by Daniel Hathaway
TODAY’S ALMANAC:
A variety of traditions, both religious and secular, are associated with the first day of May in most cultures that have slogged through months of winter and are more than ready to celebrate the return of balmy breezes and the reflowering of the earth.
One tradition that’s persisted for over 500 years in England is the May Day morning singing of hymns and madrigals by the Magdalen College Choir from its iconic tower in Oxford (pictured above in a painting by William Homan Hunt).
A brief video puts the celebration in context among appearances by May Day Morris Men and a pagan band — and here’s an archival recording of the live stream from this morning’s ceremony.
HAPPENING TODAY:
Tonight at 7 pm in Gamble Auditorium, the Baldwin Wallace Symphony Orchestra and Pops visits the movies. And at 7:30 in Warner Concert Hall, Rebekah Fawn Heller guest conducts the Oberlin Sinfonietta with Ian McEdwards, clarinet, and the Oberlin Percussion Group (Ross Karre, director), in music by by Anna Thorvaldsdottir, Amy Beth Kirsten, Allison Loggins-Hull, Hannah Kendall, Jacob Richter, and Courtney Bryan.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
On Wednesday, The Cleveland Orchestra announced the addition of three new members to its artistic and creative team, “continuing the Orchestra’s commitment to innovation, community engagement, and musical excellence.
“Beginning with the 2025–26 season, Taichi Fukumura joins as assistant conductor of The Cleveland Orchestra, James Feddeck as principal conductor and musical advisor of The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra, and Tyler Taylor as the Daniel R. Lewis Composer Fellow.” Read the press release here.
INTERESTING READ:
“At 50, the Takacs Quartet remains as essential as ever. With only one of its original members in the group, this ensemble is still identifiably itself, and still going strong.” Read the story by David Allen in the print edition of yesterday’s New York Times.
