Archive for February, 2008

Finding Hauschka

Friday, February 29th, 2008

Graham Streeter brought over a CD of miscellaneous music by a gentle German composer. He made we watch an interview with him, one that I do not recommend watching — just listen to the music.
Musicians know of John Cage’s adaptation of the piano by putting paper clips, paper, metal stuff, screws and such in the […]

STOP

Thursday, February 28th, 2008

I noticed that two of our Deans in the School of Arts and Architecture took little vacations mid-year. Although some might think this decadent, or irresponsible I have come to realize that leadership jobs are very stressful, and sometimes you have to just STOP. And the best way to do this is to get out […]

Opera? or Musical? or Musical Drama?

Wednesday, February 27th, 2008

“Poppa, My Poppa” — first draft of accompaniment
Music by Roger Bourland
Words by Daniel Keleher
HOMER IN CYBERSPACE
What is the difference between Opera, and Music Theater, and Musical Drama?
I don’t really have the time to truly answer this question, but let me point out one difference that I just learned this week.
In this musical drama I am […]

Dario Marianelli: 2008 Oscar for best soundtrack

Tuesday, February 26th, 2008

After two years of disappointing “winners,” the Academy awarded a well deserved Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score to the Italian composer, Dario Marianelli for his score to ATONEMENT. Not since Alexandre Desplat have I heard such a terrific new voice in film music. Watch the film and listen carefully to […]

HOMER IN CYBERSPACE tix now on sale

Tuesday, February 26th, 2008

Tickets for eight performances of HOMER IN CYBERSPACE are now on sale at Ticketmaster. There are eight performances in the Macgowan Little Theater on the UCLA campus:
Homer In Cyberspace

Thu, 05/29/08, 8:00 PM
Fri, 05/30/08, 8:00 PM
Sat, 05/31/08, 2:00 PM
Sat, 05/31/08, 8:00 PM
Wed, 06/04/08, 8:00 PM
Thu, 06/05/08, 8:00 PM
Fri, 06/06/08, 8:00 PM
Sat, 06/07/08, 8:00 PM

Macgowan Hall Little […]

Homer preview: Sit by my side

Saturday, February 23rd, 2008

The Mother of the iGods sings this lament to her dying progeny. The English horn is an alto, and her opening line is “Sit by my side my darlings…” Yes, Gustav would approve of the transition here…

“Sit by my side” from HOMER IN CYBERSPACE
1st draft of accompaniment: work in progress
Music by Roger Bourland
Lyrics by Mel […]

Blind Faith: Can’t Find My Way Home

Friday, February 22nd, 2008

Here’s an interesting find, the first live performance of “Can’t Find My Way Home.” Blind Faith was one of the superbands in the late 60s with Steve Winwood (the singer), Eric Clapton, guitar (look at all that hair), Ginger Baker, drums, and [who else??] Rick Grech on bass.

Recalculating…

Friday, February 22nd, 2008

My new best friend is my portable GPS device that snaps into a holder on my windshield to tell me where I am and where I’m going. I have a terrible, terrible sense of direction so this has been a godsend. Even when I ignore Nüvi (the device), it can keep me awake arguing with […]

The Beatles: You Can’t Do That

Thursday, February 21st, 2008

This song started looping in my brain tonight, so I gave in and posted it. Wow! So many blue thirds in this song. I love Lennon’s bratty attitude. He’s naughty. His blue thirds are naughty, his tone is naughty, and the distortion in his voice when he sings “Oh [ya can’t do that]” foreshadowing his […]

Homer preview: That guy in a dress

Wednesday, February 20th, 2008

Here is the first draft of a number where three ladies comment on how sexy a straight guy is in a dress. This is, of course, only the accompaniment over which an alto, a mezzo, and a soprano will sing in Manhattan Transfer style.

“That Guy in a Dress” (in progress)
Music by Roger Bourland
Words by Mel […]

HOMER is cast

Tuesday, February 19th, 2008

We finished our auditions for HOMER IN CYBERSPACE last night and now there are actual people attached to all of the music I’ve been writing for the past nine months. We will try to have an informal reading of the all the music I have done to date in early March so the cast and […]

Kinderen voor Kinderen: Two Fathers

Monday, February 18th, 2008

An uplifting video for chiidren of all kinds about having two fathers. [Thanks to Richard Snyder for finding this.]