THE MAGAZINE
Are Orchestras in Need of an Update?
Is the symphony orchestra a doomed relic—or is it simply overdue for reinvention? As classical institutions across the UK grapple with funding crises and dwindling audiences, ensembles like the Aurora Orchestra and Manchester Collective are challenging the old rules and reimagining what a concert can be. With more young people engaging with classical music than ever before, the future may lie not in clinging to tradition, but in breaking it—just as Leonard Bernstein suggested decades ago.
Encrypting Secret Messages in Music: Mercury, or, the Secret and Swift Messenger
Imagine that you are a musician in a royal European court in the 1600s–but you’re also a secret agent for a different government’s intelligence services. How will you transmit sensitive information to your contacts without getting caught? All you need is a musical cipher: a system for turning text into music. Find out more.
Grounds for Rebellion: Bach’s Coffee Cantata
“If I can’t drink my bowl of coffee three times daily, then in my torment I will shrivel up like a piece of roast goat.” Brewing up a storm, J. S. Bach’s “Coffee Cantata” - a tale of one woman’s undying love for coffee - reveals how cups of coffee became the center of bold feminist rebellion in 1730s Leipzig.
Lea Brückner, Violinist and Climate Activist: “You can drive social change through culture.”
Lea Brückner is a violinist, moderator and climate ambassador who has carved out a unique career for herself, combining her passion for music with her commitment to sustainability. TWoA talked to Lea about the role culture can play in the battle against climate change, and about the specific steps cultural organisations can take towards becoming more sustainable.
The Mathemagical Music of Michael Maier
If you’ve ever heard a piece of music and thought, “That’s magical!” you probably just meant that the music made you feel a sense of wonder. But what if sound actually had special powers? What if you could use music as a key for learning ancient secrets about the cosmos?