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Moderator: I want to welcome all schools that are participating--from Campbell Drive in Florida to the Runkle School in Massachusetts. We're being joined by the composer of "Mahler in Blue Light" and the pianist for this performance--Larry Thomas Bell. So feel free to start sending your questions. By the way, if you had trouble hearing the performance on RealAudio, please check on our home page later to be able to download the recording.

Mount Vernon Junior HS: Thank you for the terrific concert!

Larry Bell: You are very welcome! We really enjoyed it too.

Runkle School: Why did he choose the top range of the sax in the opening?

Larry Bell: The saxophonist, Ken, suggested that I use the altimissimo register. I first heard these extremely high notes on a recording of the Dahl concerto and decided that I would use it at important structural points.

Runkle School: Did you feel any pressure while performing?

Larry Bell: Of course! Specifically, when you play with others you have a responsibility that is a little different from playing solo.

Mount Vernon Junior HS: How many instruments are in the groups?

Larry Bell: The trio is a unique form in this sense; it is like a piano trio but with saxophone.

Mount Vernon Junior HS: How many schools were involved today?

Moderator: I can take that question. We have twenty schools signed on.

Runkle School: How old were you when you first started getting interested in music?

Runkle School: Did you have a band when you were young? If so, how old were you?

Larry Bell: I began studying the piano when I was about 8 years old. Then when I was in middle school I played guitar in a rock/soul band, playing most dances.

WLRN: How did you chose the instrumentation for "Mahler in Blue Light"?

Larry Bell: The instrumentation was suggested by Ken Radnofsky who commissioned the work.

Mount Vernon Junior HS: Is this the first video performance on the Internet that you have done?

Runkle School: Would you want to do anything like this again?

Larry Bell: Yes! And it is so exciting that I would love to do it again.

Horace Mann MS: What inspired you to play piano?

Runkle School: When did you first start composing?

Larry Bell: I don't remember a time when I was not involved in music in some way. I don't seem to be able to do anything else!

Campbell Drive MS: How is it that you were able to broadcast the performance through the Internet?

Moderator: We were able to take the music and compress it here at WGBH and then send it to an Internet broadcaster--AudioNet. AudioNet put the file on their computer/server so listeners could select it like any other page on the Internet.

Mount Vernon Junior HS: Do you play other instruments other than the piano?

Levering School: Were you pressured by parents to take piano lessons or was it your own idea?

Larry Bell: I was never pressured to play the piano. I discovered it all by myself. When I was in college I played the viola in an orchestra--very poorly!

Runkle School: What is the significance of the title, and how does it relate to the piece?

Larry Bell: The title is a portrait of Mahler's music seen through the "blue" color of the saxophone. It came from a tune by Ellington called "Blue Light."

Moderator: We're actually switching gears here. We've been joined by Ken Radnofsky, the saxophonist.

Ken Radnofsky: Ken Radnofsky says "hi" to everybody out there. Any saxophonists?

Runkle School: What are your plans for the future in terms of your musical performances?

Ken Radnofsky: I love to play all kinds of music, new and old. I play concertos with orchestra, but am going to Paris in May-June to play as part of the pit orchestra in a Kurt Weill opera. I like to commission new music and we will be playing this and other new pieces of this combination again.

Horace Mann MS: How old where you when you started playing sax?

Ken Radnofsky: I have been playing since age of 9--34 years ago. I took a test in school and they gave me the sax because I liked the color and it fit my buck teeth.

Band President: Mr. Radnofsky, does being a saxophonist contribute to your willingness to play this type of modern music?

Ken Radnofsky: Absolutely. In music just as in science, we must explore and, since there isn't a lot of sax music, I wanted to help continue my art--improve it and expand it.

Central MS: What kind of saxophone do you play?

Runkle School: Do you play anything other than the saxophone?

Ken Radnofsky: I play a Selmer Alto Saxophone Series 2-s80. They make the best saxes, I think. I also play clarinet--I love the soprano sax too, but didn't play until college.

Runkle School: Would you consider this a success? Did you achieve everything you wanted to?

Ken Radnofsky: I think it is up to you whether this is a success-We are always looking to reach new audiences in all possible venues and mediums.

WLRN: Does the problem of poor sound quality over the Internet bother you?

Ken Radnofsky: I am not aware of what the sound quality was like at your venue. This is new technology--and constantly improving--we are at the very exciting beginning of a new age in technology.

