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Category Archives: 2010-2011 season
Thoughts from Larry Baird, Three Dog Night Orchestrator and Conductor
This week, we are excited to host legendary rock band Three Dog Night. They will join the Houston Symphony at Jones Hall on Friday the 13th. We asked Larry Baird, orchestrator and conductor for Three Dog Night’s orchestral performances, to share his thoughts about working with a band whose influence has spanned four decades.
My involvement with Three Dog Night came about in 1998 when I was honored to be asked to write an orchestra show for them. I was excited to do so and thought that it would be a natural for them to perform with an orchestra. Their music has proven to be timeless because of their material and their amazing performance. Everyone knows the vocals are outstanding, but their musicianship is also of the highest quality. I felt from the very beginning that this couldn’t be anything more than a show filled with hit after hit after hit.
Thoughts on Working with Three Dog Night
By: Larry Baird
Larry Baird, conductor
I dove into this project with great zeal and anticipation, and a desire to create an experience that would expand the size and presence of Three Dog Night from a six piece band into a large ensemble of 50-60 pieces or more. It was exhilarating and inspiring to work on creating that possibility.
Their well constructed songs offered so much variety that ideas for arranging and orchestrating them came with ease. They gave me the freedom to ‘have at it’ and see what comes. I always enjoy having input from the artists. Of course, I want them to be happy and satisfied with what I write. They were agreeable to my suggestion of writing an Overture for their show which I feel sets up the live performance of the band taking the stage. There is also a cameo opportunity for the orchestra on the song ‘One’ which has a somewhat delicate prelude before Cory begins to sing.
The music of Three Dog Night covers a wide range of genres, but ‘One’ is nestled in the R ‘n’ B tradition. This allows for the use of the orchestra’s ‘five piece horn section’, ala Memphis Horns, Tower of Power, Muscle Shoals, Motown Horns etc.,. These players in the orchestra have the opportunity and necessity to be able to play both sides of the track so to speak. Their parts call for a very ‘legit’ style of performance, and also the aforementioned rhythm and blues style – which to me, sounds like fun.
I think you’ll find that bringing together the musicians from what are generally two different musical avenues, creates a new and dynamically unique experience. Enjoy!
For more information on the Three Dog Night concert on July 13, CLICK HERE!
Preview the concert here:
Posted in 2010-2011 season, 2012-2013 season
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Pianist Xiayin Wang’s Pre Concert Rituals
This weekend kicks off several weeks of free concerts that will run throughout the month of June. Our concerts this weekend are both at Miller Outdoor Theatre, and Saturday evening’s concert will feature soloist Xiayin Wang, performing the Piano Concerto in G major by Ravel. Saturday’s concert offers a little something extra- it is a Tweetcert! What is a Tweetcert, you ask? Tweetcert is an interactive musical event where the audience has the opportunity to read maestro Robert Franz’s mind! As the musicians play, audience members are invited to follow @HouSymphony on Twitter and regularly refresh their Twitter feeds on their smart phones to read minute-by-minute program notes from the conductor.
It is such a thrill to be here in Houston to play my very first outdoor concert with the amazing Houston Symphony Orchestra under the baton of maestro Robert Franz. And together we will be playing one of my favorite concertos, the Ravel in G major! Just like the weather here, this piece is full of passion and fire, it will be a wonderful evening on Saturday night. I was recently asked about my pre concert rituals. I travel a lot, and I always look for good food everywhere I go. I’m always sure to get my Chinese food fix everyday. Going to the gym every two days is also a priority, but resting and eating well is more important before a concert. I usually eat a nice big meal the night before a concert- sometimes a steak will give me a energy boost! On the day of the concert, getting a good nap is almost a guarantee of a fun and enjoyable performance. Not a long nap but a good one. After practicing, food is my next priority, but the day of a concert I won’t eat anything heavy that would give the stomach heavy to digest. This way, my mind is fresh and clear for the concert.
Pre Concert Rituals
By: soloist Xiayin Wang
Xiayin Wang
I am very excited about the concert and hope I can give you a fun and memorable evening!!!!
For more information on this month’s free concerts: ExxonMobil Summer Symphony Nights at Miller Outdoor Theatre and Sounds Like Fun! Community Concert Series
Posted in 2010-2011 season
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