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In Conversations with Joseph Flummerfelt: Thoughts on Conducting,
Music, and Musicians, Donald Nally presents a window into the mind
and heart of one of America's most celebrated and distinguished
choral conductors. Through questions from Nally, his former
student, Flummerfelt provides a captivating narrative tracing his
formative years and influences, his most important artistic
collaborations, and his approach to conducting and music. The
conversation further develops into a philosophical discussion on
cultural influences and obstacles in art, how one teaches
conducting, and the foundations of ensemble music-making. Through
these intimate conversations, Flummerfelt reveals his life, art,
and ideas, from his close collaborations with some of the world's
greatest orchestral conductors to his work as Artistic Director of
Westminster Choir College. The topics range from his approaches to
style, conducting gesture, sound generation, and choral sound to
the psychology of music-making and the contemporary environment of
art-making. Nally's interview style captures the energy and rhythm
of Flummerfelt's speech so that the conductor's "voice" and passion
is easily perceived, and the material is presented as a highly
organized yet spontaneous and free conversation. Flummerfelt
discusses his early career influences from such musicians as Robert
Shaw and Nadia Boulanger and reveals his thoughts on composers like
Igor Stravinsky, Samuel Barber, Benjamin Britten, and Olivier
Messiaen. The more than 30 photos present a visual record of
Flummerfelt's collaborations with many of the great musicians of
our time, and a biographical timeline, a list of collaborating
orchestras and conductors, and a discography are also included.
Documentary exploring what life was like for classical musicians in
the German Democratic Republic (GDR) after the division of Germany
in 1945. Used to advertise the merits of the GDR, classical music
was portrayed by the authorities as representative of a
culture-loving working people, in direct contrast to the
'decadent', westernised pop music of the day. Those musicians who
were not only gifted but also displayed the correct ideological
values were able to enjoy privileges beyond the reach of the
masses. Through interviews with musicians active at the time, both
in the GDR and the Federal Republic of Germany (FDR), the film
compares and contrasts the lives of those involved, and provides an
insight into the way the political system influenced artistic life.
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