Text Messaging Garners Small Donations for L.A. Philharmonic
Advertisements on the jumbo-screen at the Hollywood Bowl encourage viewers to donate $5 or $10 to the Los Angeles Philharmonic via text message. The service is operated by www.mGive.com, a leading mobile donations provider, which of course deducts a fee. This method of collection can be used by any organization with a 501c3 designation. The donation is given within 10 seconds of the text. The giver does not need cash or a credit card—the amount donated is merely added to the texter’s cell phone bill. Thus, the non-profit organization can conveniently receive money from any of 250 million cell phone users.
latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2010/08/La-phil-encourages-impulse-donations-via-texting.html
www.artsjournal.com/artsjournal1/2010/08/please_text_fiv.shtml
Washington National Opera Considers Merger
Washington National Opera is looking at the possibility of merging with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Their relationship would be similar to that of the Center and the National Symphony Orchestra, according to the Wall Street Journal. The Center would assume the opera’s assets and liabilities and the Opera would allow the Center to have a say in its artistic and budgetary matters.
None of this would come into play until 2013, however, because the Opera and the Center have rental agreements until that time. Current talks are merely to discuss a possible future relationship, said Center spokesman John Dow. Opera spokeswoman Michelle Pendoley noted that discussions had only just begun and that neither general director Plácido Domingo nor president Kenneth Feinberg was available for comment.
online.wsj.com/article/NA_WSJ_PUB:SB10001424052748704532204575397620488218174.html
Music Is Not Compatible with Islamic Values
The supreme religious leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khomeini, has rendered an official opinion telling the semi-official Fars New Agency that music should not be practiced or taught in that Islamic republic, reports the British publication the Guardian. He prefers that young people spend their time learning science, practicing what he considers useful skills, and engaging in healthful recreation.
The religious leader issued an edict in July in which he likened his leadership to that of the prophet Muhammad and which obliged all Iranians to follow his orders. It may be that he fears concerts could be used to rouse opposition to his decrees. The ancient Chinese philosopher Mo Tzu advised rulers to maintain strict control of the populace by forbidding all music, according to New Music Box. Iran’s leaders may be following this dictum. Permits for concerts in its cities are almost nonexistent.
www.newmusicbox.org/chatter.nmbx?id=6513
www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/aug/02/iran-supreme-leader-music-islam
Music Can Be an Antidepressant
Recent research conducted by a team headed by Miguel-Angel Mayoral-Chavez of the University of Oaxaca and reported in the journal The Arts in Psychotherapy finds classical music to be helpful in reducing the depth of depression suffered by patients with low to medium levels of the disease. A total of 79 patients, including 14 men and 65 women, were studied in the Mexican clinic.
Divided into two groups, they either received weekly spoken counseling from a therapist or they listened to 50 minutes of classical and baroque music each day. After eight weeks of therapy sans music, 12 of those who were counseled felt better, 10 dropped out, and 16 felt no improvement. Of those in the music program, 29 noted improvement, eight dropped out, and four did not feel better at all.
Mayoral-Chavez does not advocate doing away with medication for depression, but he does think that listening to music can raise some people’s mood levels.
www.miller-mccune.com/health/classical-music-an-effective-antiddepressant-20226/
Last Residents Forced to Leave Carnegie Hall Towers
Dancer and poet Elizabeth Sargent is the last resident of Carnegie Hall. She agreed to vacate the studio in which she had lived for 40 years by August 31. Photographer Editta Sherman, 98 years old, has already left, although many of her photographs have yet to be removed. Both of the women are moving to other Midtown apartments where their rents will be subsidized by the Carnegie organization.
At one time, many famous artists occupied the Carnegie Hall studios, including Marlon Brando. Other artists came there for lessons with esteemed teachers. Now the building will be gutted and refurbished so that it can house office space, a music education center, and a lavish rooftop dining area that will be accessible via glass elevator.
www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/
02/elizabeth-sargent-last-ca_n_667004.html
