This was one of my favorite Lovin’ Spoonful songs. A peculiar stylistic mixture: a classical head, a country bridge, and it ends on an unresolved dominant 7th chord. Who knew that John Sebastian played the harp, I mean a REAL harp? I don’t understand why this group hasn’t fared as well in the oldies department. […]
A year ago I spent 10 days in Maui with Mark Carlson working on the third installment of settings of poetry of Francisco X Alarcón. The first set was commissioned by Vance Wolverton and the Cal State Women’s Fullerton Women’s Chorus. Books 2 and 3 were commissioned by Iris Levine and Vox Femina/Los Angeles. (All […]
Some of my favorite Spanish wines included a grape that I hadn’t known: Cariñena, which in Catalunya is called Samso. If you find this in a blend, try it out. I have no idea whether this wine makes it out to California, but I will keep my eyes open for it. The Wine Info Site […]
A terrific song, powerful melody, call and response chorus, and the unforgettable gritty timbre of the voice of Son House.
Susan,
I have purged the salutation “dear” as in “Dear Susan,” and have replaced it with the more to the point “Susan” as I would if I called Susan on the phone. Usually she can tell it’s me by the timbre in my voice. For someone who doesn’t know or recognize my voice, I would say […]
I’ve spent the last 10 days in Spain on the Costa Brava. I’ve been blogging to y’all daily in my mind, recharging my batteries, rethinking everything, eating fabulous Catalan cuisine and discovering amazing Spanish wines. Gaudi and Dali have been my constant companions. No UCLA, no blogging, no composing, no dogs, no bills, no Los […]
[Interview with with Roger Bourland by Vance Wolverton, 1994]
VW: How did you come to choral music or composing choral music?
RB: My earliest experiences with choral music were in church because my father was a minister. I recall singing in church with my family: my grandfather singing bass, my grandmother singing soprano, […]
Having two male 5-year old Italian Greyhounds requires certain daily responsibilities. After being fed, the most important activity is activity, or exercise. Our dogs get very high strung and snappy when they don’t have exercise. (Hmmm.)
Every day at three pm, I throw the ball and play tug with them. Giaco loves to catch the […]
Mark Del Vecchio
Angus plays the piano
Jim Kelly as Bacchus
[Photographs © Roger Bourland]
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