Soundbites
Verbal remedy
With the thrills of Wordle, the daily verbal brainteaser, currently taking the internet by storm, the music world has spotted a bandwagon and, predictably enough, jumped straight on it. Cue Byrdle which, named after the Tudor composer, takes the same format as Wordle – namely try to identify a fiveletter word in as few guesses as possible – but always has a choral music-related term as its answer. Fair to say that word games are enjoying a bit of a Renaissance…
Plucky winner
Sean Shibe has been named as the first guitarist to win the Leonard Bernstein Award. Decided by a panel of judges that includes two of the composer and conductor’s children, Jamie Bernstein Thomas and Alexander Bernstein, the award includes a prize of 10,000 euros and a showcase concert at the Schleswig-holstein Music Festival in Germany. Previous winners include pianist Lang Lang and organist Cameron Carpenter.
A loan from Lynn
Helen Nightengale, wife of the late Lynn Harrell, has set up a new initiative to ensure that the cellist’s beloved Harrell Dungey instrument will continue to be played to admiring audiences. Applications are now being welcomed from talented young players for the Harrell Dungey Cello Loan Competition, the winner of which will enjoy a two-year loan of the cello, with the possibility of an extension of another year.
Hungary for more
A new museum dedicated to Hungarian music has opened in Budapest. Situated in the Hungarian capital’s City Park, the
Sou Fujimoto-designed House of Music is a celebration of all things melodious, from Liszt and Bartók to Hungarian pop music. It will feature both permanent and temporary exhibitions and will be able to stage concerts.