Roger Bourland
writes about music and life

Pardon me: I’m having a wave of nostalgia. What a trio!

The amazing Eigenharp Alpha. A terrific instrument that one can play live. Looks like a cross between a bassoon and a sitar. I’d like to hear some other kinds of music. I’d assume it’s a flexible instrument–could be anything you plugged it into.

Sung by Judy Collins on the Smothers Brothers Show (1967).

Every once in a while I get a hankering for Swedish crepes at IHOP. The servers are beyond friendly, ready to do anything to make you happier and fatter.
I love the one in my neighborhood because it’s the one where the Buffalo Springfield was formed. And I think, “hmm, did Neil Young and Stephen Stills [...]

[Thanks to Frank Cody.]

Rosarium: A Drama for Chorus and Orchestra
Act 1: Flower and Song
1. Prologue
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]
2. The Arrival
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3. Tenochtitlan
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]
4. Tepeyac
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]
5. (Link)
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]
6. Santa Maria
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]
Music: [...]

The Crocodile’s Christmas Ball and other odd tales (2002)
Music: Roger Bourland
Lyrics: William MacDuff
UCLA Chorale, Donald Neuen, Director
UCLA Wind Ensemble, D. Thomas Lee, Director
Roger Bourland, conducting
1. Tropical Christmas
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]
2. A Proper Cat Reflects upon the Holidays
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]
3. After Halloween
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]
4. Santa [...]

Flashpoint/Stonewall (1994)
Music: Roger Bourland
Lyrics: John Hall
Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles
Jon Bailey, conductor
Recording by Chuck White
1. Invocation; Evocation; Flashpoint Stonewall
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]
2. DreamDrag
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3. A Different Child
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4. The Parade
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5. Shame
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Paul Monette heard the premiere of HIDDEN LEGACIES in Royce Hall and rushed up to me afterwords to thank John and me. I saw him socially a few times later and asked him whether he was interested in providing lyrics for a piece for GMCLA. His energy was limited at this time and though he [...]

After the success of HIDDEN LEGACIES I received a commission from Richard Garrin and the Windy City Gay Chorus for a similar orchestration addressing the possible futures of gays and lesbians. I chose eight poets (seven living), each who either contributed a new poem or selected an old one for the set.
The piece [...]