Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra is a community-based orchestra
in Oak Ridge, Tennessee
.
The founder and first conductor
was Waldo Cohn, a Manhattan Project
biochemist
and an accomplished cellist who started hosting chamber music
sessions in his home upon arriving in Oak Ridge in 1943. As the group grew, they began rehearsing in the high school
, and gave their first concert in June 1944 under the name Oak Ridge Symphonette. Brass
and woodwinds were added to the group later that year, and the first full symphonic orchestra concert was in November 1944. In his later years, Cohn recalled that some of the amateur musicians in the orchestra had difficulty attending rehearsals because of World War II
gas rationing, the difficulty of travel on streets that were not yet paved, and round-the-clock operating schedules at Oak Ridge's Manhattan Project production facilities that required them to work at night. Oak Ridge residents have boasted that the new city had a symphony orchestra before it had sidewalk
s.
The orchestra has been in continuous existence since its formation in 1944. Many of the early members of the orchestra left Oak Ridge at the end of World War II, so professional musicians began to be hired to augment the amateur volunteers. Virtuoso violinist Isaac Stern
appeared with the orchestra as a soloist
in 1948 as a favor to Cohn, who was an old friend. Other early soloists included Percy Grainger
, Yaltah Menuhin
, Nadia Reisenberg
, Samuel Sanders, and Albert Spalding
. In more recent years, soloists have included U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander
, water percussionist David Cossin, and virtuoso bassist
Edgar Meyer
, a graduate of Oak Ridge High School
.
Cohn continued to serve as conductor until 1955. Under his leadership, the orchestra concentrated on a traditional classical
repertoire, but also introduced works by American
composer
s such as Edward McDowell and Henry Cowell
. In 1952 the symphony presented the premiere performance of Overture to a Dedication of a Nuclear Reactor, composed by Arthur Roberts
and considered to be "the first serious musical composition inspired by the atomic age." The Overture was dedicated to Cohn, who was conductor for the premiere.
In 2008, the orchestra launched a series of concerts called "Isotone," designed to connect music with science. The Isotone concerts feature original compositions written as tributes to famous physicist
s and include scientific equipment from the collection of the American Museum of Science and Energy
. The February 2010 Isotone Concert presented the premiere performance of a 12-minute composition by Larry Spivak entitled Space; a van de Graaff generator
was used in the performance to create effects of lightning
. Items such as Geiger counter
s have been used in other concerts. The first two seasons' compositions honored Marie Curie
, Richard Feynman
, and Stephen Hawking
. The compositions for the 2010-2011 season were scheduled to honor Glenn Seaborg and Lise Meitner
.
Dan Allcott became the Oak Ridge Symphony conductor beginning with the 2010-2011 season. He succeeded Cornelia Kodkani-Laemmli, who had led the orchestra for several years.
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
in Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Oak Ridge is a city in Anderson and Roane counties in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Tennessee, about west of Knoxville. Oak Ridge's population was 27,387 at the 2000 census...
.
The founder and first conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
was Waldo Cohn, a Manhattan Project
Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project was a research and development program, led by the United States with participation from the United Kingdom and Canada, that produced the first atomic bomb during World War II. From 1942 to 1946, the project was under the direction of Major General Leslie Groves of the US Army...
biochemist
Biochemist
Biochemists are scientists who are trained in biochemistry. Typical biochemists study chemical processes and chemical transformations in living organisms. The prefix of "bio" in "biochemist" can be understood as a fusion of "biological chemist."-Role:...
and an accomplished cellist who started hosting chamber music
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
sessions in his home upon arriving in Oak Ridge in 1943. As the group grew, they began rehearsing in the high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, and gave their first concert in June 1944 under the name Oak Ridge Symphonette. Brass
Brass instrument
A brass instrument is a musical instrument whose sound is produced by sympathetic vibration of air in a tubular resonator in sympathy with the vibration of the player's lips...
and woodwinds were added to the group later that year, and the first full symphonic orchestra concert was in November 1944. In his later years, Cohn recalled that some of the amateur musicians in the orchestra had difficulty attending rehearsals because of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
gas rationing, the difficulty of travel on streets that were not yet paved, and round-the-clock operating schedules at Oak Ridge's Manhattan Project production facilities that required them to work at night. Oak Ridge residents have boasted that the new city had a symphony orchestra before it had sidewalk
Sidewalk
A sidewalk, or pavement, footpath, footway, and sometimes platform, is a path along the side of a road. A sidewalk may accommodate moderate changes in grade and is normally separated from the vehicular section by a curb...
s.
The orchestra has been in continuous existence since its formation in 1944. Many of the early members of the orchestra left Oak Ridge at the end of World War II, so professional musicians began to be hired to augment the amateur volunteers. Virtuoso violinist Isaac Stern
Isaac Stern
Isaac Stern was a Ukrainian-born violinist. He was renowned for his recordings and for discovering new musical talent.-Biography:Isaac Stern was born into a Jewish family in Kremenets, Ukraine. He was fourteen months old when his family moved to San Francisco...
appeared with the orchestra as a soloist
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
in 1948 as a favor to Cohn, who was an old friend. Other early soloists included Percy Grainger
Percy Grainger
George Percy Aldridge Grainger , known as Percy Grainger, was an Australian-born composer, arranger and pianist. In the course of a long and innovative career he played a prominent role in the revival of interest in British folk music in the early years of the 20th century. He also made many...
