Broad and High
Columbus Symphony Youth Outreach, Valley Dale Ballroom
Season 8 Episode 25 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
The Columbus Symphony Orchestra reaches out to young people during the pandemic.
The Columbus Symphony Orchestra reaches out to young people, even in the midst of a pandemic. Columbus’s Valley Dale Ballroom, where big band, swing and jazz greats have played for nearly a century. And how The Early Interval improvised to keep playing safely in the time of COVID-19.
Broad and High is a local public television program presented by WOSU
Production of Broad & High is funded in part by the Greater Columbus Arts Council, the Columbus State Hospitality Management Program and viewers like you!
Broad and High
Columbus Symphony Youth Outreach, Valley Dale Ballroom
Season 8 Episode 25 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
The Columbus Symphony Orchestra reaches out to young people, even in the midst of a pandemic. Columbus’s Valley Dale Ballroom, where big band, swing and jazz greats have played for nearly a century. And how The Early Interval improvised to keep playing safely in the time of COVID-19.
How to Watch Broad and High
Broad and High is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
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>> PRODUCTION OF "BROAD & HIGH" IS FUNDED IN PART BY THE GREATER COLUMBUS ARTS COUNCIL, SUPPORTING ARTS, ADVANCING CULTURE AND CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY TO ARTISTS, EVENTS AND CLASSES AT COLUMBUSMAKESART.COM.
>> FROM THESE CONTRIBUTING SPONSORS AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
THANK YOU.
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>> THIS TIME ON "BROAD & HIGH" THE COLUMBUS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA REACHES OUT TO YOUNG PEOPLE, EVEN IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC.
>> I WAS KIND OF A VERY SHY PLAYER.
I WASN'T VERY EXPRESSIVE.
THEY GAVE ME THE TECHNIQUES TO FURTHER MY OWN MUSICALITY.
>> COLUMBUS' VALLEY DALE BALLROOM WHERE SWING BECAME A THING, AND -- HOW THE EARLY INTERVAL IMPROVISED TO KEEP PLAYING SAFELY IN THE TIME OF COVID-19.
THIS AND MORE, RIGHT NOW ON "BROAD AND HIGH."
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>> WELCOME TO "BROAD & HIGH."
I'M YOUR HOST, KATE QUICKEL.
A LOT OF ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AND NONPROFITS WERE JUST STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE DURING THE PANDEMIC.
BUT AS THE COLUMBUS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA LEARNED MORE ABOUT ONLINE AND VIRTUAL EVENTS, ITS LEADERS SAW NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE A CRUCIAL AUDIENCE -- YOUNG PEOPLE./E SEE WHAT THEY LEARNED, AND HOW THEY'RE DOING IT.
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>> THE COLUMBUS CITY SCHOOLS HAS A LONG STANDING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COLUMBUS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.
IN A NORMAL YEAR, THE SYMPHONY PROVIDES THESE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS.
OUR STUDENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT THE OHIO THEATRE.
THE SYMPHONY COMES INTO OUR SCHOOLS.
>> I WAS INVOLVED IN ALL OF THE COLUMBUS SYMPHONY'S EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES.
UH, WE'D TEACH LESSONS.
WE COACHED THE YOUTH ORCHESTRA.
WE'RE INVOLVED IN FAMILY CONCERTS.
WE'RE INVOLVED IN CHILDREN'S CONCERTS.
WE GO OUT TO MANY COLUMBUS CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND WE PLAY CONCERTS IN THE SCHOOLS.
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>> AND ON TOP OF THAT, THEY GET TO SEE THE PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS IN THEIR ATMOSPHERE.
THEY GET TO SEE THEM PERFORMING.
BUT, THIS WAS NOT A NORMAL YEAR.
>> WE ARE SO PROUD OF WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED DURING COVID.
'CAUSE TWO YEARS AGO, THE ORGANIZATION HAD MADE A COMMITMENT TO DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN WE SERVED IN THE COURSE OF THREE YEARS.
WE REALLY SPENT COVID DOING THINGS THAT WE HAD ALWAYS INTENDED TO DO AND ALWAYS WANTED TO DO -- AND HAD NEVER QUITE FOUND THE TIME TO DO.
