Monday 21 May 2012

The Australian National University's School of Music has been thrown a lifeline with Canberra businesses pledging funds to sustain its offerings, yet the ANU still plans to eliminate 10 of the 32 academic and administrative positions.

Germany-based Iranian singer, Shahin Najafi, has recently had fatwas issues against him by clerics in the Islamic republic after he released a song with references to a Shiite Muslim imam.

After the Melbourne Symphony been without a musical leader for three years, one of the world's greatest conductors, Sir Andrew Davis, is poised to take over as chief conductor.

David Robertson has been named as the next chief conductor and artistic director of the Sydney Symphony. He is undertaking to resurrect works by neglected Australian composers.

Internet start-up, Playfi, which streams live music concerts and won a grant of $100,000 from the federal government joins 27 other budding internet entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley for three days of networking and mentoring.

A year-long 'speculative uke bubble' during which legions of middle-aged men took up the inexpensive instrument in the hope it might make them feel alive again–has crashed severely. The current uke crash is the first major instrument catastrophe since Recorder Wednesday in 1993, when millions of schoolchildren simultaneously quit the simple wind instrument after tiring of the one-note tune Busy Bee.

Vale Chuck Brown (August 22, 1936–May 16, 2012), the guitarist and singer dubbed the "Godfather of Go-Go" music. Vale Peter Jones (1967?–18 May 2012) Crowded House drummer. Vale Robin Gibb (22 December 1949–20 May 2012) British singer and songwriter, best known as a member of the Bee Gees.

Also in the news this week: Nicholas Harding, Imogen Heap, Cured Pink, Zoe Keating.

Oz Composers Birthdays: Tony Backhouse 1947, Rhonda Berry 1936, Philip Bracanin 1942, Roland Chadwick 1957, Russell Gilmour 1956, Eugene Goosens 1983-1962, Paul Jarman 1971, Marie Duchesne Lavin 1930, Robert Lloyd 1948, Adrian Luca 1964, André Oosterbaan 1947, Kat McGuffie 1980, Peggy Polias 1981, Chester Schultz 1945, Michael Sollis 1985.

Other Anniversaries:
B: 1572–Maurice of Hesse-Kassel German music patron and composer (d. 1632); 1912–Jean Françaix, French composer (d. 1997); 1912–John Cheever, American author (d. 1982); 1912–Henry Ephron, American playwright, screenwriter and film producer (d. 1992); 1942–Calvin Simon, American musician (P Funk).