Main Street, Wyoming; 904; Mountains & Music: The Past and Future of the Grand Teton Music Festival

It's concert time at teatime village you're on the shoulders of Grand Teton National Park and the world class orchestra of the Grand Teton Music Festival is tuning up. We had quite a fantastic collection of musicians here. There's more than cowboys here. There's actually culture mountains and music. The two best things in life as far as I'm concerned. Frankly this is Paradise. It's concert time at teatime village here on the shoulders of Grand Teton National Park

and the world class orchestra of the Grand Teton Music Festival is tuning up. Quite a fantastic collection of musicians here. I think the possibilities are. Unlimited. There's more than cowboys here. There's actually culture. You're still trying to work and play at the same time. Mountains and music the two best things in life. Frankly this is Paradise. Dr.. RUTH. Is. Singing a song about Williams low extremely low. Down which. Means to me the same as dance room. Maggie. Well you've got your feet down on Main Street. For eight weeks every summer. An all star orchestra gathers in Teton Village for the

Grand Teton music festival. Musicians from around the country and around the world vie for a chair and a chance to mix business with pleasure. Above 6000 feet. The festival offers a rare blend of high altitude scenery and a highly creative environment. I think that it's the sky is the limit. We could. Play anything here. We play brand new pieces that were just written or played music that's 500 years old. And I think the audience would be open to. The Grand Teton music festival grew out of a community in Teton County that has welcomed artists and musicians since the 1800s. Well the classical music really did begin very early in Jackson Hole in the late 1800s.

The sergeant brought had a piano brought over the past if you can imagine that not the current path as you know it for this was pretty treacherous in the winter time. And so it was really something. And she used to play her violin by Jackson Lake. In fact we have a wonderful photograph of Edith Sergeant playing her violin up in Jackson Lake. It's a great beginning of music or classical music in Jackson Hole. That's one of the interesting things about Jackson I think is that it's that even though that there might be this crusty Belconnen cowpuncher and rancher culture always seems to have been a part of the valley you know people here have had to make their own entertainment for a hundred years and they would make their own art make their own furniture make their own music. And so there was an audience here probably thirsting for for that kind of thing for classical music.

For generations a scattering of Teton County locals made the unconventional leap from running a ranch to running through classical scales. And by the late 1950s a musician named George Huff Smith was eager to expand the reach of Jacksons classical music community. He was a composer a classically trained composer. He grew up in Brazil and studied with Viola Lobos and and Paul Hindemith and quite an interesting pedigree. I studied at Yale. I studied with some of the biggest names in America and abroad. I remember him telling me a story about sitting on that porch and looking and just kind of brainstorming this idea of a classical music festival. Again he was he was a classically trained composer and a pianist and I don't know whatever instruments that he played but he was here and there are other people here who were who were talented musicians those musicians helped form the core of the local Fine Arts Guild which took up the cause of creating a local music festival

the Fine Arts Guild was really the driving force in the early years in Jackson Hole they were led by a prominent woman in Jackson history. Cons will have gone too hard. She really felt that this area needed to have a class called music component some more culture brought into this rule area. And so she was very instrumental in getting things going for the early days of the music festival. We. Really began in the high school gym that's where the first music concerts occurred. Then we moved to a tent in Teton Village. Sometimes they get in the tent would blow away. Or they get hailstorms. I mean they were pretty exposed to the elements. I think it was a fairly small orchestra or a fairly brief season in those early days but but still even those early

days are attracting some some interesting talent and that talent attracted a growing audience including musicologist Marianne Feldman. Feldman stumbled upon the festival's inaugural season in 1962 while vacationing in the Tetons. Lo and behold there was going to be a concert. So we thought wow afternoon concert. That's what we need. It was the debut of what has grown into this really truly world class music festival and a great pride for Wyoming. But I think for all all of the American musical scene they invited link tongue and and to come in and conduct in 1967. And once they saw Layng and he was inviting many of the friends that he knew he came out of Philadelphia all of a sudden the level of musicianship and quality just blossomed into something pretty special. To me the most healthy way for a musician to play when you feel

that you are ready. I'm excited. Can't wait to play for your colleagues and your friends. I've always heard over the years Lincs always told me it's friends making music with other friends. That is his real philosophy. It's. Set up so that you can play as much music or as little music as you like. People have the opportunity to relax and to take the time to prepare something carefully. If they want to do that. In a professional situation. You don't really have that opportunity very often. You prepare something you play the concert the next day you prepare something else you play the concert. And. It's pretty hectic and you're always kind of scrambling to stay with it sometimes. Here. That's not the case here you have plenty of leisure to really explore the music. Link Tung's pro musician approach to directing made the festival a

magnet for talented players. A lot of friends of mine. Were trying to get into this festival was already a very popular. Place and it was a long list of. People waiting in line to play here. You come out here and you have chosen to come out here and everyone has chosen to come out. And why did they like to come out here. Well let's just walk out the door and see where we are. We're on the slope of a great mountain. We're looking at the most beautiful valley in America. You know it's it's your choice to come to him but enjoy the music and the environment. In the 1970s the festivals allure extended inside with the construction of walk Festival Hall in Teton Village. The hall is named for the walk family and its creation was spearheaded by Margot Wong who at the time was the festival's business manager and the wife of Lynge tongue. I think. That they knew early on that they had something special going and they wanted

