tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85149642024-03-13T05:54:08.520-04:00[listen]"An atonal nightmare of pretension."Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12939881701345686354noreply@blogger.comBlogger555125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8514964.post-88394581303425139492017-08-18T06:46:00.000-04:002017-08-18T06:46:43.895-04:00elliott carterMy<a href="https://burningambulance.com/2017/08/18/elliott-carter/" target="_blank"> review</a> of the new disc of late works by Elliott Carter is up at <i><a href="https://burningambulance.com/" target="_blank">Burning Ambulance</a></i>. As always, be sure to peruse the rest of the site while you're there.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12939881701345686354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8514964.post-20879718213439331462017-07-24T06:48:00.001-04:002017-07-24T06:48:56.046-04:00beth levinMy <a href="https://burningambulance.com/2017/07/24/beth-levin/" target="_blank">review</a> of Beth Levin's new disc of romantic piano music is up at <i><a href="https://burningambulance.com/" target="_blank">Burning Ambulance</a></i>. Please check out the rest of the site while you are there.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12939881701345686354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8514964.post-85698544758667164252017-06-09T09:35:00.000-04:002017-06-09T09:35:08.116-04:00miranda cucksonMy<a href="https://burningambulance.com/2017/06/09/miranda-cuckson-3/" target="_blank"> review</a> of Miranda Cuckson's new recording, <i>Invisible Colors</i>, is up at <i><a href="https://burningambulance.com/" target="_blank">Burning Ambulance</a></i>. As always, Phil Freeman does a great job of posting reviews/articles, including videos of some of the music on the album.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12939881701345686354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8514964.post-4420183323271718932016-09-07T18:13:00.000-04:002016-09-07T18:13:31.406-04:00#stemmingthetide<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJDifKc8k9KaGrE5pcs-aNwlvnC-_rl53obbiwRlZpLTsqYKKvzv-jZyJRqmdaUI25GuNl7kTcuTCuvSfl1bnLC4a8DwzuC2V9Hifpczld0sNwzhYod_RYK5h510h5Gn3xc-Dw3g/s1600/IMG_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJDifKc8k9KaGrE5pcs-aNwlvnC-_rl53obbiwRlZpLTsqYKKvzv-jZyJRqmdaUI25GuNl7kTcuTCuvSfl1bnLC4a8DwzuC2V9Hifpczld0sNwzhYod_RYK5h510h5Gn3xc-Dw3g/s320/IMG_0006.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">bird</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<br /></div>
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Composer <a href="http://www.ed-windels.com/" target="_blank">Ed Windels</a>, in his <i><a href="http://www.newmusicbox.org/" target="_blank">NewMusicBox</a></i> post, “<a href="http://www.newmusicbox.org/articles/coming-out-as-a-5-to-9-composer/" target="_blank">Coming Out as a 5 to 9 Composer</a>”, discusses, among other things, the historical precedents (Charles
Ives, etc.) for composers making their living as something other than a
composer. I’m in the same situation as Mr. Windels, though I’ve thought of
myself more as an “unaffiliated” composer than as a “dayjobber”, the word he
uses. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mr. Windels also mentions that for years he “succumbed” to
the “long-standing and short-sighted” ideology that held that if you were not a
full-time composer<a href="file:///E:/stemming%20the%20tide.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>,
you are “somehow less serious, less committed, and less worthy”.<a href="file:///E:/stemming%20the%20tide.docx#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> This
ideology is also behind the pernicious idea that composers writing on spec are
taking opportunities away from the more serious composers, those who get
commissions, who, because of these commissions, are more often full-timers.<a href="file:///E:/stemming%20the%20tide.docx#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At any rate, it’s my belief that there is a qualitative
distinction between being an unaffiliated composer and a dayjobbing composer,
though there is, of course, significant overlap. It may be that that
distinction is more in play after the music is written.<a href="file:///E:/stemming%20the%20tide.docx#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve recently had the feeling that I’m writing better<a href="file:///E:/stemming%20the%20tide.docx#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
music than I might have had things gone in other directions. Mr. Windels says
he will discuss that and other aspects of the life of the dayjobbing composer
in his next post. I’ll expand on the issue at that time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
