My father called me on the matter of my blog not being terribly focused. I think that was true a few years back when I had a lot more time for blogging and reading other people’s blogs. There was a HUGE range of stuff I couldn’t resist passing on to the readers of [...]
Susan pointed out that my neighborhood was in the news yesterday. The article is from a series about gangsters in LA and this picture is from a gangster killing that happened in 1951 in front of the house just south of ours.
[The photo is by Bill Murphy/Los Angeles and the article appeared in the [...]
A colleague commented to me yesterday that he can’t teach Charles Ives anymore because the students don’t know the musical quotes or the stylistic references. I was struggling to explain the nota cambiatain species counterpoint, and describing what was done at the time and what wasn’t. They just take my word for it as hardly [...]
I was chatting with a student about the notion of becoming “famous” as a composer. I occurs to me that most “famous” classical composers gain fame in the late 20th early 21st century through writing orchestral music. Chamber music can have regional impact but orchestral music is more crucial. Who am I thinking about? John [...]
I read from time to time about a recording artist issuing a record that “bombed.” Even singles that get to number 45 in the top 100 chart can be seen as “bombing” but usually meaning that this single didn’t do as well as the artist’s previous “hits.”
Classical composers should be so lucky to “bomb” [...]
Three very different live performances of “Amelia” by Joni Mitchell. It’s not just the hair. Pat Metheny plays in the second one.
[1998]
[1976]
[1983]
Although not as colorful as a New England fall, Los Angeles is having its fall. Santa Ana winds and hot dry weather together with fires along Sepulveda Blvd alongside the 405 have added color to the sky and particulate matter for we breathing types. Jenny and Matias are down for a wedding and staying with [...]
I’m back into super teacher mode: correcting 70 assignments every week, a job I will eventually have the TAs help with, but for now, I want to get to know each student’s work habits and musical abilities. Tonight I have 200 more 1st species counterpoint exercises to look at. (1st species just means note against [...]
I’ve finally shaken off the nasty flu that has kept me grounded for the past week. Today in my theory class, violinst/fiddler Mark O’Connor will be visiting us to talk about his life as a musician. He is our School’s first Artist-in-residence and is in many ways a symbol of the kind of musician we [...]
One of the pieces I’ve been working on is a piano piece that is to be a companion to the Bach Goldberg Variations. If finally dawned on me as to what would be the opposite of melody and counterpoint: harmony and rhythm. Wow, what an interesting challenge. I’ve always been a melody and counterpoint man [...]
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