December 2, 2008 'Linked on Classics': BSO and the YouTube Symphony? Play video

I say 'cutting edge new media' - you say, of course, 'classical music.'

Actually, some orchestras have been creative in ways they are trying to reach out to an online audience - and the Boston Symphony has one of the best sites out there, for information on the BSO, the Boston Pops, and Tanglewood. And now, you can buy high-quality digital recordings from the BSO online.

I'm thinking, "We'll call it oTunes, and give it the slogan, 'We cut out the middleman and bring the oboes to you!'"

That's why I'm not in classical music marketing.

Anyway, the BSO has opened its own music store at bso.org - offering .mp3 and lossless HD-surround (.wma) audio formats. The biggest difference is the quality of the streams, compared to iTunes. In fact, the BSO warns that if you want the 12700kbps HD-surround audio you REALLY need a broadband connection (and a PC), because they are huge files (and Windows Media Audio - .wma).

There are a 170 hours of recordings on there now, including a number of classics from the years 1943-2000. BUT - nothing new from current maestro James Levine. His first recordings will be available in late February. The BSO hopes the site will generate more interest in BSO recordings.

Among the other plans in the works - a fixed price option, where users pay a monthly fee for unlimited access to the store.

But wait, there's more. Instead of just listening - you could be trying out for the

There's two parts to this - first, an orchestral mashup. Go to www.youtube.com/symphony -you can download sheet music for every instrument in the orchestra, and then sit and practice with the composer, who conducts just for you. Once you're ready you can upload your part, and Google/YouTube is going to mash it up and release the four-minute piece. (Remember to play it loud - because otherwise the sound of Arthur Fielder rolling over in his grave might drown out the recording.)

But there's a second, more seriious part to this - whatever your instrument, you're also asked to upload two classical performances of your own, and a jury that Google says will include musicians from major orchestras like the Berlin Philharmonic and the London Symphony is going to select finalists. Then YouTube users will be able to select the best performers "American Idol-style" -- and those winners will be flown to New York for a Carnegie Hall concert in April, conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas, the music director of the San Francisco Symphony. Google will arrange for visas and pay costs.

Unfortunately, there's no ocarina part for my iPhone.