Ah, Reviewers …

24. February 2008 · Comments Off · Categories: Ramble, You Gotta Be Kidding

I’ve heard of reviewers going to half a concert and reviewing the whole thing. Oh yeah, there was also that reviewer who didn’t attend the concert and wrote up a review. Only trouble was the program had been changed. Big Oops. And loss of a job.

Now a magazine has reviewed an album it never listened to. Amazing, if it’s true. Especially since they mag seems to think it was okay to make an “educated guess”.

But then again … it was Maxim. (No link here; why bother?) I’m guessing they had other things on their minds. Or other places. It’s not exactly a magazine worth wasting much time over. Right?

(Thankfully I don’t believe any reviewers around here skip out early on concerts these days — the one who did is not longer working for the paper — and I pretty much trust them to give what they think is an accurate review. I have never known one to fake an entire review.)

They Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Cases

23. February 2008 · 1 comment · Categories: Links, Ramble, You Gotta Be Kidding

So … I guess, if you drive an Infitini, you won’t need a cello case for your cello.

Because this ad makes that pretty clear.

Stupid ads. Stupid, stupid ads.

Of course, maybe with a “crossover car” you have a “crossover artist” … and maybe they just aren’t as picky about their instruments.

FYI: Kiri hates crossover stars.

Oh Dear …

27. December 2007 · Comments Off · Categories: Other People's Words, You Gotta Be Kidding

The musical instruments that are considered woodwind instruments will be equipped with one or two reeds. The shaping of woodwind musical instruments is tubular, and certain woodwinds will have several curves in the tube, which will allow different sounds to be made simply by the shape of the instrument. The musician will place a reed in the mouthpiece to create sound and the amount of air in the tubing will determine what type of sound will be emitted.

Really? Whoa.

And I guess flutes are in a category of their own now, eh?

And later …

The remaining sections of the woodwind section will be comprised of musical instruments such as the oboe. This grouping will include the English horn based on the shaping of the tube, and this woodwind styled instrument does not use a reed to promote the sound.

Hmmm. No reed? Really?

Whew.

(I looked around at the site to see who wrote all the blog entries, but could find nothing. Plugging in the quote above I’m taken to another site. Is someone selling this “article”? Putting it out there for free? Is it for students who want to avoid doing work? If so, they would be turning in an awful paper! Or maybe it’s just someone who was writing nonsense for fun?)

Did I Really Just Read This?

17. October 2007 · Comments Off · Categories: You Gotta Be Kidding

Pop singer Myleene Klass participates in Barbie’s campaign to bring classical music to young girls. And launches Barbie’s first feature length Musical “Barbie as the Island Princess” at The Hospital Club, Convent Garden

Read it to believe it.

And It’s Only $119!

09. October 2007 · 4 comments · Categories: You Gotta Be Kidding

So … I usually buy plaques three or so at a time; they are easily lost. I leave them on stands, and forget them.

So here is the perfect plaque. It’s lighted. And sculptured. Wow. All for just $119.

Oh. The ones I lose? They are $1.50 a piece. ;-)

(What I’m really waiting for, though, is a plaque that, after inserted, tells you what you need to do to complete the reed!)

I’d Stick Around

30. September 2007 · Comments Off · Categories: Ramble, Read!, You Gotta Be Kidding

So here’s a problem for an opera company: Lead singer gets sick. The cover can’t sing that night. Major phoning goes on. Singer located. New singer arrives after a messy bit of travel woes. New singer finds out that the version is different than he thought. He can sing some of it in German. Some in French. Some not at all. Conductor covers what singer can’t sing. Singer sings rest. All is acted by a different person entirely.

This is all just too good … I’d certainly not ask for a refund!

Is it true? Guess so.

I Don’t Think So

27. August 2007 · Comments Off · Categories: Ramble, You Gotta Be Kidding

I just read that Sir ALW’s Phantom of the Opera has been called “God’s gift to the musical theatre.”

Is that ridiculous? I sure think so.

I’ve never understood why folks get so enamored with that musical. Sure, it’s quite the spectacle, but musically it’s “meh” and there’s no character development as far as I can see. To me it is one of the HollowMusicals™. Of all ALW’s works, I suppose I like Evita the best. Maybe just because I find it the most fun to play. But I wouldn’t call any of his stuff a gift from God.

According to the link above, Portland Opera is presenting this musical. Sigh. I can imagine an opera company bringing in Sondheim or Bernstein. But PotO? All I can say is, “Oh dear….” I guess they aren’t thinking, though, of quality, but merely of big hits. I’d prefer an opera company to be a bit pickier. I’m silly that way.

Rock Opera …

23. August 2007 · Comments Off · Categories: Ramble, Videos, You Gotta Be Kidding

or Rockin’ to Rigoletto.

(But no oboes? Can’t be opera then. Sorry.)

Okay … this made me laugh.

I know, I know, they are serious about their art. But when the guy is singing la Donna e Mobile he just looks so darn cute and serious and I think of the song in the context of the opera and … well … never mind. Better just to stop there, eh?

