If none of these [plagiarized recordings] turn out to be something that I did, I’ll be deeply insulted!
-Gary Graffman (talking about the Hatto recordings)
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I’m glad the press doesn’t bug us about how we musicians get along. We all have our stories. We all have players that drive us a bit bonkers. That’s life. (For those of you in the workplace, I’m sure you have people there that you wouldn’t give the time of day to if you didn’t work with them, yes?)
So when baseball players are asked about their teammates I’m just thankful I don’t have to deal with that!
Of course I also don’t have to “deal” with their salaries!
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If you go to The Prairie Home Companion page and then click on Segment 1 you can then move in to 21:06 or so and hear the composer speak. When you get to the music you will also hear a former singer from Opera San Jose, Brian Leerhuber, singing the lead role of Tom Joad. Cool eh? (The second song they sing is lovely.)
If you go here you can also hear Brian in a couple of other things (look to the right).
Robert Orth is also in the cast; I performed A Waterbird Talk with him a few years back, when San Jose Chamber Orchestra did it. What a talent!
The kitten on keys may have had rhythm, but Mr. Shatner seems to be missing it.
Say you turn around and run, doesn’t it speed up? It doesn’t matter. And then the horrible truth came to me. All these guys are [can't understand this word ... anyone want to help me?]. It doesn’t matter. All they do is this and the orchestra takes over.
-William Shatner (Heard and seen here. I’m assuming he’s talking about conductors and how much they matter ..?)
I thought William Shatner started his music career later, but I’ve now run across Rocket Man and that was done quite a while ago. Now I do believe Shatner knows what he’s doing these days with his over the top stuff, but I wonder … this was in 1978. Was Shatner going at this with the self-mockery he does things today, or is he serious?!
Please tell me there’s a wink in there somewhere!
Ah well. It doesn’t matter. ;-)
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Do remember that some of these may make more sense if you know the blogger! (At least I hope so.)
I have less than three weeks to learn English horn… My partner plays an Oboe – What’s that supposed to mean. Tell me more? It’s obviously written by somebody who knows him well. Sounds so pompous. It’s not the Oboe playing that’s the laugh after all somebody has to play the flute like instrument and I know I can’t. It’s just using the words as a topic of conversation as if it’s an entry into a special club or something that’s the giggle. … met a Spanish guy who tried to impress us with the fact that he was an oboe major. I took oboe at [deleted] School , and I can still remember how to moisten the double reed before playing, but which kept me so far from feeling attractive as all the pretty girls took flute.
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Yes, I KNOW everyone else has put this link up, but I have family members who don’t read everyone else, so there you go.
Jill wasn’t happy with a performance. I read her post prior to going to mine.
I wasn’t happy with my performance.
Hmmm.
Our love for orchestra has kept us together, as a valuable addition to the cultural life and diversity of the country.
An orchestra in Sri Lanka playing western classical music. Yes.
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It’s 11 p.m. on a Saturday, and downtown San Jose is bubbling with excitement and tension.
About that time I’m either in my car, ready to drive home, or I’m already at home (if it’s a shorter opera or a symphony night).
I see these folks, though, out for a hot night. They are dressed as if it is hot, too, even when it might be freezing outside. It makes me laugh sometimes; I guess wearing something tiny that shows a lot of flesh is more important than comfort. Gee … do I sound like I’m fifty or what!?
San Jose is, from what I read, trying to figure out how to keep things safe while rejoicing in the fact that we finally have a lively downtown.
Me? I say go to the symphony or opera and get home earlier. Then you can party hearty and not have to worry about safety or designated drivers, and you can dress skimpily and still stay warm!
Or you can go to bed. Like I do.
In other news: I appear to be getting the cold that Dan and Jameson have had. Ah well. It was bound to happen. I’ll recover quickly, though, because I stay fairly well rested. Neither of them has that option, due to their schools schedules.
Yes, I’m spoiled.
