) and older adults (60+) as they listened to familiar Bach piano pieces, revealing fascinating insights into how our brains change with age.

Adapting to age

The study found that older adults can remember music just as well as their younger counterparts, but with a catch: their brains are working harder in certain areas. Specifically, sensory-related regions of the brain in older individuals become extra active to compensate for reduced responses from memory-related regions. Lead researcher Professor Leonardo Bonetti explains that while aging is often associated with cognitive decline, the brain also adapts, relying on alternative mechanisms to preserve function.

Interestingly, when presented with unfamiliar versions of the music, older adults showed reduced activity in the brain areas typically involved in memory processes, while sensory-related regions stayed just as active. This could explain why older people sometimes struggle with change or processing new information—their brains aren't as responsive to novel stimuli.

Preventing dementia?

The researchers hope these findings will eventually help identify biomarkers for dementia. By expanding the study to include participants with mild dementia, the team aims to predict how changes in brain functionality could indicate an increased risk of developing the condition. Music, particularly classical compositions with strong harmonies and clear structures like Bach’s, is seen as an ideal tool for studying brain function over time because it is intuitively memorable.

Not the first time music has helped

This isn't the first time researchers have used music to study brain function. Previous studies have shown that music can trigger powerful memories, aid in language learning, and even improve cognitive function in Alzheimer’s patients. Music therapy is already used to stimulate the brains of people with dementia, and this new research adds to the growing body of evidence that music has a profound effect on memory and brain health. — MV

TOUR DE HEADLINES

Jaeden Izik-Dzurko  (Photo: courtesy of artist)

B.C. Pianist Wins Big at Leeds International Piano Competition — Canadian pianist Jaeden Izik-Dzurko won the prestigious Leeds International Piano Competition, securing a top cash prize and an international tour, following his acclaimed performance of Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 2.  | CBC

Opera Is Having A Moment In Fashion And Pop Culture  —  Opera is experiencing a resurgence in fashion and pop culture, highlighted by the release of the Maria Callas biopic "Maria," opera-inspired fashion trends, and initiatives like Alvise Casellati's "Opera Italiana is in the Air" concert, which aims to make opera more accessible to new audiences. |  Forbes

‘Del Gesù’ Club Brings Together 17 Guarneri Violins  — The ‘Del Gesù’ Club, organized by violinist David Garrett, brought together 17 rare Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ violins and their owners for a two-day event in September 2024 near Berlin, allowing participants to play, examine, and share insights about these historic instruments.  | The Strad

Jane Fonda to Narrate Rufus Wainwright’s ‘Dream Requiem’ Premiere in Los Angeles — Jane Fonda will narrate the U.S. premiere of Rufus Wainwright's "Dream Requiem" on May 4, 2024, at Walt Disney Concert Hall, featuring soprano Liv Redpath and conducted by Grant Gershon with the Los Angeles Master Chorale. | OperaWire

MAKING NEWS

 Jeremy Dutcher (Photo: Wade Muir)

Classically-Trained Artist Jeremy Dutcher Wins Historic Second Polaris Prize

Jeremy Dutcher won Canada’s top music prize this week. The Indigenous tenor, composer, songwriter, and musicologist is the first artist in history to win the Polaris twice.

Driving the news: On September 17th, Jeremy Dutcher was awarded the Polaris Music Prize for his album Motewolonuwok at Massey Hall in Toronto. The Montreal-based singer-songwriter is a Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) member of the Tobique First Nation in New Brunswick. He also won the Polaris in 2018 for his first album Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa. Dutcher is the first artist to win the $50,000 CAD award twice. 

Playing catch-up: Jeremy Dutcher trained as an operatic tenor, and studied music and anthropology at Dalhousie University in Halifax. His first album incorporated 1907 recordings of traditional songs in Wolastoqey, while his second features a mixture of English and Wolastoqey original songs. Dutcher’s albums work to preserve the Wolastoqey language while fostering inclusivity, reclamation and reconciliation. He has recently collaborated and performed for Yo-Yo Ma, Beverly Glenn Copeland, and Joni Mitchell.

The Polaris Music Prize is selected by an 11-member jury from a shortlist of 10 albums. Previous winners include Feist, Arcade Fire, Buffy Saint-Marie, and Godspeed You! Black Emperor. Dutcher and his ensemble performed a medley of three songs from Motewolonuwok at the Polaris Gala that’s def worth a watch. — SS

TALKING POINTS

David Geffen Hall (Photo: Ajay Suresh/Wikipedia)

New York Philharmonic Musicians Reach New Labour Deal Including 30% Raise

This week, members of the New York Philharmonic agreed to a new labour deal, raising their base pay to $205,000 USD. They will now be among the highest paid orchestras in the United States. 

What’s happening: On September 19th, New York Philharmonic musicians reached a new labour deal. Members of the Philharmonic began their season by protesting for higher wages. The players had not had a raise since 2019, and were paid significantly less than musicians in orchestras including the Chicago Symphony, Boston Symphony, and Los Angeles Philharmonic. The orchestra has negotiated a 30% raise over the next three years, putting their base salary at $205,000 USD—amongst the highest for orchestral musicians in the US.

The backstory: Recent days have been challenging for the NYPhil. This season, a ground-breaking article in New York Magazine exposed the orchestra’s poor handling of a sexual assault case against associate principal trumpetist Matthew Muckey and principal oboist Liane Wang in 2010, leading to expensive law suits and criticism. In July, the orchestra’s new CEO Gary Ginstling suddenly resigned. 

The New York Philharmonic is the oldest orchestra in the United States. It has a $237 Million USD endowment and an annual budget of $90 Million USD. In 2026, Gustavo Dudamel will join the NYPhil as its new music director. Hopefully this new deal augurs winds of change for the legendary orchestra. — SS

GAMES

Nothing says Monday like a mini-crossword.

LAUGH OF THE WEEK

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Today's email was brought to you by Sara "Stataco" Schabas and Michael "Aging Ears" Vincent.

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