How to Get to Carnegie? YouTube, YouTube, YouTube

Cyber orchestra created to merge world music

By Ambreen Ali, Newser Staff

Posted Dec 2, 2008 1:55 PM CST

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How to Get to Carnegie? YouTube, YouTube, YouTube — Cast members fill the stage in the final dress rehearsal of Tan Dun's "The First Emperor," at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York. (AP Photo/Metropolitan Opera, Marty Sohl)

The road to Carnegie Hall now passes through YouTube, which is borrowing a note from American Idol to give aspiring classical musicians a chance to perform on the world-famous stage. To snag a seat in the cyber-orchestra, contestants must download and perform—using a liberal interpretation of "instruments"—a composition inspired by New York's streets, BBC reports.

"The Internet is an invisible Silk Road," said Tan Dun, the composer behind Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon's score and the Beijing Olympics theme, who wrote the YouTube piece to join musicians of all styles—and playing all instruments. "You can use anything, sticks, metal. Anything can be made to make music or beat a rhythm." The public will vote for the winners from a judges-selected shortlist; they'll get to perform during a 3-day summit.
(More classical music stories.)

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