WE HAD DEVELOPED A KID'S WEBSITE.
WE HAVE THE "KID'S CORNER" WEBSITE.
WE ALSO HAVE A TEEN'S WEBSITE NOW, AND THOSE ARE ACTUALLY BUILT AND MEANT FOR EDUCATORS, GRANDPARENTS, PARENTS -- >> HI.
MY NAME IS JOHN PELLEGRINO.
I'M THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL BASS OF THE COLUMBUS SYMPHONY.
>> THEY MADE MORE THAN 85 VIDEOS THAT ARE ON OUR WEBSITE.
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>> THE MANAGEMENT CREATED OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL OF THE SYMPHONY MUSICIANS TO TEACH VIRTUALLY, SO I TAUGHT A SEVENTH-GRADE GIRL WHO I HAD NEVER MET BEFORE.
SHE WAS IN HER HOUSE LEARNING VIRTUALLY.
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>> FOR THE COLUMBUS SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRAS THERE WAS A PHASE DURING EARLY NOVEMBER WHERE WE DID ONLINE ZOOM SESSIONS WITH COLUMBUS SYMPHONY MEMBERS.
THEY WERE LIKE MASTER CLASSES.
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WE WOULD, LIKE, BRING A SOLO PIECE IN THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON AND WE'D PLAY IT FOR THEM, AND IT WAS LIKE, A GROUP SETTING SO YOU'D HEAR OTHER STUDENTS PLAY, AND YOU'D HEAR ALL THE FEEDBACK THAT THEY HAD.
AND, IF THERE WAS LIKE, A GROUP OF VIOLINS, THEY'D HAVE A VIOLINIST COACH, SO IT WAS VERY SPECIALIZED.
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>> BE REALLY DELIBERATE WITH YOUR RHYTHM.
READY?
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>> THEY GAVE ME THE TECHNIQUES TO FURTHER MY OWN MUSICALITY.
YEAH, I WAS KIND OF A VERY SHY PLAYER.
I WASN'T VERY EXPRESSIVE, AND I WASN'T QUITE GETTING THE TECHNIQUE DOWN.
AND -- TO BE ABLE TO PLAY MUSIC AT A HARDER LEVEL, REALLY HELPED ME JUST GET BETTER WITH MY TECHNIQUE.
ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY WOULD SHOW US, LIKE, "OKAY, HERE'S HOW YOU PLAY THIS THING IN THE MUSIC."
AND IT JUST REALLY HELPED ME GRASP THE CONCEPTS.
>> A LEVEL ONE LISTENING IS JUST BY YOURSELF.
IT'S JUST LISTENING TO YOURSELF AND HOW YOU PLAY.
THE KIND OF SECOND LEVEL OF THIS IS LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE BESIDE YOU -- TO YOUR LEFT AND TO YOUR RIGHT.
THE THIRD LEVEL OF LISTENING, AND THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF LISTENING IS GONNA BE LISTENING ACROSS THE ENSEMBLE.
SO, THIS SIDE'S TRYING TO LISTEN TO THE LOWER SIDE.
THE LOWER SIDE LISTENS ALL THE WAY TO THE HIGH SIDE.
AND, YOU'RE CONSTANTLY SWITCHING.
IT'S LIKE THOSE ANTENNAS, YOU'RE CONSTANTLY SWITCHING WHO YOU'RE LISTENING TO.
>> HAVING THEM WORK WITH US ONE-ON-ONE OR IN SMALL GROUPS IS AN EXPERIENCE THAT I PERSONALLY CAN'T OFFER THEM.
I AM NOT A COLUMBUS SYMPHONY MUSICIAN.
I'M ACTUALLY A SAXOPHONE PLAYER, SO I DON'T ACTUALLY PLAY A STRING INSTRUMENT.
BUT -- NO MATTER WHERE WE'RE AT PLAYING-WISE, IN REGARDS TO STUDENT ABILITY LEVEL, THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING THEY CAN TAKE OUT OF IT.
FROM BEING WITH, BEING AROUND THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SPENT SO MUCH TIME PRODUCING SOMETHING THAT THEY LOVE.
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>> I'M CHRIS SAETTI.
I'M A VIOLIST IN THE COLUMBUS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.