* * * * *<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The great <a href="http://www.overgrownpath.com/" target="_blank">Bob Shingleton</a>, in a post called “<a href="http://www.overgrownpath.com/2016/09/music-blogging-itsover.html" target="_blank">Music blogging#itsover</a>”, simultaneously discusses and belies the end of music blogging. The
bottom line: “. . . they are not worth reading”. Read the whole thing for
context and elucidation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The present post is a stab at reviving this blog and
stemming the tide Mr. Shingleton writes about. I have ideas for several series
of posts like the series I wrote to commemorate <a href="http://listen101.blogspot.com/2008/12/carter-at-100-part-1.html" target="_blank">Carter 100</a>. It’s difficult to
fence off time to do those posts (for reasons related to the first part of this
post), but the Carter series was very valuable for me, and I believe they had
some value for at least a few readers. Here’s hoping that
#itsnotquiteover. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div>
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///E:/stemming%20the%20tide.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> He
includes composers with posts in academia as full-timers. Nope.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///E:/stemming%20the%20tide.docx#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> In
my arrogance, it never occurred to me that I was less worthy because I wasn’t
full time. Never.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn3">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///E:/stemming%20the%20tide.docx#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> As
Mr. Preston asked, will it go ‘round in circles?<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn4">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///E:/stemming%20the%20tide.docx#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Then there is the phenomenon of the “disaffiliated” composer, who can’t get
performances in her own hometown, because institutions don’t see what’s in it
for them to play music of unaffiliated locals.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn5">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///E:/stemming%20the%20tide.docx#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Was going to put “better” in quotation marks. Fuck that.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12939881701345686354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8514964.post-14311541201578800372016-01-28T18:00:00.000-05:002016-01-28T18:00:23.395-05:00watch that space<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK8JoZLvSvT4W9Eg7M3-OFVPOzTtxHJu9D7vUi91NsNuJlE0enEWQpNip1XqM0uU5hB_grNei6WWYHIie589q3-ADTl9f1BqZcIJ26VbtTRAPFKREevWsIYn-pbidPT8pHpiI-dw/s1600/2013-04-13+14.51.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK8JoZLvSvT4W9Eg7M3-OFVPOzTtxHJu9D7vUi91NsNuJlE0enEWQpNip1XqM0uU5hB_grNei6WWYHIie589q3-ADTl9f1BqZcIJ26VbtTRAPFKREevWsIYn-pbidPT8pHpiI-dw/s320/2013-04-13+14.51.52.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Earlier this week, I launched a new <a href="http://stevehickenmusic.com/">website</a> devoted to my compositional activities. The site includes an "<a href="http://stevehickenmusic.com/about/">About</a>" page, which is basically a brief, fairly uninformative biographical statement, a <a href="http://stevehickenmusic.com/works/">works</a> list, an audio page titled, in an inspired bit of cross promotion, "<a href="http://stevehickenmusic.com/listen/">Listen</a>", a gallery page ("<a href="http://stevehickenmusic.com/look/">Look</a>"), a <a href="http://stevehickenmusic.com/contact/">contact form</a>, and a blog, called "<a href="http://stevehickenmusic.com/read/">Read</a>". "Wait a minute", you say. "You never post on <i>this</i> blog, and now you've started another one?"<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
The blog over there will be devoted to items about the website itself and to news about my music. Over here here, I'll continue to post reviews, lists, observations, and reading recommendations.<br />
<br />
As always, thanks for listening!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12939881701345686354noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8514964.post-67160356457243596232015-09-16T20:50:00.000-04:002015-09-16T20:50:38.617-04:00in drones begin responsibilities<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim1ZWrw5to114UUihlikQyU8dHztpantR-3-tJ3RZvsTVWTRQqXKXx3BVc0BWjQmd0zzczZF_2qS87kZl_vsGMr5Wr_UtZEQyoyNYaNksa73uywAHT19tjoVRDoDX7R4jCe9rxOA/s1600/AnnaThorvaldsdottirFListahatid2012.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim1ZWrw5to114UUihlikQyU8dHztpantR-3-tJ3RZvsTVWTRQqXKXx3BVc0BWjQmd0zzczZF_2qS87kZl_vsGMr5Wr_UtZEQyoyNYaNksa73uywAHT19tjoVRDoDX7R4jCe9rxOA/s320/AnnaThorvaldsdottirFListahatid2012.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anna Thorvaldsdottir</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I was an undergraduate, the composition faculty issued
