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Saturday Morning Car Tunes: The Vibraphone
The spotlight is on the jazzy and haunting sound of the vibraphone.
Saturday Morning Car Tunes: The Marimba
A look at the marimba - now a mainstay of the orchestra's percussion section, as well as a solo instrument
Saturday Morning Car Tunes: The Timpani
A look at the timpani, or kettle drum, mainstay of the percussion section!
Saturday Morning Car Tunes: The Tambourine
The tambourine has a long tradition in and out of the concert hall!
Saturday Morning Car Tunes: The Snare Drum
A look at how the snare drum has made it from the battlefield to the concert hall
Saturday Morning Car Tunes: The Bells
Cultural Conversation in Dance and Rhythm
The 40th annual San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival showcases diverse dance traditions from around the world, with 22 companies performing over two weekends at the War Memorial Opera House.
The Snare Drum
The small but mighty instrument that cuts through all the noise to keep the orchestra moving!
Beethoven’s Quartet of ‘Thanksgiving’
Beethoven's String Quartet in A Minor, Op. 132, features a movement expressing gratitude for recovery from illness. It alternates between prayerful chorales and lively sections, reflecting his mortality.
The Story Behind “Appalachian Spring,” the Ballet
Explore the history of Appalachian Spring, a ballet commissioned by Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge, composed by Aaron Copland, and choreographed by Martha Graham.
The Mystery Behind Scriabin’s Mystic Chord
Explore the life of Russian composer Alexander Scriabin, his obsession with the occult, and his creation of the "mystic chord" used in his compositions.
Elgar’s “Enigma Variations”
Explore the intriguing history of Edward Elgar's Enigma Variations, composed in 1898-99. Discover how this piece, inspired by Elgar's friends and personal experiences, established his fame.
A Playlist to Celebrate All Things Fall
Explore the beauty of autumn through music with this curated list of compositions inspired by the season's warm colors, chilly weather, and melancholic mood.
Saturday Morning Car Tunes: Felix Mendelssohn, Pt. II
Symphonies, overtures, Songs Without Words, oratorios with words, and one of the greatest violin concertos ever written—tune in this week for Felix Mendelssohn, Part Two!
