|
In the context of classical music in the United States, the Big Five refers to five symphony orchestras that were considered to be the most prominent and accomplished ensembles when the term gained widespread use by music critics in the late 1950s. The "Big Five", in the order of their founding, are: Classical music is a broad, somewhat imprecise term, referring to music produced in, or rooted in the traditions of, European art, ecclesiastical and concert music, encompassing a broad period from roughly 1000 to the present day. ...
Orchestra at City Hall (Edmonton). ...
A musical ensemble is a group of two or more musicians who perform instrumental or vocal music. ...
The 1950s decade refers to the years 1950 to 1959 inclusive. ...
The New York Philharmonic is the oldest active symphony orchestra in the United States, organized during 1842. ...
The Boston Symphony Orchestra is one of the worlds premiere orchestras. ...
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, based in Chicago, Illinois, is one of the leading orchestras in the world. ...
The Philadelphia Orchestra, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is one of the Big Five symphony orchestras in the United States and usually considered among the finest in the world. ...
The Cleveland Orchestra is one of the major symphony orchestras in the United States. ...
Origins
The term "Big Five" was coined around the time that long-playing recordings became available, regular orchestral radio broadcasts were expanding, and the five orchestras that comprise the group had annual concert series in New York City. New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ...
The earliest rubric for the leading U.S. orchestras was the "Major Seven" in the early 20th century. In the mid-20th century, with recordings and radio broadcasts at first available in the U.S only from major East Coast cities, the term devolved into the "Big Three": New York, Boston, and Philadelphia. (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999...
Regional definitions vary from source to source. ...
The "Big Three" label was still in widespread use in 1958 (Newsweek, February 17, 1958). However, the Cleveland Orchestra, under George Szell's direction, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, under Fritz Reiner, were gaining critical and public acclaim. By 1965, the term "Big Five", which included the latter two orchestras, was being widely used in magazines, newspapers, and books. Year 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...
This article does not cite any references or sources. ...
This article contains information that has not been verified and thus might not be reliable. ...
Modern use The term "Big Five" is today considered by many to be outdated, but its use has become so common and its meaning so synonymous with the quality of achievement that so many American orchestras strive for, that its use now continues well past the specifics of why it became fashionable and meaningful. A variety of music critics, at both the local and national level, have written thoughtful and passionate articles proposing new members to the upper echelon of American orchestras (including Michael Walsh in Time Magazine, 1983; Tim Page in Newsday, 1990; and Mark Swed in the Los Angeles Times, 2005). The evidence of recordings and reviews suggests that several orchestras have at times risen to this exalted level of performance, with today's Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra,and Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, most frequently mentioned or praised by music critics nationally. The Los Angeles Philharmonic is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California. ...
Logo. ...
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is one of the major orchestras in the United States. ...
Cincinnati Music Hall As the fifth-oldest orchestra in the United States, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) has a legacy of fine music making as reflected in its performances in historic Music Hall, recordings, and international tours. ...
The National Symphony Orchestra (NSO), founded in 1931, is a major American symphony orchestra that performs at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC, USA. Since 1996, the music director of the orchestra is the American conductor Leonard Slatkin. ...
The Minnesota Orchestra is an American orchestra that was founded in 1903 by Emil Oberhoffer as the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra. ...
The Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO) was founded in 1880, making it the second oldest symphony in the United States after the New York Philharmonic. ...
References | The references in this article would be clearer with a different or consistent style of citation, footnoting, or external linking. | |
Feeds |
Contact