an edict that, until further notice, we were not to use ostinatos<a href="file:///F:/in%20drones%20begin%20responsibilities.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span></span></a> in
the music we were writing for our lessons. The professors clearly believed that
we were using ostinatos (and other techniques/devices like tone rows<a href="file:///F:/in%20drones%20begin%20responsibilities.docx#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span></span></a>
and drones<a href="file:///F:/in%20drones%20begin%20responsibilities.docx#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span></span></a>) as
crutches to “automatically” generate stretches of music, some of whose details
fairly set themselves down onto paper<a href="file:///F:/in%20drones%20begin%20responsibilities.docx#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[4]</span></span></span></a> by
themselves.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I almost hurt myself rolling my eyes up in my head in
response, but I complied. There is no doubt that these and other techniques can
take over a composers’ music and that comp teachers do have a responsibility to
guide and evaluate the student’s technical abilities. These techniques can, in
addition to generating large numbers of notes, mask a great many compositional “sins”.<a href="file:///F:/in%20drones%20begin%20responsibilities.docx#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> On
the other hand, if the music works, and that’s a judgement best made by the
composer with the assistance of the teacher, there’s no good reason not to use
them.<a href="file:///F:/in%20drones%20begin%20responsibilities.docx#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I started thinking about this subject when I first heard
some music by Anna Thorvaldsdottir a few months ago, when she was named the New
York Philharmonic Kravis Emerging Composer. Drones are an essential component
of Thorvaldsdottir’s art, and she uses them in surprisingly different ways. On
her new disc, <i>In the Light of Air</i>,<a href="file:///F:/in%20drones%20begin%20responsibilities.docx#_ftn7" name="_ftnref7" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> the
drones are used in service of a varied and artistically unified expressive
landscape.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The sections of <i>In the
Light of Air</i> each have titles that point to a measurement of physical
condition (“Luminance”), an existential condition (“Existence”), and feeling
states or states of being (“Serenity”, “Remembrance”) that animate the sections
so titled. Over the course of the 45 or so minutes of <i>Light</i>, Thorvaldsdottir deploys her drones in surprising and
expressive contexts, illuminating the idea behind each section clearly and with
style, grounding each piece in rich earth.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Though this is not-quite-a-review of this disc, I also wanted
to say that <i>Transitions</i> (for solo cello, played beautifully here by Michael
Nicolas, for whom it was composed) is a very fine piece. The performance of <i>In the Light of Air</i>, by the powerhouse International Contemporary
Ensemble is expert and expressive, and both the Blu-Ray and CD sound is superb.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div>
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///F:/in%20drones%20begin%20responsibilities.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> A
short melodic fragment repeated throughout a piece or section of a piece. An
ostinato typically remains at the same pitch level and doesn’t vary in other
ways, either.</div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///F:/in%20drones%20begin%20responsibilities.docx#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> A
series of notes (actually, pitches abstracted from any register) that govern
the pitch (melody and harmony) of a piece. There are as many ways of doing this
are there are composers doing it. More, probably.</div>
</div>
<div id="ftn3">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///F:/in%20drones%20begin%20responsibilities.docx#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> A
continuous, low sound.</div>
</div>
<div id="ftn4">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///F:/in%20drones%20begin%20responsibilities.docx#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Imagine those professors trying to deal with student composers using
sequencers, music-composing notation software, and the other music-generating tools
available today.</div>
</div>
<div id="ftn5">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///F:/in%20drones%20begin%20responsibilities.docx#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> In
much the same way that a great number of footnotes can up the old word count