It also reminds me of my old church. We had to add drums to things. It was the way to make things “relevant” and up to date.

At the same time, I’m guessing a lot of people will go and hear the group and say, “Now that is good opera!” (I say this from past experience of hearing people talk as they left pops concerts.)

And how lucky is it that the band found drop deal gorgeous girls to play the strings?

Yeah, I’m cynical. But so is the song.

If you go to YouTube and do a search on East Village Opera Company you’ll find a lot more videos (Well lookee there, I did it for you!). I’m going to leave it at that. You can judge the videos for yourself. Oh, but you should probably see and hear the Overture just for fun … and to prepare you for it all.

Actually, this just seems like Mannheim Steamroller kind of stuff to me.

(I’ll stick to this. Or this. Or should it be … drum roll … THIS?!)

Water, Water, Everywhere

17. August 2007 · 1 comment · Categories: Other People's Words, Ramble, You Gotta Be Kidding

“Music is fluid like water,” the conductor, Edwin Outwater, calls over the rumble of breaking waves. “Like water, music’s this ever-changing force that is bigger than you, but you can’t let it overwhelm you.”

He stops paddling and straddles his surfboard. Facing the open Pacific, he bobs like a cork on waves not yet worth riding.

He waits. In surfing, as in music, timing is everything.

Time has been on the 36-year-old’s mind lately.

Outwater is just weeks away from officially beginning his tenure as music director of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, charged with the unenviable responsibility of rebuilding the institution from the rubble of near-bankruptcy.

RTWT

Okay … the guy is a surfer. And his name is Outwater. And he’s going to be conducting the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony.

I mean, well, it made ME laugh. But some might suggest I’m all wet.

I do hope the guy can keep his new orchestra afloat.

Worst Headline Ever?

16. August 2007 · Comments Off · Categories: Ramble, You Gotta Be Kidding

One-hit wonder who pulled Orff a miracle

I mean … this is pretty darn bad, don’tcha think? I’ve seen Bach used badly, as well as Handel. But this one? I think it wins a prize. (Read here.)

Whoever wrote that should really knock it orff.

Orff else.

(Why I don’t write headlines.)

Hah!

29. July 2007 · 2 comments · Categories: Ramble, You Gotta Be Kidding

I’m watching a Volkwagen ad and they are just so cool and, well, don’tcha just want to buy one because of their wonderful ads and, after all, they are the people’s car, right?

But I read this and it just ticks me off. You’d think Volkwagen could do better by the people who’d possibly buy their cars. It’s really bizarre that they only had to give 24 hours notice. And how can they be certain all the volks … um, I mean folks … have received the notice? This all seems so wrong.

And yeah, I’m rambling ….

Ahhh, parking! Parking is often an issue for musicians. Some employers provide parking. Some don’t. I once had to park so far away from the concert hall for a Symphony Silicon Valley concert I had to race to get on stage to warm up, and had to have someone escort me back to the car because of the rather questionable neighborhood where my car sat. (I had tried every lot near the hall and they were full.) And recently? The job I played recently paid less that most of my jobs, and then I had to pay for parking. Where was it? Well, of course … the same place Volkwagen was filming: San Francisco. Go figure.

You Gotta Have A Gimmick

24. July 2007 · 1 comment · Categories: Ramble, You Gotta Be Kidding

The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra is bringing classical music fans and exercise enthusiasts together for the finale of its 2007 Summer Series. Runners will be pitted not against a clock, but rather Beethoven’s fifth symphony.

“Fit as a Fiddle” on Sept. 2 at the Devou Park amphitheater will feature what the orchestra has dubbed the “Beethoven 5-K Run” along with “Sweatin’ to the Symphony,” a circuit training program complete with pilates and yoga led by local professional trainers against a backdrop of classics by Tchaikovsky, Grieg, Bizet, Rossini, Mozart and more.

Because we all know Beethoven’s Fifth can’t stand on it’s own. And of course Tchaikovsky, Grieg, Bizet, Rossini, Mozart can all use a hand too.

Okay, okay, I’m uppity and snobby and all that jazz. But I just don’t like this idea. And I’m sorry they decided to run with it. (Couldn’t resist.)

Napa, We Have A Problem

22. July 2007 · 2 comments · Categories: Ramble, You Gotta Be Kidding

Maybe it was just too much wine.

“As if that wasn’t enough, the pianist returned following intermission to perform Beethoven’s final piano concerto, “No 32 in C Minor (Op. 111).”"

Read here.

… now, I’m guessing a good number of you will see what I’m laughing about, yes? I saw this first at the well tempered blog. (Hmmm. Are you still well tempered after reading that article?)

I also laughed when I read “As beads of sweat bounced off his forehead…”. Um. Right. Beads of sweat bouncing, visible from the audience, and worth mentioning.

Or not.

Anyway, reviews. They can be very odd.

But really … concerto … sonata … big diff, right? They’re all just “songs” if you ask most folks. ;-)

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