orchestra book club
DONATE: https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/boston-orchestra-book-club.
The Orchestra Book Club is an innovative new community orchestra in the Greater Boston area, committed to accessibility, education, and community. Our name comes from the monthly sightreading parties we hold, where—open to anyone who wishes to join—we read through great works in the orchestral repertoire. We also hold biannual concerts in a discussion format, offering context for the works on the program. In the future, we will embark on a large-scale project to support early-career composers in the Greater Boston area.
If you are interested in joining our future readings, please fill out the interest form here: Orchestra Book Club Interest Form.
We rely on donations to ensure that all of our events remain free for all who wish to attend. You may make a tax-deductible donation via our fiscal sponsor, Fractured Atlas, at the link here: https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/boston-orchestra-book-club.
February 2024: “Homeland Rivers” IN CONCERT
Please join us on February 11th, 2024, for our second concert, “Homeland Rivers.” Featuring Smetana’s Vltava (The Moldau) and Price’s moving Mississippi River Suite, we will explore how composers approach portrayals of rivers and music of their homelands. This will take place at 3pm at the Center for Arts at the Armory in Somerville.
Program: Orchestra Book Club Homeland Rivers Program
November 2023: Strauss in the Haus
In yet another wildly ambitious reading, we tackled Richard Strauss’ phenomenal (and phenomenally difficult) tone poems Don Juan and Also Sprach Zarathustra.
October 2023: Even More Beethoven
For the first reading of our 2023-24 season, we gathered to read Beethoven Symphonies 4 and 8, two of his less frequently played symphonies!
July 2023: Sibelius Symphony no. 5 IN CONCERT
We had our first performance on Sunday, July 30th, 3pm, at Arts at the Armory in Somerville! It featured Sibelius Symphony no. 5, as well as excerpts from Sibelius Kullervo and Symphonies no. 1, 2, 4, and 7.
Program: Boston Orchestra Book Club Inaugural Concert Program
A portion of proceeds from this concert went to the Community Music Center of Boston in support of high-quality music education for the city and to the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in loving memory of Sam Stern.
May 2023: Mahler Symphony 3
In our most ambitious reading yet, 75 of us came together to experience the first and sixth movements of Mahler’s worldly and otherworldly 3rd symphony. It was inspiring, fulfilling, and really, really fun!
April 2023: Prokofiev “Classical” and Mozart “Paris”
We familiarized ourselves with two sparkling cornerstones of the Classical and “Classical” symphonic repertoire.
March 2023: Debussy Afternoon of a Faun and Ravel Daphnis et Chloé
In a glorious afternoon of decadent French impressionism, we read Debussy’s Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun and both Suites 1 and 2 from Ravel’s ballet Daphnis et Chloé.
February 2023: Brahms Symphony no. 3
We tackled Brahms’ enigmatic 3rd symphony!
January 2023: Sibelius Symphony no. 5
We had a fantastic time reading Sibelius’ magnificent 5th symphony in our first reading as a full orchestra!