to have a venue that matched the specialness of pulling this ensemble of people together. I want to say that it was built for a fairly modest sum at least by today's standards. I was under a million dollars as I recall and in 19 in 1970s it open in 74. And the figure $600000 it sticks in my head which put me away when I threw that figure. I can't buy a single family house in Jacksonville for six hundred thousand dollars let alone build a 800 seat concert hall or concert hall first of all this is very intimate. So people you almost if you sit and Robi you feel like you are part of the orchestra. I mean they're right here in front of you. You are looking them in the aisle you're smiling at them they're smiling at you they're playing you feel the music. I mean beyond any experience you could possibly have anywhere else

except in a live performance. Laying. Tongue conducted those performances until 1996 when he retired from the festival. I mean laying off his talents is a rather austere gentleman. He struck me as kind of a stern person and and perhaps not the best communicator when it came to reaching reaching a wide wide kind of commercial audience that that it's probably time for the festival to start reaching. Whereas agio way his immediate successor was a dashing handsome young man. And and it was a kind of a card and had a real knack for food metaphors. And for him comparing and yet it never failed to compare putting a program together to like a menu or orchestra is like a

hamburger and you have that different creed. It's to the point that it was kind of a joke. It was more of an entertainer. Wessling tongue was kind of an old school arts manager kind of guy. After always departure in 2002 renowned Maestro Donald run icles came to the festival in 2005 as a guest conductor. The festival was in search of a new music director but no one expected run Pickle's to throw his hat and bring. Down. Radicals is a unique position. He was on the A-list and everyone told us we couldn't approach him. After a week in his valley. He came to me and said you know I'd be willing to consider it. Immediately thereafter the search committee said unanimously. He's our guy. Ask him. I think it took 20 minutes to reach agreement. The essence of it is he he gets Jackson Hole. He loves the hiking the skiing the biking

the nature. And he's really excited about this place. I came one year and was really quite blown away by the beauty not only the beauty of the the the. The standard of the orchestra the standards of the organization. He really understands where we are in our life. We are a very mature organization at this point with over 40 years of time and he knows where we need to go next run icles formidable resume traces an international career one that began in his native Scotland and continues to carry him around the globe from the San Francisco Opera to the Berlin Philharmonic to the Atlanta Symphony. Music was always. Number seem to be any question about. What I would do with my life if I could. It's it music. Not that he's not a tall person but he's got an amazing presence. He's very erect and he's got a very broad upper body and

and he has that halo of gray hair that and a beard that you know he look he looks like he could have been sharing a stein of beer with Beethoven. I mean he really looks like he comes from that era. He's so genuine and he's so very very kind. I mean he's soft spoken but really knows what he wants. He's. Got such a good reputation. And. The musicians really like him he's not just a real. A real nice way about him and. Extremely clear on what he's looking for artistically. I mean he really. Understands what he wants. From the orchestra. And it's never sounded finer. Moments.

I think although I travel a great deal and it takes me literally all over the world. What mitigates. The travel is the fact that there is one language that is spoken about his music. It's an international language. And. I can be in London I can be in Ghana I can be in San Francisco. And I'm. Likely working with people. The same people. In addition to run vocals skill direction. These musicians come seeking inspiration from one another. And I think that's one of the most enjoyable parts of this festival by them

musicians coming from all over the United States and meeting new people every year they like playing with new people. You know when you're a musician guess what you're trapped. That whole musical season right next to you and the next year is something called your stand partner. Right stand partner it's worse than a wife. Because you know you're trapped. In this intense concentration every minute. It's such fun it's a little bit like having a dolly on it's a little liaison in the summer with somebody else that you sight right behind you. It's such a relief it's so refreshing. They come from all different walks of life so to speak from the old cancer world in this country and come together for. What this eight week festival. But most musicians are only here for two or three of those. And yet in such a short period of time they grow together to be this very cohesive group as he has explained to me. If we can get them here once they'll always come back and he's right. And many of them are to returning here literally for decades.