>> STUDYING UNDER SOMEBODY WHO IS LIKE, REALLY PROFESSIONAL COMPARED TO A TEACHER FOR A SCHOOL, IS DIFFERENT.
PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS, THEY KNOW MORE ABOUT THE MUSIC, AND THEY COMPREHEND IT DIFFERENTLY, SO THEY GAVE US MORE POINTERS THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN OVER WITH A REGULAR SCHOOL TEACHER.
>> I THINK THERE ARE NO BETTER EXPERIENCES THAN LEARNING FROM SOMEONE WHO'S TRULY A MASTER AT THEIR OWN CRAFT.
BEING ABLE TO LEARN AND STEAL IDEAS, AND DEVELOP MY OWN ARTISTRY, MY OWN MUSICIANSHIP FROM THOSE MASTER MUSICIANS IS SOMETHING THAT'S A WORTHWHILE EXPERIENCE, EVEN THROUGH THE SCREEN.
>> HI, MY NAME IS CAROLINE HONG.
AND YOU ARE LISTENING TO ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS PIECES EVER WRITTEN FOR PIANO AND ORCHESTRA.
IT IS A PIECE BY RACHMANINOFF, AND IT IS A SET OF VARIATIONS FOR PIANO AND ORCHESTRA, AND THAT WAS THE 18th VARIATION.
>> WORKING WITH PEOPLE OF A HIGH-LEVEL, I THINK, THERE'S JUST THIS MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE EMOTIONAL CONNECTION THAT YOU BOTH HAVE WITH THE MUSIC -- SPECIFIC TO THE INSTRUMENT YOU PLAY.
WORKING WITH A VIOLINIST OF THAT LEVEL JUST -- IT JUST MAKES A LOT OF SENSE TO ME -- LIKE WHAT THEY SAY AND WHAT THEY DO.
AND, IT'S JUST GOOD TO HAVE A ROLE MODEL TO LOOK UP TO CONSTANTLY AND LIKE, SO NEARBY AS WELL.
IT'S COMFORTING AND REASSURING.
>> YOU KNOW FROM SCIENCE THAT SOUND IS ENERGY EXPRESSED IN VIBRATION.
THAT VIBRATION TRAVELS IN WAVES, AND THAT'S HOW THE SOUND GETS FROM THE SOURCE TO YOUR EAR.
>> I LIKE TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT WHAT THE SYMPHONY DOES ON THESE MAJOR STAGES -- WHAT WE DO AS PERFORMERS IS ACTUALLY IN THE SCHEME OF THINGS, A SMALL PORTION OF WHAT WE DO.
SO, WHEN YOU HAVE 47 FULL-TIME MUSICIANS LIKE WE DO, PERFORMING IN YOUR COMMUNITY, ALL OF THESE MUSICIANS LIVE AND WORK HERE, AND MOST OF THEM ARE TEACHERS ALREADY.
THEY'RE EITHER TEACHING IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM -- THEY HAVE THEIR PRIVATE STUDIOS, SO IT WAS A NATURAL TRANSITION FOR THEM TO GO FROM BEING TEACHERS IN THEIR PRIVATE STUDIOS, AND TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM, INTO DOING SOME REMOTE WORK WITH OUR CHILDREN.
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>> I HOPE THAT WE INTEGRATE MORE OF THIS TECHNOLOGY INTO WHAT WE'RE DOING BECAUSE SO MANY STUDENTS AND SO MANY PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE US BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.
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>> A NONPROFIT CAN ONLY SURVIVE ON THE GOODWILL OF THE COMMUNITY AND ON OUR PERCEPTION OF RELEVANCY TO THAT COMMUNITY.
THE SYMPHONY MAKES NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT.
WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF US BEING RELEVANT.
WHOEVER YOU ARE, WHATEVER YOUR WALK OF LIFE IS -- WE ARE HERE FOR YOU.
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>> LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COLUMBUS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AT WWW.COLUMBUSSYMPHONY.COM !
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>> SURVIVING A PANDEMIC IS ONE THING.
COMING BACK FROM A FIRE THAT DESTROYS YOUR VENUE IS SOMETHING ELSE ENTIRELY.
