Comments on: Three RufuSongs at UCLA http://rogerbourland.com/blog/2006/03/10/three-rufusongs-at-ucla/ Roger Bourland writes about music and life Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:48:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: jan2 http://rogerbourland.com/blog/2006/03/10/three-rufusongs-at-ucla/#comment-266 jan2 Sat, 11 Mar 2006 10:06:16 +0000 http://rogerbourland.com/blog/2006/03/10/three-rufusongs-at-ucla/#comment-266 I seem to remember an interview where RW said that at music school but never got beyond 'playing Mozart very slowly' while everyone else was thundering out the Rachmaninov - so he clearly does read music. Maybe he doesn't write down his piano/guitar music he composes, but he must surely write out the instrumental parts he writes for others to play...? This seems a very appropriate and yet non-obvious choice of songs - it'll be really interesting to hear how they sound in a more operatic voice (although I guess there are a number of operatic 'voices' one can choose to use...) jan I seem to remember an interview where RW said that at music school but never got beyond ‘playing Mozart very slowly’ while everyone else was thundering out the Rachmaninov - so he clearly does read music. Maybe he doesn’t write down his piano/guitar music he composes, but he must surely write out the instrumental parts he writes for others to play…?

This seems a very appropriate and yet non-obvious choice of songs - it’ll be really interesting to hear how they sound in a more operatic voice (although I guess there are a number of operatic ‘voices’ one can choose to use…)

jan

]]> By: Roger Bourland http://rogerbourland.com/blog/2006/03/10/three-rufusongs-at-ucla/#comment-265 Roger Bourland Sat, 11 Mar 2006 01:56:00 +0000 http://rogerbourland.com/blog/2006/03/10/three-rufusongs-at-ucla/#comment-265 You're probably right Mark, but I have yet to see a single photo of him, and I have seen thousands, where he has sheet music anywhere in sight. Lots of lyric cheat sheet, but never any music. As you know, Danny Elfman didn't read music for a long time, I'm not sure where he is now, but I'd assume he reads by now. Joni Mitchell can barely articulate what chords she plays. She knows tons of tunings, but don't ask her the names of the chords. For that matter, don't ask ME what the names of some of those wild-ass chords are! You’re probably right Mark, but I have yet to see a single photo of him, and I have seen thousands, where he has sheet music anywhere in sight. Lots of lyric cheat sheet, but never any music.

As you know, Danny Elfman didn’t read music for a long time, I’m not sure where he is now, but I’d assume he reads by now.

Joni Mitchell can barely articulate what chords she plays. She knows tons of tunings, but don’t ask her the names of the chords. For that matter, don’t ask ME what the names of some of those wild-ass chords are!

]]> By: slvrlark http://rogerbourland.com/blog/2006/03/10/three-rufusongs-at-ucla/#comment-264 slvrlark Fri, 10 Mar 2006 17:41:21 +0000 http://rogerbourland.com/blog/2006/03/10/three-rufusongs-at-ucla/#comment-264 Ahem! Just because he plays everything by memory doesn't mean he doesn't read or write music; it just means he plays by memory. I don't see how someone can be a music major for a year and a half at a major university (or any, for that matter) without reading music. Besides, he knows and plays Fauré and Berlioz songs, etc., and it's hard to imagine him learning those just by ear (though I am sure it could be done). The complexity of his songs also suggests that he has studied harmony and counterpoint and lots and lots of music--whether in the classroom or on his own--and though not impossible to do that without reading music, it certainly would be very difficult. I agree that is was wonderful to hear Juliana's and Neil's beautiful performances of the songs, as it did make it clear that they are beautiful *songs*, not just *Rufus songs*. Mark Carlson Ahem! Just because he plays everything by memory doesn’t mean he doesn’t read or write music; it just means he plays by memory. I don’t see how someone can be a music major for a year and a half at a major university (or any, for that matter) without reading music. Besides, he knows and plays Fauré and Berlioz songs, etc., and it’s hard to imagine him learning those just by ear (though I am sure it could be done). The complexity of his songs also suggests that he has studied harmony and counterpoint and lots and lots of music–whether in the classroom or on his own–and though not impossible to do that without reading music, it certainly would be very difficult.

I agree that is was wonderful to hear Juliana’s and Neil’s beautiful performances of the songs, as it did make it clear that they are beautiful *songs*, not just *Rufus songs*.

Mark Carlson

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