Fairmount CA

From 1965 through 2001, there was a constant in the San Francisco Symphonys percussion section — Anthony J. Cirone. This award-winning percussionist — also a composer, also a retired San Jose State music professor — now has authored The Great American Symphony Orchestra A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Its Artistry, Passion, and Heartache (Meredith, $19.95).

Cirone, who lives in Los Gatos, regaled me with stories and insights, via email.

Q How is a symphony orchestra like a family? In a good way? In a bad way?

A With rehearsals, concerts, recordings, travel on buses, trains, planes, and roommates on tours, an orchestra spends many hours together. This close interaction fosters deep relationships within an orchestra family. But, it can also cause problems. For example, a player can sit next to the same musician for years, even for an entire career. And if they dont get along — well, you get the picture!

Q Why is there so often a love-hate relationship between orchestra members and conductors?

A When you think about it, its astounding that world-class musicians, concert pianists, instrumental soloists, and singers concede so much of their musical interpretations to a conductor — yet, thats how our business operates. We do not necessarily have to like their approach to the repertoire, but we do love those conductors who resonate with our own personal musical tastes; and on the flip side, hate to perform under those who

The Adventures of Tintin leads these TV shows released on home video this week, acting as a sort of preview for the Steven Spielberg feature that will arrive just before Christmas.

The Adventures of Tintin: Season One (Shout! 1991, two discs, $19.93). This Canadian-French co-production uses the limited animation that was the norm for television productions of the era but its a clean, crisp style and the stories are enjoyable, apparently taken faithfully from the works of the Belgian author Herge.

Marketers that invest in marketing automation should expect their roles to change, leaving behind the art that has been their stock in trade for one that is intensely scientific and analytical. Investing in marketing automation technology and its measurement capabilities has essentially changed marketing from a right-brain to a left-brain profession.

Marketing is evolving in many ways; and, with the explosion of new channels, applications and social media, there is a greater need to get a complete view of the buyer, said Paul Teshima, senior VP-product management at marketing automation software company Eloqua.

These are changes rooted not in technology, but in accountability, Teshima said.

Marketers are increasingly being held responsible for revenue growth, he said. Executives are not interested in click-through and open rates but rather in how marketing is contributing to the bottom line.

New marketing automation components are being added in response to marketers demands, according to Maria Pergolino, director-marketing at marketing automation company Marketo Inc.

The leading marketing automation providers have robust communities that allow customers to provide product feedback, Pergolino said. At Marketo, a new feature is often not considered until a customer makes a request for that feature and a number of other customers vote that it will be useful to them.

Marketers who do take the time to contribute often feel more connected to the product and make better use of the new features because they are excited to see their ideas come to life, she said.

Opposition partys lawmakers, bottom, shout slogans during a rally to denounce the passing of a bill on ratification of a South Korea-US free trade agreement in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011. South Koreas parliament ratified a long-stalled free trade deal with the United States on Tuesday after ruling party lawmakers forced a vote amid shouts and shoves from opposition rivals. The letters at cards read Invalidity, FTA between South Korea and the US
Photo: Ahn Young-joon
/ AP