and mask a possible lack of much to say.</div>
</div>
<div id="ftn6">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///F:/in%20drones%20begin%20responsibilities.docx#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> Other
than to make the professor’s job easier.</div>
</div>
<div id="ftn7">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///F:/in%20drones%20begin%20responsibilities.docx#_ftnref7" name="_ftn7" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Given a much fuller review by Phil Freeman here. Phil’s perspective is very
different from mine, one that will be far more useful to most readers.</div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12939881701345686354noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8514964.post-41445129673288986302015-08-18T20:25:00.000-04:002015-08-18T20:25:25.358-04:00here and there<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXSqk3fc8mK2bmZpY0KudeUyJBT1HiAcgRBweqrzHEqUNC2iUOYem-v89a0_vcGbhoEE60Q9qX2dPw8N6ORfwdL4KVDC80bo8n1Xss8sGEUfc6cIYiZLx0L-gGCkOSjDPJNnHAg/s1600/IMG_0014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXSqk3fc8mK2bmZpY0KudeUyJBT1HiAcgRBweqrzHEqUNC2iUOYem-v89a0_vcGbhoEE60Q9qX2dPw8N6ORfwdL4KVDC80bo8n1Xss8sGEUfc6cIYiZLx0L-gGCkOSjDPJNnHAg/s320/IMG_0014.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flower</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Carter: <a href="http://www.boosey.com/" target="_blank">Boosey & Hawkes</a> have posted an <a href="http://www.boosey.com/cr/news/In-Conversation-with-John-Link-Elliott-Carter-Scholar/100681" target="_blank">interview</a> with
noted composer and Elliott Carter scholar <a href="http://www.johnlinkmusic.com/" target="_blank">John Link</a>, who has some important insight on how
and why the composer developed his “late late” style. In addition, Mr. Link
lives up to his name with several Carter resources:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><a href="http://www.elliottcarter.com/">www.elliottcarter.com/</a> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/chronometros">www.facebook.com/chronometros</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://twitter.com/Chronometros">twitter.com/Chronometros</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://amphionfoundation.org/">amphionfoundation.org/</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
#musochat: On Sunday evenings at 9 eastern, any interested
party may join in a virtual gathering at twitter under “<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23musochat&src=tyah">#musochat</a>” to discuss
contemporary classical music<a href="file:///F:/here%20and%20there.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
and related subjects. Even if you can’t participate in the discussions in real
time, the chats are available under the hashtag. Molly Sheridan has more at
<a href="http://www.newmusicbox.org/articles/got-a-question-get-answers-on-twitter-musochat/">newmusicbox</a>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Quote:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
This demure woman . . . declared that "making even one colored mark on a blank piece of newsprint should be an act of moral revolt." More than a revolt: an appeal for grace. All human beings were due a full accounting, but they had to ask for it. Art was a way of asking.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: right;">
--Richard Powers, <i>Prisoner's Dilemma</i>, p54</blockquote>
<br /></div>
<br />
<div>
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<div id="ftn1">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///F:/here%20and%20there.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> It
happens that much of this past Sunday’s (16 Aug 15) discussion centered on what
to call this thing of ours,* whether that matters, and why it probably does.</div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-left: .5in;">
*The<i> Sopranos</i> reference is intentional, because another art form,
filmed televisual entertainment, often presents its best work on Sunday nights
and I believe that one way for us to engage with the contemporary world is to
engage with other, more popular, art forms.</div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12939881701345686354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8514964.post-90601309849017888902015-06-09T06:46:00.000-04:002015-06-09T06:46:38.615-04:00interview: jason eckardt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSROefFnfbi21KNVdEAvZixAMde_i4go9Q7tLWVW7REou9QeAO-SjhV5f3NwRcrLQs9ak5f8oee4PMupOJe_K_rBG9xK43Q9iGHnEdcKksmOZLT2yQbqtv1Fk50S7R8ZkQBgBrw/s1600/subject.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSROefFnfbi21KNVdEAvZixAMde_i4go9Q7tLWVW7REou9QeAO-SjhV5f3NwRcrLQs9ak5f8oee4PMupOJe_K_rBG9xK43Q9iGHnEdcKksmOZLT2yQbqtv1Fk50S7R8ZkQBgBrw/s320/subject.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