Campbell Drive MS: When will the concert be able to be shown again if it is to be shown again?

Moderator: The recorded concert should be available soon on the NSN home page at http://nsn.bbn.com/motet.

Moderator: I know some folks had trouble hearing over the Internet. That problem comes with new technologies. But you will be able to revisit the concert any time you want in the future.

Runkle School: How does it feel to know you are being watched by people around the world but you can't see them?

Ken Radnofsky: It is very similar to performing in the concert hall--which is frequently dark--we have to reach you, whether we look into your eyes or not.

Horace Mann MS: Did your parents pressure you to play saxophone?

Ken Radnofsky: My parents reminded me gently to practice. My mom would say, "Don't forget to practice." Then she would leave the house

Mount Vernon Junior HS: Can you play a very small sax ? We think it might be called a tenor.

Central MS: What kind of mouthpiece do you use?

Ken Radnofsky: The small sax is a soprano. Tenor is bigger. I use a Selmer c* s80 mouthpiece on alto and c**s80 on soprano.

Central MS: Do you listen to famous performers or have you ever played with performers like Stan Getts or Kenny G?

Ken Radnofsky: I hear them on the elevators, just like you. Seriously, I like Stan Getz very much. And Kenny G is a great player.

Horace Mann MS: You're funny.

Ken Radnofsky: Thank you.

Central MS: Do you feel a lot of pressure when playing?

Ken Radnofsky: Do you mean nervousness--yes, but, I like what I do very much--mostly it's fun.

Campbell Drive MS: Do you consider yourself the best saxophonist?

Ken Radnofsky: I am the best saxophonist to ever play on the Internet on this day at this time. I'd like to think that my playing is always improving. If I keep practicing, I hope to peak at age 85.

Runkle School: As the technology expands, do you feel that you would like to do this more often?

Ken Radnofsky: Very much--I know everything will get better.

Horace Mann MS: Do you plan to perform another concert over the Internet?

Ken Radnofsky: We hope to do this with our next World-Wide Concurrent Premiere next December--a trio for horn, violin and piano by Yehudi Wyner.

Mount Vernon Junior HS: Did you go to see a lot of orchestras when you were young?

Ken Radnofsky: I didn't hear a live orchestra until I was 16. I was smart enough when I got to college, to know that I didn't know much of anything. So, I make up for lost time by doing all I can--for the last 25 years.

Campbell Drive MS: What date will the concert be at http://nsn.bbn.com? Please would you give me that date so me and my kids would be able to see it and listen to it.

Moderator: The concert was recorded as it was played live. So we hope to have the recording up on our home page by tomorrow or Monday.

Campbell Drive MS: Would you consider playing with the best band in Dade County, Campbell Drive Middle School Wildcat Band any time soon?

Ken Radnofsky: Just send me cab fare--I'd love to talk to you and meet your director.

Central MS: Who is your greatest inspiration?

Ken Radnofsky: Johann Sebastian Bach and my parents, especially my father.

Campbell Drive MS: Do you have any children? If so would you automatically think that they would take saxophone lessons?

Ken Radnofsky: I have two children, both girls, who play cello and drums. I like the cello too. If I had seen that first I might have played cello.

Central MS: Is playing the sax the funnest thing to do for you?

Ken Radnofsky: Yes, I love spending time with my kids. That's the most fun.

Levering School: Did you like classical music as a child?

Ken Radnofsky: I like listening to Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd sing "Kill the Wabbit"--I didn't know it but I was listening to a very famous composer. Wagner with the words changed and Bugs used to play Franz Liszt on the piano. So I guess I liked classical music. Thank you very much for hanging around to answer my questions. I was wondering if any of you listen to this kind of music regularly-- jazz and classical-- or do you mostly listen to rock...?

Campbell Drive MS: I listen to jazz and many other musical types.

Horace Mann MS: Most of us listen to classical music.

Ken Radnofsky: What do you think of this kind of classroom lesson? Is this better than just listening to your teacher or reading a textbook? Do you use computers often in class? Adults are often scared of the Internet, but you all seem so comfortable.

Mount Vernon Junior HS: We like rock mostly, but a few of our students are fans of classical. We also have taken field trips to the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra...

Horace Mann MS: Yes, but it's at turtle speed.

Ken Radnofsky: I play the harpsichord and adore Bach, but I also love Blur and 10,000 Maniacs and all sorts of music. It's a wonderful medium. Variety is the key!!! We have to sign off now. Thanks for joining us.