Many major figures in modern art were fascinated by the relationship between visual art and music, especially those who followed in Van Gogh’s footsteps and experimented with colour in novel ways. Vincent himself took music lessons from an organist in Eindhoven, but they were not a success, because he constantly compared chords with pigments such [...]
So my quest for the right work continues. It’s not like I’m too picky … is it? I only need a chamber work written by and American composer. Oboe is a must, but there are different combinations that would work. Available for the recital are oboe (me), flute, clarinet, violin, piano. In addition we could [...]
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DK!
Wishing one of the finest musicians I know a very wonderful year.
I do hope you have had a lovely day, and LET’S DO LUNCH!
Just say when … well, it has to work with my teaching schedule and all, of course … and we can have a nice yak and meal. Okay? :-)
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Read at someone’s blog:
Even stranger are instruments like the oboe. Who looked at the various wind instruments and thought, “Y’know, what we need is one that’s about six feet long with slides and keys everywhere; that’ll be practical!”
Now the “six feet long” tells me he is not really thinking of an oboe. I would have [...]
David, over at mixed meters had me laughing while reading today’s blog entry. (By the way David, I can’t send you an email because of your spam blocker. Just so you know.)
Well, okay, I was laughing on the inside. It’s just far too early to vocalize.
Oh. Wait. I’m not a vocalist. I can vocalize [...]
I just read that Beverly Sills is gravely ill. I didn’t know she had cancer earlier in her life, nor did I know she had it now.
Here she is 50. I am 50. I can’t sing. She can. Here she is in Traviata. This is fun, and this is mad. Danny Kaye [...]
Dan, Jameson and I went to Der Rosenkavalier last night. When music is so wonderful time doesn’t mean anything any more, I guess. I was mesmerized. (Confession time: I’ve never heard all of DR before. Sad, but true.) What an incredible opera … I’m so glad we were able to go! I know I can’t [...]
I’m thinking of switching to a different instrument. Nothing beats the sound of an oboe, oboe d’amore or English horn, but still …
You don’t have to make oboe reeds.
However the instruments sound, they sound just fine.
They don’t cost a lot.
They are easy to find.
They are easy to replace.
They are colorful!
You can make a wonderful soup [...]
Always treat artists with respect. Most of them know how to do something you can’t do.
Don’t be afraid to be wrong.
Don’t be afraid to be enthusiastic!
-Terry Teachout (This is the advice he gives when giving classes and seminars in criticism. RTWT)
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Orchestra and audience alike were back in a comfort zone for the Brahms Symphony No. 2 after intermission, at least until the sound of a sobbing woman cut through the orchestra in the second movement. Welser-Möst kept conducting but looked out into the audience, no doubt wondering what could possibly be next.
It’s really best to [...]
Okay, so she is very, very cute. And she sings sweetly, although I could do without kiddo vibrato for some reason. (I’m not sure why, but when young children use vibrato it doesn’t sound right to me.) But she was not “pitch perfect”, which is what is said toward the end.
No, I really don’t [...]
Of course many of you have heard the sounds on the YouTube link below before, but I’m guessing they are new to some; I know some of my students still struggle with the “modern” sounds of the Hindemith! Many of us who studied oboe in a university setting at least attempted the Berio Sequenza if [...]
If you develop an ear for sounds that are musical it is like developing an ego. You begin to refuse sounds that are not musical and that way cut yourself off from a good deal of experience.
-John Cage
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I’ve always enjoyed Imani Winds. I have several of their CDs, and if they get back to the Bay Area you can bet I’ll do my best to attend. Now you can hear an NPR segment about them. I especially love the “When Jeffrey Got His Groove Back” portion; this is something I’d love to [...]
Ran across this at a site I landed on:
Harmonics! I want to punch anyone talking about harmonics. The double reed association (IDsomething something) is here for a while, and practicing in their rooms at odd hours, and making unrequested blatts in public, and . They know nothing of the Music building, and since they’re living [...]
… is on at this very moment on our local PBS station. Wonderful stuff! And I believe I just saw (and heard) Anne-Caroline Bird. (ACB, that is you, right? You, with the lovely voice? I was checking your site, but there are no pictures of you in costume … but it sure looks like you!) [...]
When I wrote the last note I told myself, never again. But I am already working on something else, something light and bubbly. It is nearly a musical comedy. The critics will turn up their noses, but what does that matter?
-Lorin Maazel (Referring to his mostly panned opera, 1984.)
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Here’s one explanation:
The concertmaster then asks the principal oboist to play the note A, and the orchestra tunes up to that note. It is always the oboist who plays the tuning note, and it is always A. This is because the pitch of A is the note that is determined by international conventions √ it [...]
Why I ♥ Bobby McFerrin.
Want more of Bobby? He has a site that includes this radio.
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It?s a real challenge trying to update classical music into something palatable for the MTV generation.
-David Garrett (read more)
I don’t know the name, and I don’t know anything about his playing. The article, which is talking not only about his music but about his looks, shows a very attractive picture of the musician.
But what [...]
So if you, as a classical musician, were to get a tattoo, just what would you get?
What would I choose? Gee, I honestly can’t think of anything. Music is definitely part of what I am, but it isn’t the all of me. I think getting a tattoo of something music related would imply that. [...]
Classical music should be slow and serious.
-Donald Duck (heard here)
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Is it awful that I don’t know the name William Orbit?
I just read that this man, who is connected to the name Madonna (not the one from centuries ago, but the one that sings like a virgin … heh … oh, wait … I mean sings Like a Virgin, has a few kids, adopted [...]
I happen to know the bassoonist … he’s quite good!
(Timothy Emerson just happens to be my brother. But even if he wasn’t my brother I’d say he’s a very top notch bassoonist. Expressive. Talented. Go listen.)
If you love System of a Down, you’ll probably really dig Shostakovich’s 11th Symphony.
-Peter Oundjian (read here)
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