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Musically, “La Traviata” is not a noble specimen even of Italian opera. But its abundant melody, much of it really graceful and refined, and the genuine emotion of many of its strains, have saved it from oblivion which has overtaken other operas of its class and time. It is essentially a “singing opera” of the old florid school; and one cannot reasonably object to the verdict that it is “chiefly employed now as a means of allowing a popular prima donna to display her high notes and her diamonds.” In his efforts to avoid vulgarity, Verdi occasionally falls into the slough of sentimentality. Nevertheless, the pathos of some of his scenes must be admitted as appealing, and that is mainly why the opera still keeps its place in popular favour. It is not musically great, but it is very humanly interesting.
Read the whole article here.
Is this one person’s opinion, stated as fact, or do a lot of folks feel this way? (I can’t locate the author of the article, although I did locate the author of the quote included*.) Do I have to not admire La Traviata after all? Oh dear … and here I was absolutely loving the music.
Uh-oh!
*The quote about “high notes and her diamonds” is by R. A. Streatfeild (1866-1919). I’ve downloaded his book from Project Gutenberg so we’ll see what else I can learn. I think it’ll be a good read. Certainly I’ll learn, as I honestly don’t know much about opera and its history, sad but true.
Sigh.
Anyone interested in taking on this 18 year old? ;-)
From: khan_rhaul04@hotmail.com
Subject: Instrumentalist Teacher Is Needed….
Date: February 18, 2007 10:08:59 AM PST
Reply-To: khan_rhaul@yahoo.com
Hello ,i need a teacher for my child,and my child told me that is interested in knowing it.Since i have the came across your email on the net ,my child is just 18yrs of ages i understand that you are in (us)because he will be coming from Netherland,i think that is my opportunity because is coming to (us) for an holiday so i want to make used of that opprtunity,i believe that you can bring out the best in him,i am willing to you by the means of CERTIFIED
CASHIER’S CHECK OR MONEY ORDER,Give me you price for an hour,so that i can know how to proceed on the payment,and before that i will like to know;
1.Price for the lesson for an hour
2.cost for the lesson for 3 times in a week.
3.Total price for the lesson for a month.
4.Your location i.e (city and state).
5.Phone Number.
Thanks,
Mr.Khan Rhaul.
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Matt Heller, of hella frisch fame, is now in the New York Times.
I have to read the article before commenting, but I thought I’d at least get this information out. I know at least Jason Heath will be interested, as he’s commented on Matt’s site before.
The article is about the New World Symphony Orchestra, and auditions, and more. It includes a San Josean as well:
For Elizabeth Jaffe, a 29-year-old violist from San Jose, Calif., the stakes were even higher. She decided that if she didn’t have a musical career by 30, she would move on, as inconceivable as that prospect was.
I groan when I see people setting the age deadline, but I do understand.
Of course I also groan when I look at a 50 year old staring at me in a mirror. ;-)
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I just saw a really funny typo at iTunes: Six Methamorphoses After Ovid
Hah!
Then, when I clicked on the first track for Six Methamorphoses I heard one of the Schumann Romances. Hmmm. Double trouble.
iTunes needs me. They really need me! ;-)
And I’m not kidding; when I downloaded the Gordon Hunt Six Metamorphoses After Ovid there was a glitch at the beginning, as if he played two As rather than one longer one.
Guess that makes triple trouble, eh?
But there’s more … the Eric Speller disk is spelled this way: Six metamorphoseses after Ovid. Oh dear ….
And then as I was looking at all of their suggestions when I did the search for the Britten I was also offered the choice of Six Chansons by Paul Hindesmith.
Now I’m laughing. Loudly. (For those of you who don’t know, it’s Hindemith.)
In addition, they often list the composer name as the performer name. Someone(s) doesn’t understand classical music. At all.
I would be more than happy to be iTunes helper. I think, in fact, that Apple could us an oboist in residence. Do I could (happily) serve them in several ways.
I’m here. For them. Out of the kindness of my heart. ;-)
Thoughts?
