October 7, 2024

BBC and Rolex just launched Arts in Motion, a series of masterclasses airing on the BBC News Channel. It’s like MasterChef but for artists and stars Brian Cox and Yuja Wang mentoring young artists. Because nothing says ‘artistic struggle’ like a Rolex ticking in the background!

+++

In this week’s email:

The big idea: New study reveals how music impacts musicians' heartbeats
Making news: Unorthodox violinist and composer awarded MacArthur $800,000 fellowship
Talking points: 300-year-old cello stolen for a second time in home burglary
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

New Study Reveals How Music Impacts Musicians' Heartbeats

Can music really influence the heart? A ground-breaking study by Mateusz Soliński and his team delves deep into this question, unveiling how specific musical elements impact musicians’ beat-to-beat heart intervals, known as RR intervals. The study offers a fresh perspective by focusing on musicians, not just listeners, and how their autonomic nervous system responds during live performances.

A Heartbeat Behind the Music

Here’s how it worked: a trio of professional musicians — a violinist, a cellist, and a pianist — performed Schubert's Trio No. 2 while wearing wireless ECG sensors to track their heart rates. The researchers collected data over nine rehearsals, using detailed score annotations and musical feature extraction (like tempo, loudness, and note density) to predict variations in RR intervals. What makes this study unique is the use of an “Interpretation Map,” a tool that links these physiological changes to specific performance decisions, like when the music hits a climax or a particularly challenging moment arises.

Key Findings

R-squared values: The model explained 60.6% of the RR interval variability for the violinist, 49.4% for the cellist, and 54% for the pianist.
Climaxes & moments of concern: These performance peaks caused the most significant drops in RR intervals, signaling stress or physical exertion.
Loudness vs. tempo: Loudness had a stronger influence on heart rate than tempo for all musicians, highlighting its role in emotional and physical engagement.
Initial response: The first few moments of playing showed sharp physiological changes, suggesting that anticipation plays a key role in autonomic activation.

Bigger Implications

This model not only sheds light on the interplay between music and the autonomic nervous system but also opens doors for therapeutic applications. Understanding these heart-music connections could be useful for designing interventions, whether in medical settings or music training programs, to monitor and improve cardiovascular health through music. — MV

TOUR DE HEADLINES

Denise Stillwell (Photo: courtesy of artist)

Launched for Injured New York Violinist — Violinist Denise Stillwell, known for her performances on Broadway and at Radio City Music Hall, is recovering from two broken wrists after a serious car accident in Florida. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to assist with her medical expenses, surgeries, and recovery as she faces months out of work. | Violin Channel

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra experiments with creative experiences for next-gen audiences — The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) is experimenting with immersive concert experiences aimed at attracting younger, next-gen audiences through its CSO Proof series. These innovative events, blending elements of dance, theatre, lighting, and interactive environments, offer shorter, more dynamic performances and are designed to make classical music more accessible and engaging for new audiences. | Cincinnati Business Courier

A Mesmerizing New Opera About a Sonic Cult — Missy Mazzoli's opera The Listeners follows Claire Devon, a suburban teacher whose life unravels after hearing a mysterious hum only a small cult-like group can perceive. The opera, marked by Mazzoli’s haunting score, explores themes of anxiety and collective delusion, with Claire ultimately taking control of the group as her life spirals into chaos. | The New Yorker

Violinist Avsharian’s Unique Concert Mixes Music With Brainwave Education — Chenyi Avsharian’s "Boundless Horizon" concert at Zankel Hall combined classical violin works with a unique display of brainwave activity, using EEG imaging to show the brain's response to music. Her performance featured pieces by Ernst, Gershwin, and Piazzolla, paired with AI visuals, offering both musical and educational insights. | Philadelphia Enquirer

MAKING NEWS

Johnny Gandelsman (Photo courtesy of the artist)

Unorthodox Violinist and Composer Awarded MacArthur $800,000 Fellowship

On October 1st, violinist, composer, and producer Johnny Gandelsman was named a MacArthur Fellow. Gandelsman is one of 22 fellows awarded the prestigious grant this year.

What’s the buzz: This week, the MacArthur Foundation announced its Class of 2024 Fellows. Amongst an impressive list including poets, sociologists, filmmakers, biologists, activists, and astronomers, violinist Johnny Gandelsman was this year’s sole musician. Gandelsman is also a composer and producer known for “reimagining classical works and nurturing the creation of new music across styles and genres.” The grant includes an $800,000 USD fellowship.

A little bit more: Johnny Gandelsman was born in Moscow in 1978 to a family of musicians. He attended the Curtis Institute of Music and is a former member of Yo-Yo Ma’s Silkroad Ensemble (2002-2020). Gandelsman notably reenvisions classical music through non-Western and folk lenses. His recordings of Bach’s Cello Suites and Violin Sonatas and Partitas drew inspiration from folk bowings and fiddling techniques. He is now a member of the Brooklyn Rider string quartet, which programs Western canonical classical works alongside new compositions and non-Western voices.

Curious to hear Gandelsman’s unorthodox playing techniques? Check him out playing the Allemande from Bach’s sixth cello suite on a five-string violin. — SS

TALKING POINTS

Image via Ophélie Gaillard/Instagram

300-Year-Old Cello Stolen for a Second Time In Home Burglary

French cellist Ophélie Gaillard’s cello and bows were stolen in a home burglary last week. The almost 300-year-old instrument is valued at €1.3 Million Euros.

Driving the news: Last week, the French cellist Ophélie Gaillard announced on social media that her cello and two bows had been stolen in the middle of the night. The theft took place on September 25th while she and her family were asleep at home. Gaillard’s cello was made by Francesco Goffriller in 1737 and her bows in Paris in the 19th century. Both have been loaned to Gaillard by the CIC bank for the past twenty years. The thieves also made off with money and electronics, including an Ipad.

In case you missed it…: This is the second time Gaillard’s 1737 cello has been stolen. In Paris in 2018, she was threatened with a knife by a thief who made off with the cello. The instrument was returned to her by an anonymous Facebook user. The double theft has led some to believe Gaillard’s cello was targeted, and the gendarmerie have opened an inquiry. Those with leads can write to opheliecello@gmail.com. — SS

GAMES

Nothing says Monday like a mini-crossword .

LAUGH OF THE WEEK

How did you like today's email?

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

CONTACT US