I talked (via email) with Jason Eckardt about the music on his new CD <i><a href="http://burningambulance.com/2015/05/28/jason-eckardt/" target="_blank">Subject</a> </i>and about his music in general. His answers to some pretty specific compositional questions are open and thought-provoking. The <a href="http://burningambulance.com/2015/06/09/interview-jason-eckardt/" target="_blank">interview</a> is up at <i><a href="http://burningambulance.com/" target="_blank">BurningAmbulance</a></i>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12939881701345686354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8514964.post-83142697201717564472015-06-07T13:13:00.000-04:002015-06-07T13:13:27.958-04:00second place is the first loser, loser<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0sbHFIgJvuAzX_J5oqwjVvvnqjOiafT8c8BfkoaDiy38AdAp9oAySyrfl2v99Z36o4587YcXfvlzYzZYwnCcduWmHT3WgLeUiqbM4oRJ6IZGgxzP62Z0eKUv3s2GjAFWPU-zFA/s1600/zero_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0sbHFIgJvuAzX_J5oqwjVvvnqjOiafT8c8BfkoaDiy38AdAp9oAySyrfl2v99Z36o4587YcXfvlzYzZYwnCcduWmHT3WgLeUiqbM4oRJ6IZGgxzP62Z0eKUv3s2GjAFWPU-zFA/s200/zero_2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Over at <i><a href="http://www.overgrownpath.com/" target="_blank">On An Overgrown Path</a></i>, the always-thoughtful Bob Shingleton has a <a href="http://www.overgrownpath.com/2015/06/in-praise-of-music-it-is-worth-hearing.html" target="_blank">post</a> about the current binary cultural paradigm "<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">forces everything - including art - into the </span><a href="http://www.overgrownpath.com/2011/03/ambiguous-music.html" style="background-color: white; color: #4d469c; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; text-decoration: none;">dualistic framework of 0 or 1</a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">, good or bad". (Links within quotes from Mr. Shingleton are present in the original.) This dynamic is one in which "[a] </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">classical work is either a masterpieces or an also ran, and as a result audiences are </span><a href="http://www.overgrownpath.com/2015/02/audiences-need-permission-to-like.html" style="background-color: white; color: #4d469c; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; text-decoration: none;">denied permission to like unfamiliar music</a>".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
One of my missions in writing about concert music has been to try to open up the cultural space for our music, especially for new music. This kind of zero-sum cultural game does the opposite--it leaves room only for "winners", whatever that might mean.<br />
<br />
Please read all of Mr. Shingleton's post. In it, he talks about how not every piece worth hearing has to be one that you want to listen to again and again. That kind of attitude really does open up the space for more music.<br />
<br />
While writing this post, I was reminded of a recent <a href="http://renewablemusic.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-occasional-is-okay.html" target="_blank">post</a> by the also-always-thoughtful <a href="http://renewablemusic.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Daniel Wolf</a>, in which he writes in favor of writing the occasional occasional piece--that not every piece a composer writes need be an attempt at a <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>chef-d'oeuvre</i> or even a piece in the composer's "normal" style. It should go without saying, but I'm glad Mr. Wolf said it.</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12939881701345686354noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8514964.post-33462080050211093242015-05-28T07:50:00.000-04:002015-05-28T07:50:08.378-04:00jason eckardt - subject<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNeoxJyrP7pnsKuZdbus539wcCqkJF5NnIQ0wnB-QGOgpsqWlODpL4rZwpNEA5-rRMnABbVOEH932X1YAiBpXQHhGKp_S9C2MJUpFOtlVmzp6LJrjjqWrJqYazVEY4ccT6QdbbA/s1600/subject.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNeoxJyrP7pnsKuZdbus539wcCqkJF5NnIQ0wnB-QGOgpsqWlODpL4rZwpNEA5-rRMnABbVOEH932X1YAiBpXQHhGKp_S9C2MJUpFOtlVmzp6LJrjjqWrJqYazVEY4ccT6QdbbA/s320/subject.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<i><a href="http://burningambulance.com/" target="_blank">Burning Ambulance</a></i> has my <a href="http://burningambulance.com/2015/05/28/jason-eckardt/" target="_blank">review</a> of Jason Eckardt's new CD, <i>Subject</i>, Since <i>BA</i> doesn't include disc details as a heading, here they are:<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">ECKARDT: Subject; Paths of Resistance; Trespass; Flux;
Tongues. Tony Arnold, soprano; Alice Teyssier, Eric Lamb, flutes; Grace Hong,
oboe; Andrew McCollum Campbell MacDonald, clarinets; Wendy Everett, bassoon;
Danielle Bogacz, horn; Matthew Jenkins, Ross Karre, percussion; Marilyn Nonken,