, Yaltah Menuhin
Yaltah Menuhin
Yaltah Menuhin was an American-born British pianist, artist and poet.-Early life:Yaltah was born of Russian Jewish parents in San Francisco, the youngest of three extraordinarily musical children. Her siblings were Yehudi Menuhin and Hephzibah Menuhin...
, Nadia Reisenberg
Nadia Reisenberg
Nadia Reisenberg was an American pianist of Lithuanian birth.-Life and career:Born in Vilnius, Reisenberg studied under Leonid Nikolayev at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory. Due to the upheavals of the October Revolution, she and her family came back to Vilnius, then travelled to Warsaw and...
, Samuel Sanders, and Albert Spalding
Albert Spalding (violinist)
Albert Spalding was an American violinist and composer.-Biography:Spalding was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1888. His mother, Marie Boardman, was a contralto and pianist. His father, James Walter Spalding, and uncle, Hall-of-Fame baseball pitcher Albert Spalding, created the A.G...
. In more recent years, soloists have included U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander
Lamar Alexander
Andrew Lamar Alexander is the senior United States Senator from Tennessee and Conference Chair of the Republican Party. He was previously the 45th Governor of Tennessee from 1979 to 1987, United States Secretary of Education from 1991 to 1993 under President George H. W...
, water percussionist David Cossin, and virtuoso bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Edgar Meyer
Edgar Meyer
Edgar Meyer is a prominent contemporary bassist and composer. His styles include classical, bluegrass, newgrass, and jazz. Meyer has worked as a session musician in Nashville, part of various chamber groups, a composer, and an arranger...
, a graduate of Oak Ridge High School
Oak Ridge High School (Oak Ridge, Tennessee)
Oak Ridge High School is the public high school for Oak Ridge, Tennessee, enrolling grades 9 through 12. It was established in 1943 to educate the children of Manhattan Project workers. It currently has about 1500 students.-Founding and first location:...
.
Cohn continued to serve as conductor until 1955. Under his leadership, the orchestra concentrated on a traditional classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
repertoire, but also introduced works by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
s such as Edward McDowell and Henry Cowell
Henry Cowell
Henry Cowell was an American composer, music theorist, pianist, teacher, publisher, and impresario. His contribution to the world of music was summed up by Virgil Thomson, writing in the early 1950s:...
. In 1952 the symphony presented the premiere performance of Overture to a Dedication of a Nuclear Reactor, composed by Arthur Roberts
Arthur Roberts (physicist)
Arthur Roberts was a physicist and a composer.He is remembered for several humoristic and satirical songs on scientific subjects, which he sung to piano accompaniment.-Songs:His best-known songs are preserved in a 78rpm vinyl record made in 1947...
and considered to be "the first serious musical composition inspired by the atomic age." The Overture was dedicated to Cohn, who was conductor for the premiere.
In 2008, the orchestra launched a series of concerts called "Isotone," designed to connect music with science. The Isotone concerts feature original compositions written as tributes to famous physicist
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
s and include scientific equipment from the collection of the American Museum of Science and Energy
American Museum of Science and Energy
The American Museum of Science and Energy is a science museum in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, designed to teach both children and adults about energy, especially nuclear power, and to document the role Oak Ridge played in the Manhattan Project. The museum opened as the American Museum of Atomic Energy in...
. The February 2010 Isotone Concert presented the premiere performance of a 12-minute composition by Larry Spivak entitled Space; a van de Graaff generator
Van de Graaff generator
A Van de Graaff generator is an electrostatic generator which uses a moving belt to accumulate very high voltages on a hollow metal globe on the top of the stand. It was invented in 1929 by American physicist Robert J. Van de Graaff. The potential differences achieved in modern Van de Graaff...
was used in the performance to create effects of lightning
Lightning
Lightning is an atmospheric electrostatic discharge accompanied by thunder, which typically occurs during thunderstorms, and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or dust storms...
. Items such as Geiger counter
Geiger counter
A Geiger counter, also called a Geiger–Müller counter, is a type of particle detector that measures ionizing radiation. They detect the emission of nuclear radiation: alpha particles, beta particles or gamma rays. A Geiger counter detects radiation by ionization produced in a low-pressure gas in a...
s have been used in other concerts. The first two seasons' compositions honored Marie Curie
Marie Curie
Marie Skłodowska-Curie was a physicist and chemist famous for her pioneering research on radioactivity. She was the first person honored with two Nobel Prizes—in physics and chemistry...
, Richard Feynman
Richard Feynman
Richard Phillips Feynman was an American physicist known for his work in the path integral formulation of quantum mechanics, the theory of quantum electrodynamics and the physics of the superfluidity of supercooled liquid helium, as well as in particle physics...
, and Stephen Hawking
Stephen Hawking
Stephen William Hawking, CH, CBE, FRS, FRSA is an English theoretical physicist and cosmologist, whose scientific books and public appearances have made him an academic celebrity...
. The compositions for the 2010-2011 season were scheduled to honor Glenn Seaborg and Lise Meitner
Lise Meitner
Lise Meitner FRS was an Austrian-born, later Swedish, physicist who worked on radioactivity and nuclear physics. Meitner was part of the team that discovered nuclear fission, an achievement for which her colleague Otto Hahn was awarded the Nobel Prize...
.
Dan Allcott became the Oak Ridge Symphony conductor beginning with the 2010-2011 season. He succeeded Cornelia Kodkani-Laemmli, who had led the orchestra for several years.