That may be. It is hard to say from where the extract was copied. I have not 
seen the NFB Stravinsky film for more than 30 years. The episode was in the 
film when I saw it (in the late 1960s) as a student at McGill. I do not 
remember any Japanese(?) subtitles (as in the online version), though they can 
have been added at any point. I suspect the Bream DVD extracted the scene from 
the CBC/NFB production. 

I think the encounter was not contrived, or at leat not much. If I remember 
correctly (and I may not have remembered all or even most), Bream happened to 
be preparing for a recital in Toronto at the same time as Stravinsky was 
"conducting" the Symphony of Psalms. The Symphony of Psalms was being recorded 
in a concert hall, probably because there was no studio large enough for the 
ensemble, or for suitable acoustics (the CBC was a relatively early adherent to 
the idea of using appropriate acoustical contexts). It may have been the same 
concert hall where Bream was to perform. (I also remember seeing/hearing Bream 
perform on lute and guitar in Montreal about the same time.)
I write 'Stravinsky "conducting",' because in the film one gets the impression 
that Stravinsky is concentrating on the score and beating time and cueing, but 
paying no attention whatsoever to the sounds emitting from the choir and 
orchestra. Every now and then things go askew, and the voice of Robert Craft 
(who is following the score, probably as producer) booms over the speakers from 
the recording booth, halting the performers. Even after they stop, Stravinsky 
bravely soldiers on for a moment, then looks around as if wondering where the 
voice is coming from. (But then, it was a long time ago; I may have the 
sequence out of context.)

Gordon J Callon
School of Music
Acadia University
Wolfville
Nova Scotia
Canada
B4P 2R6

http://ace.acadiau.ca/score/site-map.htm



-----Original Message-----
From: Stephen Kenyon [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Wed 6/13/2007 6:34 PM
To: Gordon Callon
Cc: Howard Posner; [email protected]
Subject: Re: [LUTE] Re: Strawinsky, Bream and a Lute
 
The snippet of film is on the Bream DVD and I assumed that was the 
immediate source.

SK

Gordon Callon wrote:

>If I remember correctly, this is taken from the 1966 film by the National Film 
>Board of Canada, about Igor Stravinsky travelling to North America, and 
>conducting the CBC Symphony Orchestra in a recording of his Symphony of Psalms 
>in Toronto. 
>
>
>  
>





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