AND, THAT'S ONLY ONE CHAPTER IN THE HISTORY OF THE VALLEY DALE BALLROOM.
A PLACE THAT'S SHOWCASED SOME OF THE TOP NAMES IN JAZZ, BIG BAND, AND SWING FOR NEARLY A CENTURY.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THIS MUSICAL LANDMARK.
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>> THIS STARTED OUT AS A STAGECOACH STOP FROM SUNBURY TO COLUMBUS.
RIGHT DOWN SUNBURY PIKE AS THEY NORMALLY USED TO CALL IT IN THE OLD DAYS, AND IT WAS BASICALLY YOUR FARMERS WITH PRODUCE, AND THEY WOULD GO TO CENTRAL MARKET -- WHICH WAS AT THE CORNER OF RICH AND 4th.
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AND THEN, THEY DECIDED MAYBE WE SHOULD BUILD AN INN.
IT WAS "NATCHEZ UNDER THE HILL."
THAT WAS THE VERY FIRST OF ALL THE PUBS HERE ON THE LAND OF THE VALLEY DALE BALLROOM.
AND THEN, LITTLE BY LITTLE, IT GREW A LITTLE BIT.
BUT, PART OF THAT HAPPENED BECAUSE OHIO DOMINICAN WAS REALLY THE FIRST TOLL ROAD AND THAT'S WHERE THIS AREA BECAME DEVELOPED BECAUSE OF WHERE THE OHIO DOMINICAN GATES ARE.
AND, WE FIRST HAD THE LITTLE BAR -- THEN THEY ADDED THE INN THAT STAYED OVERNIGHT.
AND THEN, THEY REALIZED WE NEED A BIGGER DANCE HALL BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE COMING HERE TO DANCE.
VERY FIRST MUSIC WAS A GUITAR, A BANJO, A FIDDLE.
THEY WOULD PLAY COUNTRY MUSIC.
THEY WOULD PLAY BLUEGRASS MUSIC.
AND TO THINK, THE FIRST DANCES AT VALLEY DALE WERE SQUARE DANCES.
IT BECAME A MUSIC SPOT BACK IN THE 1800s.
IT WAS DEMOLISHED, IT WENT AWAY.
LAND WAS JUST DESOLATE FOR AWHILE.
UNTIL WE GET INTO THE EARLY 1900s, WHEN MR. MELANCON PURCHASED THE PROPERTY AND STARTED TO BUILD THE VALLEY DALE.
>> LET'S GET IT SWINGING GUYS.
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>> THIS WAS 1924.
HE WAS BOUND AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A SMASH OPENING.
THIS WAS A NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY.
MR. MELANCON IS HERE.
HIS YOUNG ASSISTANT, CHARLES, WAS STOKING THE STOVE.
AND THEY WANNA MAKE SURE IT'S REALLY WARM BECAUSE IT'S FREEZING.
IT WAS LIKE ONE OF THE COLDEST WINTERS THAT COLUMBUS HAD SEEN.
IT WAS CLOSE TO ABOUT 6 O'CLOCK, AND ONE OF THE MUSICIANS PULLED IN, AND SAW FLAMES.
CHARLES IS BACK IN THE WOOD ROOM.
THE SAP WAS DRIPPING, THE FIRE WAS BLAZING ON THIS BRAND NEW BUILDING.
BY 8:00, IT WAS CINDERS.
THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT.
THE ENTIRE BUILDING WAS GONE.
THERE WERE 23 FIRES THAT PARTICULAR NIGHT.
THE NEXT MORNING, IT WAS A SUNDAY MORNING NOW, AS YOU SEE EVERYTHING'S COLD.
BUILDING IS STILL SMOLDERING.
THE ONLY THING THAT YOU WOULD EVER SEE IN THE SNOW WAS THE GLISTENING OF THE MELTED INSTRUMENTS.
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SO THEY CLEANED EVERYTHING UP.
MR. MELANCON WAS A TROOPER.
I MEAN, HE REALLY WAS NOT GONNA BE DEFEATED.
HE BUILT IN THE BACK, IT'S FIRST OUTDOOR PAVILION.
AND, JUNE 7th, 1924, HE HAD HIS FIRST BAND DANCE HERE.
THEY HAD THIS GORGEOUS BAND SHELL.