piano; Jordan Dodson, Daniel Lippel, guitar; Erin Ponto, harp; Christopher
Otto, Ari Streisfeld, Yuncong Zhang, Jeffrey Young, violin; John Pickford
Richards, Hanna Shaw, Wendy Richman, viola; Kevin McFarland, Jay Campbell,
Gabrielle Athayde, cello; Laura Dykes, bass; Timothy Weiss, David Fulmer,
conductors. TZADIK 9006. 70 minutes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">An interview with Mr. Eckardt will appear soon.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12939881701345686354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8514964.post-20844252856811991982015-05-24T15:18:00.000-04:002015-05-24T15:18:13.122-04:00just because they say it's music doesn't make it music; but it's not music because i say it's not music!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmWnav9t-dsYpSBLZX1LXnzvM0IXXSJd8ua87_I4FSMjnd3rlD3HNjrkeKv891UapWCMHmibvouqJws_eXumnoKuWITAtgi2eB7IvLS3PtF4FmjO-u2PTk2XxaUa9ZodBdFBOdg/s1600/600pxNo_music.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmWnav9t-dsYpSBLZX1LXnzvM0IXXSJd8ua87_I4FSMjnd3rlD3HNjrkeKv891UapWCMHmibvouqJws_eXumnoKuWITAtgi2eB7IvLS3PtF4FmjO-u2PTk2XxaUa9ZodBdFBOdg/s200/600pxNo_music.svg.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A few days ago, <a href="http://www.therestisnoise.com/" target="_blank">Alex Ross</a> posted a piece by <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Palatino, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://amadeusregucera.com/" target="_blank">Amadeus Regucera</a> called </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 19.5px;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.5px;">obscured-distorted-redacted</em><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.5px;">, performed by the great JACK Quartet. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.5px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.5px;">Blogger A. C. Douglas not only took <a href="http://www.soundsandfury.com/soundsandfury/2015/05/a-plea-for-critical-sanity-in-classical-music.html" target="_blank">exception</a> to the piece itself, but also to Alex posting it as music. I can think of no non-subjective (or extremely prescriptive) definition of music that Mr. Regucera's composition fails to meet, and Mr. Douglas offers no support for his assertion that that it is not in fact music.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.5px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.5px;">As to the piece itself, It's got some very good stuff in it, especially in terms of texture. It may be a little long for what Mr. Regucera wants to say, but that's a quibble, and hardly definitional.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.5px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.5px;">At any rate, a tip of the hat to Mr. Ross for posting the piece and to Mr. Douglas, for making it essential listening.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12939881701345686354noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8514964.post-29662304758732563962015-03-16T21:49:00.002-04:002015-03-16T21:49:53.495-04:00a thousand flowers<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1cOf1yniPj0RHVU9d8qZ8mI2btjNdkipwMmKS_KUVi3piuEf61evVNUfg_uNvR39hpUQlUUCOmnTlNCsw_LC7PYVVvi-ExTcsXOctNgyTFw9p-TIBeu5bMtUbKWBOxjigZxQL8g/s1600/IMG_0251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1cOf1yniPj0RHVU9d8qZ8mI2btjNdkipwMmKS_KUVi3piuEf61evVNUfg_uNvR39hpUQlUUCOmnTlNCsw_LC7PYVVvi-ExTcsXOctNgyTFw9p-TIBeu5bMtUbKWBOxjigZxQL8g/s1600/IMG_0251.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is this one flower or two? Beats me. At any rate, we need at least 998 more.</td></tr>
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Thanks to the good offices of <a href="https://twitter.com/seatedovation" target="_blank">Will Robin</a>, 21st century orchestra music has taken over Facebook and Twitter, under the hashtag #21cOrch. I've listened to a good bit of this music over the last few weeks, and I have to say that I've been impressed with both the wide stylistic diversity of the music and with its quality. Whether I like a given piece or not (which is one of the least important aspects of writing about music), it's great to take note of the vitality in the field.<br />
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When I was in school the last thing anyone would do is write an orchestra piece on spec--American orchestras didn't play new music, at least not if you weren't a big name. (I wrote a piece in the 80s and one in the 90s, both for specific occasions and they both got performed once.)<br />
