Strings Music Festival Coins Different Tempo Definition

Different Tempo:  dif▪fer▪ent  tem▪po, noun

A rate of movement or music that is not alike in character or quality; dissimilar. Often, a non-classical concert.

Strings Music Festival coined the phrase Different Tempo to classify all non-classical concerts. Music at these concerts has ranged from jazz to blues, theatre to opera, country to folk, and rock to pop. Each season a variety of artists is presented to appeal to many tastes in music.

Strings Program Book - Different Tempo Series - 1994

Different Tempo Series History

1990: Leo Kottke and Karla Bonoff were the first non-classical musicians to hold concerts at Strings.
1994: The Different Tempo Series was born. Performers included Free Flight, Edgar Meyer, and Mark O'Connor.

1995: The Different Tempo Series moved to Friday nights.

Battle of the Super Bowl vs. Classic Opera

Cheapest NY City Opera Ticket: $25

Cheapest NY Giants Ticket: $75

Clearly the assumption that no one goes to opera because it’s too expensive is false.

Not to mention that Super Bowl tickets are going for as much as $14,000. With even the cheapest Super Bowl ticket, you could buy more than six whole season subscriptions to the NY City Opera. The choice is difficult: treat your family to entertainment for a whole year or splurge on yourself for one night.

While the Super Bowl looms, my statement a while back that society gathers at the playing field rather than at the opera house is more apparent than ever. But why do Americans pay top dollar for sporting events and think a classical concert is too expensive?

Favorite Classical Pieces at Strings

Strings Music Festival began with only classical concerts, so it’s not surprising that some of our patron’s favorite memories are about classical pieces:

“Rhapsody in Blue”

“The beauty of Haydn’s “Gyspsy” Trio, Poco adagio, cantabile. Tears streamed down my face - I had to sniffle during the trills.” -Susan Davis

“The orchestra performances.”

“Performing “A Soldiers Tale” by Stravinsky with Andres Cárdénes on the violin, leading and Verne Lundquist as the narrator.” -Joe Williams

“This year’s full symphony orchestra performances and the Mendelssohn piece four years ago.”

“The chamber music, loved it!”

Classical music remains an important part of Strings programming with concerts every Wednesday and Saturday night during the summer festival season. Which composers would you most like to hear at Strings? Leave your comments below.

Spotlight: Ruthie Foster

"There's no denying the power of Foster's monstrous voice..."
     -Paste Magazine

Ruthie Foster

In the past few years, Ruthie Foster has exploded in the music world, experimenting with blues, rock, gospel, folk, R&B, and country music. “It didn’t matter to me what genre it was… I just took it all in as great music - music that moved me.”

Foster performs from the heart staying true to her core message, “that through all of the ups and downs of living, you must stay true to yourself. The pain as well as the joy of love, the strength it takes to weather life’s challenges, the hope that grows from seeds of faith and wisdom inspires my music.”

Strings Announces Online Gift Shop

When you visit Steamboat Springs once a year, are you part of the group that wants to see the new posters, hats, and t-shirts? For the shopaholics out there, some anticipate peaking in the window of the Strings Music Festival Box Office to see what’s new. This patron even included swag as a favorite memory:

The cookbook! Time for a new edition?

If you missed out on buying a 2011 t-shirt or don’t want to wait until next summer to get the 2011 Highlights CD, now is your chance! You can buy cookbooks, t-shirts, CDs, and gift certificates online via our newly launched gift shop. Get your favorite Strings swag all year long.

Click here for the Strings Gift Shop.

Steamboat Springs Musicians Rise to Fame

If one of your New Year’s Resolutions was to play more music, this week is your chance to act on your intentions.  

The Tugboat will be hosting the Colorado SongwritersCompetition presented by the 7908 Aspen Songwriters Festival tonight at 9:30pm. Finalists from six Colorado towns will be invited to attend the festival for free and the winner will perform at the 7908 finale concert. 

Steamboat Springs is a hot spot to launch a career in music. Check out these other famous musicians who have ties to Steamboat: 

We Want Your Input

Strings Music Festival has undergone many changes in the past 25 years, and we know the future holds even more. We would love to hear your opinion about Strings Music Festival. This survey will take less than five minutes to fill out and will help us plan our program for the years ahead.

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Make Music Part of Your New Year's Resolution

This year the National Association of Music Merchants is urging people to get involved in “Pledge to Play,” which encourages those who have always wanted to play a musical instrument to achieve their dream. A recent Gallup Pole indicates that the majority of Americans wish they did play a musical instrument - 85% in fact.

The “Pledge to Play” website, wannaplaymusic.com, has information about the benefits of playing music. Studies have shown that children who play music do better in school and in life. Adults who play music have lower stress levels and a positive outlet for emotions.