VERY ART DECO BECAUSE WE ARE IN THE 20s.
JUST BEAUTIFUL.
LATTICE WORK AROUND THE WHOLE DANCE FLOOR ON THE EXTERIOR.
RAY EUBANKS PLAYED THAT MANY TIMES, AND HE TOLD ME HIS FAVORITE THING WAS THE SCENT OF THE ROSES AT THE OUTDOOR PAVILION WAS ALMOST MESMERIZING.
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MR. MELANCON PUT THIS BACK TOGETHER.
IT TOOK HIM ABOUT A YEAR, AND STARTED AGAIN WITH THE VALLEY DALE -- MUCH LIKE YOU SEE IT NOW.
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THEY HAD DIFFERENT PRICES, SO THAT IF YOU WERE IN THE BALCONY, IT WAS 10 CENTS.
THAT MEANS YOU DIDN'T DANCE, YOU CAME AND YOU OBSERVED.
THE OBSERVATION MEZZANINE.
IF YOU WENT OUTSIDE, IT WAS 25 CENTS.
IF YOU DANCED IN HERE, IT WAS 35 CENTS.
LATER ON, IT WENT TO 50 CENTS A PERSON, AND ONE DOLLAR A COUPLE.
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THE HOUSE BAND, "THE ORIENTAL KNIGHTS."
FROM 1923, TO 1961, LARGE BAND.
ABOUT A 12 PIECE BAND.
EARL HOOD STARTED HERE WITH "THE ORIENTAL KNIGHTS."
HE LOVED COLUMBUS.
HE DIDN'T WANT TO MOVE AWAY.
HE DIDN'T WANT TO BE A LIFETIME MUSICIAN.
HE WANTED TO STAY HERE AND DEVELOP COLUMBUS, OHIO.
AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHAT HE FOUND IN COLUMBUS, OHIO WAS ONE OF THE ALL-TIME GREAT MUSICIANS.
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SWEETS EDISON.
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THE TRUMPET PLAYER THAT HAS PLAYED WITH COUNT BASIE, THAT PLAYED WITH EVERYBODY.
YOU HAVE SWEETS EDISON THAT BECAUSE EARL SAW SOMETHING IN HIM.
AS A YOUNG MAN SAID, "YOU NEED TO LEARN TO READ MUSIC."
SWEETS DIDN'T WANT TO.
YOU NEED TO GO TO SCHOOL.
HE DIDN'T WANT TO.
EARL TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF TO TEACH HIM, AND SAID, "YOU'RE GONNA BE FAMOUS, STICK WITH ME."
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HE HAD A BLACK FEMALE PIANIST PLAYING, SO THAT WAS REALLY COOL BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T SEE VERY MANY FEMALE MUSICIANS.
LET ALONE, TO HAVE A PIANIST -- RIGHT THERE WITH THE HOUSE BAND.
EARL HOOD, HE OPENED FOR FRANK SINATRA.
HE OPENED FOR THE TOMMY DORSEY BAND.
HE OPENED FOR DUKE ELLINGTON, COUNT BASIE, BENNY GOODMAN, BING CROSBY, PERRY COMO, ALL THESE PEOPLES AND ALL THEIR BANDS.
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THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED THROUGH AMERICA CALLED "JOURNEY BANDS."
AND "JOURNEY BANDS" WOULD TRAVEL THROUGH THE CITIES AND THE BACKROADS AND PLAY THE HIGHEST END TO THE LOWEST END FACILITY -- IT DIDN'T MATTER.
THERE WERE MUSICIANS.
THEY WERE ON A BUS.
AND THEY WANTED TO PLAY.
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ON OUR STAGE WE HAVE RADIO BOOTHS BECAUSE WHEN THESE BANDS WERE ON STAGE, THEY WEREN'T PLAYING JUST FOR THE COLUMBUS AUDIENCE.
THEY WERE PLAYING FOR THE NATIONAL AUDIENCE.
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LABELED CBS AND WE HAVE MUTUAL BROADCASTING SYSTEM.
THEY BROADCAST, ANNOUNCED, BLOW-BY-BLOW, SAYING "HI" TO THE KIDS.
SAYING, "HEY MOM AND DAD, I SEE YOUR CHILDREN."
