American Classical Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The American Classical Orchestra is "devoted to preserving and performing the repertoire of 17th- to 19th-century composers, playing the works on original or reproduced period instruments
. The musicians use historic performance practice techniques and pass these skills down to future generations through concert performances and educational programs." In recognition of this work, the ACO has been awarded grants by the National Endowment for the Arts
.
Originally founded in 1985 by music director Thomas Crawford as the Orchestra
of the Old Fairfield (CT) Academy, in 1999 the orchestra’s name was changed to American
Classical
Orchestra to better reflect its mission. In describing the orchestra's transition, a New York Times journalist wrote: “The musicians are trained in historically precise techniques, and they render these on original or replicated instruments appropriate to the period of music they are playing. All the stringed instruments are made of wood and use natural gut strings, wood is the rule for the wind instruments, and the brass
are valveless.”
Now based in the New York
metropolitan region, the orchestra has garnered both critical and popular recognition through its concert appearances, including those on the Lincoln Center Great Performers Series and at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it performed a musical program in collaboration with an exhibition entitled “Art
and the Empire City
: New York, 1825-1861.”
The American Classical Orchestra is also noted for reviving neglected musical works, including those that “pique interest because of their relevance to an evolving genre and their influence on other composers."
Among the works recorded by the ACO are the complete wind concerti by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
, which feature its principal players as soloists, and Mozart’s Symphony
No. 14, K144 and Piano Concerti K. 107, Volume II, with fortepianist Malcolm Bilson
.
In addition to Mr. Bilson, among the instrumental soloists
who have collaborated with the American Classical Orchestra are fortepianist Robert Levin
, violin
ist Stephanie Chase
, flutist Sandra Miller, violist
David Miller, hornist R. J. Kelley, and oboist
Marc Shachman. In September 2009, Vladimir Feltsman
performed Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 27 as fortepiano soloist with the orchestra in a concert presented at Lincoln Center.
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
. The musicians use historic performance practice techniques and pass these skills down to future generations through concert performances and educational programs." In recognition of this work, the ACO has been awarded grants by the National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
.
Originally founded in 1985 by music director Thomas Crawford as the Orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
of the Old Fairfield (CT) Academy, in 1999 the orchestra’s name was changed to American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
Orchestra to better reflect its mission. In describing the orchestra's transition, a New York Times journalist wrote: “The musicians are trained in historically precise techniques, and they render these on original or replicated instruments appropriate to the period of music they are playing. All the stringed instruments are made of wood and use natural gut strings, wood is the rule for the wind instruments, and the brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
are valveless.”
Now based in the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
metropolitan region, the orchestra has garnered both critical and popular recognition through its concert appearances, including those on the Lincoln Center Great Performers Series and at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it performed a musical program in collaboration with an exhibition entitled “Art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
and the Empire City
Empire City
Empire City can refer to:* New York City, the largest city in the United States of America* Empire City, Oklahoma, a town in Stephens County, Oklahoma, United States...
: New York, 1825-1861.”
The American Classical Orchestra is also noted for reviving neglected musical works, including those that “pique interest because of their relevance to an evolving genre and their influence on other composers."
Among the works recorded by the ACO are the complete wind concerti by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , baptismal name Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart , was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music...
, which feature its principal players as soloists, and Mozart’s Symphony
Symphony
A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, scored almost always for orchestra. A symphony usually contains at least one movement or episode composed according to the sonata principle...
No. 14, K144 and Piano Concerti K. 107, Volume II, with fortepianist Malcolm Bilson
Malcolm Bilson
Malcolm Bilson is an American pianist specializing in performance on the fortepiano, which is the 18th century version of the piano. Bilson is the Frederick J...
.
In addition to Mr. Bilson, among the instrumental soloists
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
who have collaborated with the American Classical Orchestra are fortepianist Robert Levin
Robert Levin
Robert Levin may refer to:*Robert D. Levin , American pianist and composer*Robert Levin , Norwegian pianist and composer*Robert Levin , American fiction writer...
, violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist Stephanie Chase
Stephanie Chase
"One of the most respected classical violinists in the world," Stephanie Chase is an American concert violinist and educator.- Biography :...
, flutist Sandra Miller, violist
Violist
-Notable violists:A* Julia Rebekka Adler * Sir Hugh Allen , conductor* Kris Allen * Johann Andreas Amon * Paul Angerer , composer* Steven Ansell * Atar Arad * Cecil Aronowitz...
David Miller, hornist R. J. Kelley, and oboist
Oboist
An oboist is a musician who plays the oboe or any oboe family instrument, including the cor anglais, oboe d'amore, shawm and oboe musette....
Marc Shachman. In September 2009, Vladimir Feltsman
Vladimir Feltsman
Vladimir Feltsman is a Russian American classical pianist.Feltsman debuted with the Moscow Philharmonic at age 11. He studied at the Moscow Tchaikovsky, Moscow, and Leningrad Vladimir Feltsman is a Russian American classical pianist.Feltsman debuted with the Moscow Philharmonic at age 11. He...
performed Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 27 as fortepiano soloist with the orchestra in a concert presented at Lincoln Center.