Pennsylvania has played a part in most major American musical developments. Perhaps most notable are its huge contributions to 1970s soul music, with nationally famous acts such as the O'Jays, the Delfonics, and Harold Melvin making their mark. Also, jazz legends John Coltrane and Nina Simone both spent much of their lives in Philadelphia and made many of their most popular recordings in the city. In the abundance and quality of its 20th-century soul music recordings, Philadelphia has been second only to Detroit. In more recent history, the city has also produced several popular contemporary rock, R&B, and hip-hop acts, such as Boyz II Men, The Roots, the Bloodhound Gang, and DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince.
Outside of the Philadelphia area, Pennsylvania's music has historically been largely religious and folk-oriented. In the western portion of the commonwealth, music tends to reflect a working class way of life, commonly dealing with coal mining and workers' issues. These tunes often come with a country or bluegrass sound. Today, in the rest of the commonwealth, many smaller towns such as Allentown-Bethlehem, York, Lancaster, and Harrisburg hold thriving independent rock scenes.
Music in Philly
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania's largest city, is home to the Philadelphia Orchestra. The company, founded in 1900, has established itself as one of the premier orchestras in the country through its international tours, sell-out performances, and award-winning recordings. The Philadelphia performance season runs each year from September to May, and the company performs at three different locations in the city: the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, the Academy of Music, and the Mann Center for the Performing Arts. Each of these venues provides state-of-the-art acoustics and an atmosphere ideal for such a prestigious orchestra. In addition, the company also plays shows in New York City and Vail, Colorado. To see the orchestra, there is a range of ticket prices, depending on how close the seats are to the stage.
Philadelphia's Kimmel Center is the performing venue of the Philly Pops. With several Grammy awards under its belt, the Philly Pops is a classical-style band that performs in a wider variety of genres than most classical orchestras. Its annual season is designed to please all music lovers, and the band plays everything from Latin music, to rock and roll, to classic television-theme music. There are few musical companies in the country like the Philly Pops, and the Pops have long been popular among visitors seeking a light but well-executed concert experience.
Also at the Kimmel Center is the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, an organization that presents performances by a variety of concert acts from around the world. The Society's main focus is chamber music, but it also presents recitals by piano, woodwind, and string players, plus jazz, choral works, and more. Founded in 1986, the company keeps a commitment to low ticket prices, and it provides a great opportunity for visitors to Philadelphia to experience international music.
While in Philadelphia, there are dozens of other music venues of all sizes, specializing in specific music genres or hosting nationally touring rock and pop acts. For famous touring acts, the Tower Theater, located in the near suburb of Upper Darby, is the most frequently played venue for such huge artists as the Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen. For independent, alternative, and international music, two popular venues in town are the Painted Bride Art Center and the World Café Live. Also, the city has small jazz and blues clubs, plus venues for punk rock and hip-hop music.
For a multi-day music experience in the Philadelphia metropolitan area, try the Philadelphia Folk Festival, which takes place in suburban Schwenksville. Since its founding in 1957, the festival celebrates the region's folk culture. Taking place over a weekend in August, visitors can go for the day or camp out overnight. With performances of traditional, contemporary folk music and acts in other genres, the festival also features dance performances, arts and crafts.
Pittsburgh Music
The Pittsburgh music scene is almost as large as that of Philadelphia. For classical music, the city is home to the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Founded in 1898, the orchestra is one of the oldest symphony companies in America. Their primary performing venue is Heinz Hall, located in Pittsburgh's downtown cultural district. The symphony's focus is on classical works by composers such as Beethoven and Mozart, but it often branches out into more modern works of orchestral music. With performances on several nights of the week during their season, the bulk of the company's shows are held between October and May.
Pittsburgh is also home to the Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra. Since its inception in 1958, the orchestra has maintained a commitment to volunteering and community involvement. The company sponsors many events around town, including the Young Artist Competition and the PCO Solo Competition. The orchestra performs several shows a year at the Upper St. Clair High School, playing great American and holiday season classics.
In addition to these classical performing companies, Pittsburgh also has many large venues for local and national music acts. Two of the largest venues are the Pepsi-Cola Roadhouse and the Post-Gazette Pavilion, both of which host major touring acts. Other popular venues include the Mellon Arena, the Backstage Bar at Theater Square, the 31st Street Pub, and the Mr. Roboto Project.
Though it may seem that Philadelphia and Pittsburgh dominate the commonwealth's music scene, this is not entirely true. Music events throughout the rest of the commonwealth include the Purple Door Music Festival in Lebanon, the Milford Music Festival, and the Gettysburg Wine and Music Festival. More information about these events is available online.
In short, visitors to Pennsylvania need not enter the commonwealth's two major metropolitan areas in order to find exciting musical experiences, but when they do, there is a plethora of music to experience.