KIND OF LIKE, BEFORE AMERICAN BANDSTAND.
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SO THE ONE STATION THAT WAS RELEGATED TO THE STAGE WAS THE ONE WE ALL KNOW SO WELL.
NBC.
THINK ABOUT THAT.
THEY WERE NOTHING AT THAT TIME, IN THE 30s.
BUT GUESS WHAT HAPPENED IN 1961?
NBC PURCHASED MUTUAL BROADCASTING SYSTEM.
THAT'S WHY YOU KNOW NBC, BUT YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW MUTUAL BROADCASTING SYSTEM.
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CORPORATE AMERICA AT THAT TIME REALLY DIDN'T CARE ABOUT TEENAGERS.
THEY WERE FOCUSING IN ON THE 35 TO 55-YEAR-OLD GROUP.
WHEN MORE AND MORE OF THESE BANDS CAME, IT WASN'T SO MUCH THE OLDER CROWD, ALTHOUGH THEY WERE HERE, IT WAS THE TEENAGERS.
THEY WERE FLOCKING TO IT BECAUSE IT WAS EXCITING, IT WAS NEW.
SO ONE NIGHT, A BAND WAS HERE.
IT WAS THE BENNY GOODMAN BAND.
AND WITH THE BENNY GOODMAN BAND, ONE OF THE FAMOUS PEOPLE WERE FLETCHER HENDERSON WHO WROTE SO MANY CHARTS, AND GENE KRUPA.
DO I NEED TO SAY MORE ABOUT GENE KRUPA, THE DRUMMER?
EVERYBODY WAS NEW.
I MEAN, THINK ABOUT THIS.
THIS WAS THE BIRTHING, EVEN BEFORE THE BIG BAND ERA THAT WAS HAPPENING NOW.
I'M IN THAT LATE 20S, 30s ERA.
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BENNY GOODMAN WAS ON STAGE.
THE BAND WAS PLAYING.
AND WHAT HAPPENED WITH BENNY GOODMAN'S BAND -- KIDS, THE AUDIENCE WOULD LIKE IT -- BUT THEY MIGHT LEAVE AFTER THE FIRST SET.
"OH, THAT'S NICE."
"OKAY, LET'S GO SOMEWHERE ELSE."
BENNY GOODMAN WOULD GIVE UP, AND GENE KRUPA SAYS TO BENNY GOODMAN, "WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THESE CHARTS -- FLETCHER HENDERSON HAS BEEN WRITING THESE CHARTS, LET'S DO IT.
LET'S STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING -- LET'S PLAY OUR MUSIC.
LET'S GIVE IT TO THEM."
AND BENNY'S LIKE, "THEY'RE NOT READY."
HE GOES, "LET'S GIVE IT TO THEM, LET'S SEE."
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THEY STARTED EVERY NUMBER THAT YOU CAN THINK OF.
JUST KILLING IT.
THE KIDS THAT WERE SITTING THERE POLITELY BECAME ALMOST LIKE A ZOO.
THEY WERE SCREAMING, THEY WERE JUMPING AROUND THE BALCONY.
THEY WERE HOLLERING.
THEY WERE FLOCKING THE STAGE.
THERE WAS NOTHING LIKE IT.
BENNY GOODMAN WAS LIKE, SHOCKED.
THE MUSICIANS WERE LIKE IN AWE.
GENE KRUPA WAS LIKE, KILLING IT GOING, "I TOLD YA, BENNY, I TOLD YA.
WE HAVE IT, WE HAVE IT.
LISTEN TO ME."
NOW THAT WAS JULY -- LATE JULY 27th OF 1935.
NOW, WE'RE GONNA FAST FORWARD TO AUGUST 21, 1935.
>> AND THIS IS THE MUSIC OF BENNY GOODMAN AND HIS ORCHESTRA PLAYING FOR YOU FROM THE PALOMAR IN LOS ANGELES.
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OH MY, GOODBYE M >> BENNY'S DOING THE SAME THING.
THE OLD STUFF.
AND GENE KRUPA GOES, "OH MY GOD, HAVEN'T YOU LEARNED ANYTHING?
DON'T YOU REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED IN THE MIDWEST?
