A Remarkable Guide to the Orchestra

Amazing how comprehensive this hour long program is, while also being incredibly funny. Another great find by Open Culture.

Bill Bailey’s Remarkable Guide to the Orchestra, an hour-long musical special “conducted” by one of the UK’s most popular performers, is also one of the funniest hours of television you can watch with kids in the room. The wildly inventive comedian (see his bio here) weaves in jokes, music history and orchestral rearrangements of everything from classical pieces to ringtones to music from TV news shows. Keep an eye out especially for his jazzified version of the “Doctor Who” theme. (One more reason to love Bailey: He’s an avid sci-fi fan who named one of his children after a character on “Star Trek: The Next Generation.”)

Antonio Ortiz

Antonio Ortiz has always been an autodidact with an eclectic array of interests. Fascinated with technology, advertising and culture he has forged a career that combines them all. In 1991 Antonio developed one of the very first websites to market the arts. It was text based, only available to computer scientists, and increased attendance to the Rutgers Arts Center where he had truly begun his professional career. Since then Antonio has been an early adopter and innovator merging technology and marketing with his passion for art, culture and entertainment. For a more in-depth look at those passions, visit SmarterCreativity.com.