Here’s an article about a 2hr symphony production of Howard Shore’s Lord of the Rings soundtrack. It mentions a whistle will be one of the instruments.
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/headline/entertainment/2645807
An exerpt:
Billed as a “two-hour journey to Middle-earth,” the concert will feature an impressive cast: more than 250 performers from the Houston Symphony, the Houston Symphony Chorus and the Houston Children’s Chorus, along with Norwegian singer Sissel.She is best-known for her ethereal solos in the Oscar-winning score of Titanic.
In addition to Elvish, the score calls for instruments rarely used in orchestral music, including an Irish whistle, a Hardanger fiddle (the national instrument of Norway) and a cimbalom, a boxy dulcimer that sounds like a cross between a piano and a harp.
I’d actually like to hear this performed (and I’m not the LOTR fanatic that some are), just for the envelope-pushing Howard Shore is apparently engaging the Houston Symphony in. And just to think that I usually turn down invitations to the opera mostly because I can’t understand the languages they’re sung in…
but now for something completely different (as Monsieur Cleese is wont to say) – a few years ago the San Francisco Symphony performed a composition by Maxwell Davies, a contemporary British composer, called Cross Lane Fair, which among more customary orchestral instruments, called for Northumbrian Pipes and solo bodhran. If that’s not novel enough, in the movement aptly titled “The Juggler,” the piper set down his pipes and, yes, juggled to the tempo of the orchestra (no, he didn’t juggle his pipes, as I recall he juggled balls, sticks, clubs, the usual juggling objects - and no flaming torches, either). Now in my book, that’s certainly pushing the proverbial envelope.
http://www.maxopus.com/works/cross.htm
Is this symphony with accompaniment by a singer or full out opera? I would like to attend as well, with Renee. I wonder if it will be recorded?
I’m excited for Howard Shore to come to Seattle! I bought tickets way back in December to hear the lovely music. Only a couple more weeks!
Oh WOW! is the symphony moving to different cities or just the one person? How can I find out if this is coming to the SF Bay Area?
He’s touring all over the place, you might want to check it out! Maybe you could do a google search on Howard Shore and it might have his tour list available!
Good instincts, Silver. The tour is posted at http://www.howardshore.com -
• 7/1-2 - Houston Symphony - Alexander Mikelthwate, conductor tickets
• 7/13 - Philadelphia Orchestra - - John Mauceri, conductor
• 7/15-17 - Seattle Symphony
• 7/22-23 - National Arts Center Orchestra - John Mauceri, conductor
• 7/29-31 - Pittsburgh Symphony
• 9/17, 19 - Univ of New Mexico
• 9/18-19 - Hartford Symphony
• 9/21 - Hollywood Bowl Orchestra - John Mauceri, conductor
• 9/22 - London Philharmonic Orchestra - Royal Albert Hall
• 10/8-9 - Chicago