THROW EVERYTHING AWAY, LET'S GIVE IT TO THEM.
LET'S LET THEM HEAR WHAT THE BENNY GOODMAN BAND IS ABOUT."
AND THEY DID, AND THAT WAS THE BIRTH OF SWING.
SO BENNY GOODMAN HAS ALWAYS BEEN CONTRIBUTED TO IT.
GLEN GRAY AND THE CASA LOMA BAND HAVE GOTTA ALSO GET SOME CREDIT.
OUR LITTLE COLUMBUS, OHIO IS A LANDMARK.
WE ARE ICONIC.
THIS IS THE CROWN JEWEL OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.
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I GUESS I'M SO PASSIONATE ABOUT IT BECAUSE I WANT EVERYBODY IN COLUMBUS TO REALLY COME HERE AND SEE HOW BEAUTIFUL THIS BUILDING IS.
AND TO LEARN ITS HISTORY -- AND TO JUST EXPERIENCE IT.
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>> "BROAD & HIGH" WILL RETURN TO THE VALLEY DALE BALLROOM THIS FALL TO LOOK AT ITS HISTORY SINCE THE 1950s.
STAY TUNED.
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>> IT WAS A YEAR OF SCRATCH PLANS FOR THE EARLY INTERVAL, COLUMBUS' RESIDENT EARLY-MUSIC ENSEMBLE.
BUT AS THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC WORE ON, THE GROUP DID SOME CREATIVE THINGS IN ORDER TO KEEP REHEARSING AND PERFORMING SAFELY.
"CLASSICAL 101's" JENNIFER HAMBRICK VISITED A DRESS REHEARSAL AND TALKED WITH MUSICIANS ABOUT HOW THE PANDEMIC CHANGED THE WAY THEY WORK.
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>> TONIGHT WE ARE HAVING OUR DRESS REHEARSAL TO GET READY FOR SATURDAY'S TAPING.
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WE'RE GETTING USED TO THE PERFORMANCE SPACE BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN REHEARSING IN MY LIVING ROOM, WHICH WE CAN BE SOCIALLY DISTANCED IN.
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BUT OUR RECORDER PLAYER, WHO IS A WIND INSTRUMENT OBVIOUSLY, AND NOW WE HAVE THIS NEW -- THIS NEW TERM AN AEROSOL-PRODUCING INSTRUMENT.
WE KIND OF PUT HIM IN THE ADJACENT DINING ROOM BEHIND GLASS POCKET DOORS THAT HAPPENED TO BE IN MY HOUSE, SO HE WAS REALLY IN A SEPARATE ROOM, AND KIND OF DISTANT, AND REALLY KIND OF HARD TO HEAR, AND TUNE, AND DIFFERENT THINGS.
>> HIS FRONT ROOM IS LARGE ENOUGH THAT IT CAN SUSTAIN ALL THREE NON-WIND PLAYERS DISTANCED AND MASKED, BUT FOR ME, I'M THE RECORDER PLAYER.
I CAN'T PLAY MASKED.
I HAVE TO BE UNMASKED.
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THERE WAS ONE REHEARSAL BACK IN THE SUMMER WHERE I WASN'T FEELING WELL.
DIDN'T WANT TO RISK IT, SO I SIMPLY ZOOMED INTO THE REHEARSAL, TURNED MY SOUND OFF, AND PLAYED ALONG WITH THEM, SO THE REHEARSAL WAS FOR MY BENEFIT, AND NOT REALLY FOR THEIRS, AT ALL.
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AT THE VERY BEGINNING IT WAS SCARY, BECAUSE BEING A WIND PLAYER, WE DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER IT WAS EVER GOING TO BE SAFE FOR ME, AT ALL.
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BUT, ONCE WE WERE ABLE TO SORT OF GET A HANDLE ON SOME OF THE SCIENCE AND YOU KNOW, LEARN ABOUT AEROSOLS AND EVERYTHING ELSE LIKE THAT, WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE ACCOMMODATIONS AND SO, IT ACTUALLY BECAME FOR A GROUP AS SMALL AS OURS, RELATIVELY EASY TO ACCOMMODATE.