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The recent increase in performance of new music by American orchestras is a good thing. I look forward to hearing more.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12939881701345686354noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8514964.post-79181487480829782782014-11-17T16:46:00.000-05:002014-11-17T16:46:39.981-05:00miranda cuckson - melting the darkness<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNw9JCBxQ_2ck_udd6Nd8lQGoZRQiYfdrYaG8tpSmoifwsfjcxWk0mdZv6nqR5cvvVw_yibA15BL26Cyo5W_kHpflOH3tbvNr8ao6onYTOglfJeAfChSvQM2D7p_yPE_VawuEZgw/s1600/Violin-parts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNw9JCBxQ_2ck_udd6Nd8lQGoZRQiYfdrYaG8tpSmoifwsfjcxWk0mdZv6nqR5cvvVw_yibA15BL26Cyo5W_kHpflOH3tbvNr8ao6onYTOglfJeAfChSvQM2D7p_yPE_VawuEZgw/s1600/Violin-parts.jpg" height="186" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She knows them all; trust me.</td></tr>
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My <a href="http://burningambulance.com/2014/11/17/miranda-cuckson/" target="_blank">review</a> of Miranda Cuckson's exciting and challenging new disc, <i>Melting the Darkness</i>, is up at <i><a href="http://burningambulance.com/" target="_blank">Burning Ambulance</a></i>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12939881701345686354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8514964.post-67398196934111827192014-11-06T22:12:00.001-05:002014-11-06T22:12:36.733-05:00gerald cohen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ALFO1t6sa21B7diq2eIJtC3JO9r6-JN8pomskiCZMPfxUB1YMF_qfCL2ZQyrEXE-wQrcQF4_6E1WP9LKBZ2U-nRgL-1YO0yPIDOZu46HUCj-PaVI-NUZq7Qe4OuTSd_entPBxw/s1600/Behn_Signature_Clarinet_Mouthpiece_Family_cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ALFO1t6sa21B7diq2eIJtC3JO9r6-JN8pomskiCZMPfxUB1YMF_qfCL2ZQyrEXE-wQrcQF4_6E1WP9LKBZ2U-nRgL-1YO0yPIDOZu46HUCj-PaVI-NUZq7Qe4OuTSd_entPBxw/s1600/Behn_Signature_Clarinet_Mouthpiece_Family_cropped.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.sequenza21.com/cdreviews/2014/11/gerald-cohen-sea-of-reeds/" target="_blank">Review</a> of clarinet music by Gerald Cohen at <i><a href="http://www.sequenza21.com/" target="_blank">Sequenza21</a></i>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12939881701345686354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8514964.post-21332736701046605102014-09-11T20:50:00.001-04:002015-11-09T14:04:19.890-05:00worth reading, to say the least<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is the first of what will likely be a very occasional series, pointing you to some stuff I thought was, well, worth reading.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Alex Ross on <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/09/15/naysayers" target="_blank">pop culture and power</a>. Key sentence: "<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 28px;">Between them, Adorno and Benjamin were pioneers in thinking critically about pop culture—in taking that culture seriously as an object of scrutiny, whether in tones of delight, dismay, or passionate ambivalence."</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 28px;">A conversation with <a href="http://www.musicandliterature.org/features/2014/9/4/a-conversation-with-richard-powers" target="_blank">Richard Powers</a>. Key sentence: "</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #363636; line-height: 26.6000003814697px;">You can listen to music for millions of different reasons, and if you consider the fundamental components of music—melody, harmony, rhythm, texture, timbre, form—there are styles of listening that emphasize each of those."</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #363636; line-height: 26.6000003814697px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #363636;"><span style="line-height: 26.6000003814697px;">Leonard Pierce on Paul Thomas Anderson's </span></span><i style="color: #363636; line-height: 26.6000003814697px;"><a href="http://www.leonardpierce.com/blog/2014/09/08/the-most-beautiful-fraud-the-master/" target="_blank">The Master</a></i><span style="color: #363636;"><span style="line-height: 26.6000003814697px;">. I disagree with an important premise of Leonard's, but his insights are important and his engagement</span></span><span style="color: #363636;"><span style="line-height: 26.6000003814697px;"> with Anderson and his film vital. Key sentence: "</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #24242b; line-height: 21.4500007629395px;">The emotional weight of the film, the tenor of feeling it achieves when it starts throwing roadblocks instead of opportunities in front of its protagonists, is exceptionally well-delivered."</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12939881701345686354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8514964.post-53724883507547402612014-07-04T11:39:00.000-04:002014-07-04T11:39:44.620-04:00happy birthday!Some music for the day:<div>
