Music From The Inside Out

Totally unique, outstanding musical experience!
I watched this incredible dvd several times in recent months, including one of the
extras, which is a great radio interview of the filmmaker and the principal first and
second violinists of the Philadelphia Orchestra. 5 stars isn't a high enough rating - this
is more than a must see for (classical) music lovers.

In my experience this is a totally unique production. Interesting, entertaining, intimate,
thought-provoking interviews of professional orchestral musicians are the main focus,
interweaved with many scenes of the musicians in live performances, in rehearsals as an orchestra
or in smaller groups, as well as in other venues, playing chamber music and also non-classical
music - I'll pass on the bluegrass, but the scene with the trombonist playing Latin music was
great! These fine musicians discuss their craft and music itself from many points of view. The
interviews are done sometimes with only one musician, other times in...

What Is Music?
This documentary attempts to answer the question "What is music?", through the members of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Sometimes the musicians discuss this as a group, or some give individual reflections on the question. There are many varied responses, and there is no absolute answer. It really demonstrates the common bond that music has in it's most basic sense, as some of the musicians demonstrate their affinity for all kinds of music.

Whether you enjoy classical music or not, if you DO enjoy music, this movie is sure to please, and sure to make you smile. Definitely a movie that can be watched over and over.

Not so wowed.
I wasn't that thrilled with this. Although I enjoyed the behind-the-scenes aspect of life in a first-class professional orchestra, I didn't get nearly enough of that, and I was not so much interested in the musicians' lives away from the orchestra. By example, a good chunk of time was spent with a horn player talking, not about horn, but about long distance running. Not about how it relates to music making, but just about running. ??

I also think the film needs some organization to the material--even if it were somewhat arbitrary, i.e., following the orchestra for a season, or on a particular tour, or preparing a particular work. The film just begins and ends, with no real new understanding of this life. It seems completely lacking a point of view.

There is the discussion toward the end of the film on "What is music?", which - had we started with that - might have been the organizing principal here, the string that held the beads together. As it is, that...

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