Today’s Digital Concert Hall selection and preview from Maestro Tchivzhel celebrates tradition. Grab your cap and gown, Johannes Brahms has written a concert overture for graduation! The Academic Festival Overture was written when Brahms received an honorary doctorate from the University of Breslau. Brahms sent a handwritten note, but the school’s orchestra conductor said a grander gesture was needed “Compose a symphony for us…but well orchestrated, old boy…”

The Academic Festival Overture was the result. I think we’ll all agree that the old boy, Brahms, managed to “well-orchestrate” this piece…

For the curious: orchestration is the process where the composer decides which instruments play and when. And yes, it’s as complicated as you might imagine. Next time you’re at the GSO, pay special attention to which groups of instruments are playing together, which instruments are not playing in certain sections…these wonderful sound colors are a big part of what makes an orchestra sound unique!

Click on the video below for Maestro Tchivzhel’s personal insights on Brahms’ Academic Festival Overture, then be sure to click on the following link to hear an audio performance of this piece by the GSO: Audio Clip