Archive for July, 2008

Roger Bourland: Ozma (1996)

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

Ozma of Oz
OZMA for orchestra (1996)
Program notes for the premiere:

Ozma was commissioned by the Topeka Symphony Orchestra to commemorate their 50th anniversary as an orchestra. The tie-in to Oz and Kansas seemed a good starting point for this concert overture. I read several of the sequels to Frank L. Baum’s Wizard of Oz and was […]

Homer in Cyberspace: We Mustered Out

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

“We Mustered Out” from HOMER IN CYBERSPACE
Music by Roger Bourland
Lyrics by Mel Shapiro
We Mustered Out

Sung by all the soldiers
We mustered out
With a roar and a shout
“Get outta my way,
I got ten years back pay”
I’m practically rich
With the dough and the loot
Stuck in an old boot
A few treasures in there
For my sweetie to wear.
We mustered out
With […]

Rearranging the house

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

After large projects, or every few years I like to rearrange things. Sometimes it’s just my office. Sometimes it’s the whole place. When you have a studio with lots of wires and equipment, that can take a while. Well, that’s what I did the last three days and I’m pooped. I’m someone who is driven […]

Bourland and Hall: DreamDrag (1994)

Sunday, July 27th, 2008

“DreamDrag” from FLASHPOINT STONEWALL (1994)
Music: Roger Bourland
Lyrics: John Hall
Bass: Craig Wheeler
Chorus: Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles
Conductor: Jon Bailey
FLASHPOINT/STONEWALL celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, and was co-commissioned and performed by GMCLA, the Seattle Men’s Chorus, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Wash. DC, and the New York City Gay […]

Roger Bourland: Arias for cello and piano (1989)

Friday, July 25th, 2008

THREE ARIAS FOR CELLO AND PIANO
1. Cl’Airea (for Paul Reale and Claire Rydell)

2. Mount Shasta (For Mark Carlson and Charlie Swigart)

3. In Paris (for John Hall)

Ronald Leonard, cello
Antoinette Perry, piano
David Cloud, recording engineer
Schoenberg Auditorium
Music: © 1989 Yelton Rhodes Music (BMI)
Photo: © 2005 Roger Bourland “J 196″

Getting rid of stuff

Friday, July 25th, 2008

Last night we helped Howard pack up Mike’s stuff. You saw a slide show (below) of his stuff, well, the time has come to pack it up and move it out. I was assigned the books. With Mike’s collection, there is an impressive number of metaphysical books, and specifically books on gnosticism. It seemed appropriate […]

Homer in Cyberspace: Come Home

Thursday, July 24th, 2008

Penelope is exasperated by suitors urging her to remarry and forget O. She is frustrated at her husband’s complete disappearance and wishes that he would just come home.

Click to play
“Come Home” from HOMER IN CYBERSPACE
Music: Roger Bourland
Lyrics: Mel Shapiro
Soprano: Grace Wall
Trumpet: Jens Lindemann
© 2008 Roger Bourland and Mel Shapiro
Image: PENELOPE WAITING FOR ULYSSES
The patient […]

Old friends: Christian the lion remembers

Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008

In the vein of FRIENDS, in case you haven’t seen this, here is a video you’ll never forget.

Thanks Mom

Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008

At age 55 I am fortunate to have both of my parents alive and well. Yesterday I blogged about my dad, and today, my mom.
JoAnn Rhodes Bourland was born in Flemingsburg, Kentucky, the only daughter of Marian and Nancy Rhodes. (Flemingsburg is just down the road from Maysville, y’know, the town where the Clooneys are […]

Preaching and composing

Monday, July 21st, 2008

Daniel and I spent the past four days in Phoenix, Arizona visiting my parents and seeing their new home. They love their new home and are healthy I’m happy to report. We were fortunate to hear my Dad give a sermon. He’s not lost his touch. It was great to hear him whip up the […]

Shumei Taiko Ensemble

Saturday, July 19th, 2008

Japanese Drums from kedarvideo on Vimeo.

Privacy

Thursday, July 17th, 2008

Friends have asked why I am so comfortable sharing my thoughts, fantasies, and life on a blog. I assure them and you that you don’t get them all, although it would be a more popular blog if I did.
It is probably related to my desire to teach, more specifically, to share what I have learned […]