Arvo Pärt's Symphony No. 4 is e-published in advance of its LA Philharmonic premiere next month. (Via Tom Service.) ... The Berlin Philharmonic prepares to open a Digital Concert Hall. What I've seen and heard in the press preview is fairly amazing. The Concert Hall goes live on Jan. 6.... The Canadian Music Centre inaugurates an enormous free archive of Canadian music; I'm listening happily to R. Murray Schafer's Son of Heldenleben and Requiems for the Party Girl.... The Library of Congress places hundreds of pages of sketches for Elliott Carter's Cello Sonata and First Quartet online. (Via Sequenza21.) ... There's a YouTube film based on Lisa Bielawa's Chance Encounter project.... The YouTube Symphony may be an interesting concept, but, as Joseph Drew points out, the piece that Tan Dun has written for the occasion is, um, problematic.... Robert Christgau writes for Barnes and Noble.... New York City Opera seeks help.... For the avant fan on your gift list, John Cage stocking stuffers, including mousepads, coasters, mugs, and the Whimsical Wall Clock (above).
