Archive for July, 2008

Seeking fame, or not

Sunday, July 6th, 2008

My biggest shortcoming as a composer is my disinterest in disseminating my music. It is not that I don’t think my music lacks qualtity — I think I’m one of the best composers on the planet today — but I find that my real interest is in composing music, not pedaling it to performers, or [...]

Dmitri Tiomkin: High Noon (1952)

Saturday, July 5th, 2008

I rented the 1952 Stanley Kramer film, “High Noon” and discovered an old familiar song I thought was called “Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling” which is actually called “High Noon” with lyrics by Ned Washington and music by Dmitri Tiomkin.
The theme from the opening phrase is used, and perhaps overused, like a [...]

Homer in Cyberspace: Everyday man

Friday, July 4th, 2008

Penelope
Penelope, tired of waiting for her O, responds to her suitors that she is over heroes and would be happy to have an “everyday man.” The second part of this song will return in the 6th song, “Come home.”
“Everyday Man” from HOMER IN CYBERSPACE

Music: Roger Bourland
Lyrics: Mel Shapiro
Soprano: Grace Wall
© 2008 Roger Bourland and Mel [...]

Berlioz reminds

Friday, July 4th, 2008

My favorite spot to blog is in my basement, on a couch, laptop in my lap, with the two dogs next to me under a tattered black chenille throw. It is quiet, centered, and comfy. To my right is the door that goes into a little hallway, the laundry room, and then back upstairs. It [...]

Friends III

Thursday, July 3rd, 2008

The “friends” topic keeps following me wherever I go this week. I notice that as we get older, our friends status is different than when we were students. As a student, the people you hang out with are pretty much like you. Yes, richer or poorer, taller or shorter and so on, but still the [...]

Passings: Muriel Gluck (1910 - 2008)

Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008

This morning I will be attending a memorial service for Muriel Gluck who died last Friday. Mrs Gluck has been an angel for many institutions, including the UCLA Music Department, the UC Riverside Music Department and Juilliard School of Music. Her generosity has supported and changed lives of many musicians and audiences for the past [...]