Category Archive for 'Rufus Wainwright'

Rufus Wainwright: Release the Stars (CD)

Tuesday, June 26th, 2007

Certain composers’ oeuvre can be thought of as one large composition. Each piece is cut from that large fabric. Composers that come to mind in this category are Edgard Varése and George Crumb. Similarly, there are songwriters who, in addition to penning a popular song, compose song prototypes (for lack of a better word), and […]

Ravel quits, Berlioz returns

Tuesday, May 22nd, 2007

Cher Hector,
My true nature as a hermit coupled with Rufus Wainwright’s hectic touring schedule has led me to the conclusion that I am not the right teacher for him. i am happy to hear that your opium habit is now in the past and would like you to reconsider taking him back as you […]

Rufus Wainwright: Going to a town (video)

Wednesday, May 2nd, 2007

I posted a video of a live performance of Rufus Wainwright’s new single, “Going to a town” a couple of weeks ago. Here is a YouTube copy of the Dreamworks official video. Robert Zimmerman has an analysis of this song on his blog, re: harmonized which you should check out.

Rufus on tour

Sunday, April 29th, 2007

Rufus Wainwright will be zipping through with his band, featuring the music from his new album, “Release the Stars.” This concert is sold out, and sadly I don’t have tickets. His website has all the touring information for this spring and summer. Rufus is terrific live if you have never seen him.
Otherwise, the album will […]

Rufus sings his new single “Going to a Town”

Thursday, April 19th, 2007

I guess Rufus is tired of America. Hmm, well I say people act like people no matter where you go.

Rufus Wainwright debuts his new single “Going To A Town” from his new CD “Release The Stars” at the launch of Robert Redford’s environmental awareness project “The Green” (on the Sundance Channel) at ABC Home, Manhattan, […]

What people read on Roger’s blog

Wednesday, April 18th, 2007

I’ve installed Google Analytics on this blog to see a variety of statistics. Rest assured I never know who is reading this unless you post, and only then if you’ve given my your real name.
85% of my readers go right to rogerbourland.com or redblackwindow.com (the latter forwards to the former). Following that majority, here are […]

Why the Lydian flat-7 mode is so cool

Sunday, April 15th, 2007

Composer William Kraft (Bill) and I were having lunch one day at the UCLA Faculty Center. Half way through a bite of his sandwich (teachers and composers ALWAYS talk with their mouths full) he bolted and said “Roger, I have a new mode I’ve been working with. It’s terrific, it has so many great qualities. […]

Lessons for Rufus: Ravel drops in

Thursday, April 5th, 2007

.
Rufus is writing words for a new aria at his desk in a chalet in Gstaad, Switzerland. He looks up and out the window at the amazing view. So far away from New York, and London and Paris. Deep breath. But he’s stuck on a word. “What rhymes with ‘choose it’? lose it, moose […]

Rufus meets Maurice Ravel

Tuesday, March 20th, 2007

[Rufus, takes a break from composing his opera, and watching Fellini’s SATYRICON the screen freezes on the face of the young, brown hair, big-eyed gay boy, whose face slowly grows and fills the entire 50 inch flat screen display. Rufus bolts, knowing this is not in the movie. “Hello?” The face on the screen slowly […]

Cover for Rufus’s new album

Saturday, March 17th, 2007

Rufus Wainwright website.