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>> WE WERE IN REHEARSAL LAST FEBRUARY AND MARCH, WITH THIS VERY PROGRAM, BUT WITH A SINGER BECAUSE THE LARGER PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, TWO 40 MINUTE HALVES INCLUDED A NUMBER OF MAJOR VOCAL WORKS, AND THAT WAS GONNA BE PRESENTED IN APRIL HERE AT THIS CHURCH.
AND, OF COURSE, THAT CONCERT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
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WE JUST SNIPPED OUT ALL OF THE VOCAL PARTS OF THIS PROGRAM.
YOU JUST CAN'T SUSTAIN AN AUDIENCE FOR A 90 MINUTE VIRTUAL PERFORMANCE, SO WE REALLY TRIMMED THIS DOWN TO BE UNDER AN HOUR, AND TAKING THE VOCAL WORKS OUT OF THE PERFORMANCE ACTUALLY WORKED -- IN TERMS OF TIME, BUT IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE THEM THERE BECAUSE THEY ARE EXTRAORDINARY WORKS AND ADD A WHOLE OTHER SOUND AND ANOTHER TEXTURE, BUT NOT JUST NOW.
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BECAUSE THE PERFORMING WE HAD DONE HAS BEEN ON VIDEO, THE VISUAL ELEMENT BECOMES REALLY IMPORTANT IN TRYING TO BE AS COMPELLING AS POSSIBLE VISUALLY.
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SO THAT'S NOT SOMETHING I'VE REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT THAT MUCH BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T PERFORM IN THAT MEDIUM.
OF COURSE, PERFORMING TO AN EMPTY ROOM, WE ALL FEEL REALLY STRANGE ABOUT DOING THAT, BUT WE'VE LEARNED NEW STUFF.
WE HAVE NEW SKILLSETS NOW THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE, AND SO I THINK, GOING FORWARD, A LOT OF THAT TECHNOLOGY IS GOING TO REMAIN IN PLACE AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL MAYBE ENABLE US TO REACH A BROADER AUDIENCE.
BUT IT WILL BE A RELIEF TO SEE FACES AND FRIENDS IN THE AUDIENCE AND PLAY FOR THEM.
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>> THAT'S OUR SHOW.
REMEMBER, YOU CAN FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES ONLINE AT WWW.WOSU.ORG AS WELL AS ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL.
FOR ALL OF US HERE AT WOSU, I'M KATE QUICKEL.
THANKS FOR WATCHING.
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I'VE BEEN WALKING M !
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THIS ROAD ALONE M !
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THE DARKNESS TRIES M !
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TO SWALLOW ME WHOLE M !
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I FIND MY WAY M !
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WHEN I LOOK INSIDE M !
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IT SPARKS A FIRE M !
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THAT HELPS ME FIGHT M !
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AND I'LL KEEP GOING M !
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'CAUSE I'M A BEACON M !
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I'M A FLAME M !
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IN THE NIGHT M !
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I'M A FIRE M !
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BURNING BRIGHT M !
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TRY AS YOU MIGHT M !
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JUST WON'T !
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STEAL MY LIGHT M !
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I'LL CARRY THIS UP M !
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TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE M !
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I'M A FLAME M !
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IN THE NIGHT M !
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I'M A FLAME M !
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IN THE NIGHT M !
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I'M A FLAME M !
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IN THE NIGHT M !
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I FOUND MY WAY M !
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BUT AS I LOOK AROUND M !
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THIS WORLD IS TIRED M !
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AND CRYING M !
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BEEN TOLD DON'T M !
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RACE AGAINST THE TIDE M !
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LATELY I COULD TRY M !
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TO CLEAR THE WATERS M !
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WE'RE JUST IN TIME M !
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>> PRODUCTION OF "BROAD & HIGH" IS FUNDED IN PART BY THE GREATER COLUMBUS ARTS COUNCIL.
SUPPORTING ARTS, ADVANCING CULTURE AND CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY TO ARTISTS, EVENTS AND CLASSES AT COLUMBUSMAKESART.COM.
FROM THESE CONTRIBUTING SPONSORS AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
THANK YOU.
Broad and High is a local public television program presented by WOSU
Production of Broad & High is funded in part by the Greater Columbus Arts Council, the Columbus State Hospitality Management Program and viewers like you!