Boston Symphony Orchestra

This discography addresses all the recordings made by The Boston Symphony Orchestra and by the Boston Symphony Chamber Players. Each entry contains complete details of the recording session and work, including all the soloists and choruses, as well as issued discs and tapes in many formats. The material is cross-referenced in indexes organized by composer, conductor, and soloist. In addition to commercial recordings, this volume has separate sections on recordings issued by the U.S. government, recordings made by BSO musicians under other ensemble names, and 'pirate' recordings of BSO concerts and broadcasts.

The Boston Pops Orchestra was the first orchestra of its kind in the USA: founded in 1885 from the ranks of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, its remit was to offer concerts of light symphonic music. Over the years, and in particular during the fifty-year tenure of its most famous conductor, Arthur Fiedler, the Pops established itself as the premier US orchestra specialising in bridging the fields of 'art music' and 'popular music'. When the Hollywood composer John Williams was assigned the conductorship of the orchestra in 1980, he energetically advocated for the inclusion of film-music repertoire, changing Fiedler's approach significantly. This Element offers a historical survey of the pioneering agency that the Boston Pops had under Williams's tenure in the legitimisation of film music as a viable repertoire for concert programmes. The case study is complemented with more general discussions on the aesthetic of film music in concert.

In 1958, under the direction of Prof. Marvin Rabin, the Boston University College of Fine Arts established a youth orchestra for junior and senior high school students from the Greater Boston area. The Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras (BYSO), formerly known as the Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras, has flourished over the past 50 years, expanding beyond the original single orchestra and launching many new artistic initiatives. BYSO members have experienced countless unforgettable moments, including performances at the White House, Carnegie Hall, and renowned concert venues across the world. Today, under the musical leadership of Federico Cortese, the BYSO serves over 400 young musicians from 126 communities throughout New England. The BYSO is one of Boston's most prestigious arts organizations, with a programmatic scope that includes three full symphonic orchestras, a string orchestra, a preparatory wind ensemble, four chamber orchestras, 50 chamber music ensembles, and a nationally recognized string training program for underrepresented youth from inner-city communities. The BYSO has selected images from its extensive archives to exhibit the rich history of this organization.