It is a commitment that they made. It is most certainly not a financial. Commitment in the sense that is not the financial rewards but being here. I think many of them spend their entire year looking forward to getting back to meet their friends. It's really quite unique the the camaraderie and. Really quite moving on the first day of rehearsal. These musicians seeing one literally after a year and the embraces and the hugs and the good words talking business talking business. Wanting our next. One. No no then next year this becomes kind of like can I say going to camp people you really like but always people coming in to when the musicians arrive. They must adapt their rehearsal and performance routines to the demands of Alpine living. When players try to get here a few days early because of the. Lack of oxygen I think over a period of two or three days they can get

used to it. We don't just fly and do it. I run for 30 minutes to get my breathing going and then I play long notes and. Some scales just to. Have my body ready to play because that's all I think about sort of like an athlete you see when others are stretching like this or taking their arms around like that. I always have to get here about an hour before and I'm like a piano and you see if you have a piano in a concert. The piano tuners out there chewing the piano. But the harpist has to do it all themselves. So I get stuck with that job. These are not rock stars these are not people with extensive riders who asked were the red MNM is or the cherry coke. We don't do any high maintenance items at all. Now all the pieces are in place. Music is distributed. The instruments are tuned and the musicians are poised for a great performance. Another beautiful night in Jackson Hole. And we're about to hear music and walk Festival

Hall music that's a match for these mountains a spectacle in song. When I call the big fat beautiful expensive symphony orchestra that has as many as 100 players. We have been to Quodling Ironically the best kept secret in classical music for a long time. Thankfully we're getting a secret now. We've really had a lot of changes in the last decade. We've added music in the whole. It's the largest Fourth of July event in this valley. Eight or ten thousand people come to our country. We've added a substantial education outreach program for children in the local school. Before our efforts there was really no music education for these kids. Now we

spent over $100000 a year supporting mentors and teachers in the middle and upper schools. We've added a wine auction as a fundraiser which 10 years ago didn't exist. It's now one of the. Top 10 wine auctions in the country for charitable purposes. We've done a number of winter programs which are now important to the people who come into this valley for this scheme. Through all of it. We've been expanding it and trying to reach deeper into this community and. Find ways to be part of the entire arts community in Jackson which is a very growing and very vibrant place. Donald radical's has a great vision for this festival. Continuing to perform the fabulous music we've always offered. But increasingly Donald intends to bring in some truly global stars of the classical music world. I can't. List all the names we're still in discussions. But by attracting Donald with his great reputation we are able to attract others who have the same passion he does.

So we'll be seeing a lot more. Stars between their performances in New York Berlin Vienna or whatever Jackson Hole will be a place not want to be. It. This is one of the best audiences I've experienced in many festivals which have.

Been. In the past. It's quite a racket. Audience Hall perhaps because many of them are hearing many of these works for the very first time. They seem quite caught up in the. In the spirit of the music. I'm happy to say that our audience is actually growing younger which is not the trend in most classical music. Performance. We are still targeting the Jackson audience because as tourists come to this valley they're expecting Cowboys they're not expecting culture. There's been actually a fair amount of study done in Jackson over the past few years about quote unquote cultural tourists. And the idea is that there is a certain kind of tourist that that will go to a concert that will go to a play or that will go to some kind of culture or some similar cultural event and that the demographics of that group of that class of tourist is that they they

they stay longer they spend more money. I mean that's a group of people that more and more Teton County is trying to court the renovations at walk Festival Hall are part of this effort the Grand Teton music festival hopes to make the Hall a must stop destination for those millions of tourists flowing through Jackson. If you can imagine the hall our concert hall as a large instrument all of the sound waves that go around in it and the vibrations the stage is it's just part of a soundboard. And we're looking to make sure that we replace this soundboard with the same material would the same so that it'll give the same vibrations that it'll give the same integrity that has had in the past. The walls are scalped and shaped and it's all to kind of live the sounds together. It's it's a really interesting building and it's very exciting to see it inside and think about how it works.

So truth I finally understand the need for for the renovations and I'm sure it's going to make for a much better concert environment. You won't have to hear bulldozers backing up in the middle of soft movements. But I think I'll probably miss hearing those summertime thunder claps there and some very beautifully timed storms that have rolled through. I think there was a. Time when the Alpine Symphony was playing which is Strauss going into the mountains. Climbing the mountains and coming back from that. And you know there's a storm that rolls through and die and I couldn't I was pretty sure that it was during that piece that a storm did in fact roll through. The newly insulated rock festival home make the rumble of afternoon thunderstorms. But within the hall there is sure to be an increasing number of

unconventional sounds. Believe it or not I'm sure you'll recognize this. I had done. A flex a tone this you know this is a Chinese gong. Several Tom Toms. Right over here by Tom Toms to stare down. Here's something for clocks and for. This I don't know what this guy was thinking but it's a serious piece with all the Spike Jones effects put into it. Under Maestro run tickles the festival not only welcomes modern pieces it's also commissioning new music written specifically with the Tetons in mind. We're in the process of meeting composers. Bringing them here for them to drink in this remarkable. Spot and go away and

be inspired or inspired and go away and write something. Music unique to the world. Unique to the valley will be performed. More than ever before the grand Teton music festival establishes Wyoming as both a laboratory and liberating venue for amazing musical talent. I have been quite. Seduced by first and foremost I have to say first and foremost by the great orchestra. And. I hope that this is the beginning of a long and fruitful partnership. Down the road the wheels singing a song about the little town street extremely low clouds piled up like boiler room. As wide as the sea.

The big crew did games to narrow me down. Main Street the same chance route baggy clothes we use one you've got your feet down. Main Street. About. River. Wind River is from Oregon Trail or the deep cold. Still you go on the road.