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<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/_zah-gQHLpo/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/_zah-gQHLpo&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/_zah-gQHLpo&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q5kv7GiQeYo?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Bonus track:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/3LREboaF0iQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12939881701345686354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8514964.post-47846474079430574252014-05-19T19:04:00.000-04:002015-03-16T21:17:30.364-04:00music for one musician<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The redesigned <i><a href="http://burningambulance.com/" target="_blank">Burning Ambulance</a></i> launches today. One of the new offerings is my <a href="http://burningambulance.com/2014/05/18/rough-fields/" target="_blank">review</a> of Rough Fields' recording of Steve Reich's <i>Music for 18 Musicians</i>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12939881701345686354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8514964.post-74818543752199466452014-05-17T16:20:00.000-04:002015-03-16T21:17:46.565-04:00erik carlson, violin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.sequenza21.com/cdreviews/2014/05/erik-carlson-violin/" target="_blank">Review</a> at <i><a href="http://www.sequenza21.com/" target="_blank">Sequenza21</a></i>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12939881701345686354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8514964.post-37445992752520385262014-04-27T09:28:00.000-04:002015-03-16T21:17:56.019-04:00douglas detrick - the bright and rushing world<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.sequenza21.com/cdreviews/2014/04/douglas-detrick-the-bright-and-rushing-world/" target="_blank">Review</a> at <i><a href="http://www.sequenza21.com/" target="_blank">Sequenza21</a></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12939881701345686354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8514964.post-89417895000782392912014-04-26T17:26:00.003-04:002014-04-26T17:26:59.683-04:00george heathco - ravens & radishes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YOXCHAoPFws/U1wkRhIEMCI/AAAAAAAAAUA/hp2kcq4xw38/s1600/heathco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YOXCHAoPFws/U1wkRhIEMCI/AAAAAAAAAUA/hp2kcq4xw38/s1600/heathco.jpg" height="320" width="319" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.sequenza21.com/cdreviews/2014/04/george-heathco/" target="_blank">Review</a> at <i><a href="http://www.sequenza21.com/" target="_blank">Sequenza21</a></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12939881701345686354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8514964.post-43401003056062040262014-04-20T11:55:00.000-04:002015-03-16T21:18:07.862-04:00prism quartet - music from china ensemble<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.sequenza21.com/cdreviews/2014/04/prism-quartet-music-from-china-ensemble/" target="_blank">Review</a> at <i><a href="http://www.sequenza21.com/cdreviews" target="_blank">Sequenza21</a></i>.</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12939881701345686354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8514964.post-20311834145667313282014-04-15T19:43:00.000-04:002015-03-16T21:18:25.464-04:00mary kathleen ernst, piano<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.sequenza21.com/cdreviews/2014/04/mary-kathleen-ernst-piano/" target="_blank">Review</a> at <i><a href="http://www.sequenza21.com/" target="_blank">Sequenza21</a></i>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12939881701345686354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8514964.post-35094256944819681902014-04-14T17:31:00.000-04:002015-03-16T21:18:37.210-04:00mason bates<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.sequenza21.com/cdreviews/2014/04/mason-bates-stereo-is-king/" target="_blank">Review</a> in <i><a href="http://www.sequenza21.com/" target="_blank">Sequenza21</a> </i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12939881701345686354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8514964.post-26899937507816324912014-04-13T09:21:00.000-04:002015-03-16T21:18:48.465-04:00dan becker<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.sequenza21.com/cdreviews/2014/04/dan-becker-fade/" target="_blank">Review</a> at <i><a href="http://www.sequenza21.com/" target="_blank">Sequenza21</a></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12939881701345686354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8514964.post-64742050681403831062014-03-28T06:49:00.000-04:002015-03-16T21:19:38.958-04:00carter sessions eckardt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My <a href="http://burningambulance.com/2014/03/28/miranda-cuckson-blair-mcmillen/" target="_blank">review</a> can be found at <i><a href="http://burningambulance.com/" target="_blank">BurningAmbulance</a></i>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12939881701345686354noreply@blogger.com0