Steve Martin plays with Philly Orchestra in Remote but Rising Video – Variety

As a banjo player and comedian, Steve Martin has deeply meaningful relationships with many classical orchestras across many countries. In most cases Martin and the Holy Philadelphia Orchestra had a special relationship. In 2018, Martin headlined the orchestra’s 161st Academy Ball as a colleague of conductor / music director Yannick Nazet-Saguin as the legend of the local Hall Academy of Music.

On Father’s Day weekend, Martin Nazet-Saguin and the Philadelphia Orchestra attended a gala event for musicians of all genres for the “Hearing: At-Home Gala”, a virtual event dedicated to music education in the region.

Composer / Trump player Winton Marcellis, Celest Yo-Yo Ma, opera singer Renee Fleming and piano Virtuoso Lang Lang all took part in the event. But it was Martin and the orchestra performer, Copeland-Eski “Office Supplies” who took multiple tracks from the homes of Martin and many other musicians – which took our breath away.

The musical instrument was originally heard in very low orchestrated fashion on his most recent musical endeavor, 2017’s “The Long-Weighted Album”, in collaboration with his longtime Bluegrass backing encapsulation, Step Canyon Rangers.

With a smile at the beginning of the video, Martin said, “The reason it’s called ‘Office Supply’ is a secret. I’ll tell you at the end of the song.

So what was the big revelation? Ever random, Martin said, “If you’re not thinking of office supplies at the end of the song, I didn’t do my job.”

In addition to the Virtual At-Home Fest with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Martin’s recent work, his first book, an animated short film from 1977’s “Cruel Shoes,” debuted at the ninth annual Chicago Comedy Film Festival before Covid-19 Quarantine.

(Gifts in support of the Philly Orchestra can be pledged at http://www.philorch.org/HearNOW/give or by texting “Orchestra” at 91999))