A while back, we were talking about pops concerts, and why musicians frequently seem to have a bad attitude about playing them. Basically, it comes down to the high percentage of such shows that seem like they’d be better without … Continue reading →
No doubt that these are rough times for all. Although here in southeast Texas (where I am for a guest conducting week), the economic climate is a bit more upbeat. Still, it’s hard not to get swept up in the … Continue reading →
Last night, the NHL’s Minnesota Wild opened their 2008-09 season at home against the Boston Bruins, a fact which was noted in eye-rolling fashion by our principal trombonist, Doug Wright, during the stage-setting break between the first and second works … Continue reading →
…at tonight’s concert, which ends with Messiaen’s L’Ascension, a rapturous 29 minutes which, while eminently accessible on some level, is not without its challenges: (a well-dressed couple pushes up from their seats in Tier 1) Man: “That was such…dream music, … Continue reading →
Composer Nico Muhly has been playing a fun and snarky game with violist Nadia Sirota (an old friend of mine, for the record) over at his blog. He calls the game “Fix This Concert,” and it was inspired by the … Continue reading →
Fun moment in rehearsal today: one of the pieces we’re tackling this week is Ravel’s Alborado del gracioso, which is basically eight minutes of (hopefully) organized chaos, with a French accent. It’s been a while since we’ve done it, and … Continue reading →
A few last thoughts on the clapping question. Also, some Clapping Music. It’s utterly hypnotic… [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXhBti625_s]
An e-mail dropped into my inbox this afternoon from one of our hardworking artistic staffers, Beth Cowart, detailing the schedule for this year’s edition of the Minnesota Orchestra’s Composer Institute. I blogged about the Institute last fall, shortly after we … Continue reading →
We got a great question this week from Chris Larson, who may or may not be aware that his query ties in perfectly with our ItC season theme of child prodigies, boy wonders, call ‘em what you will… Q: Many … Continue reading →
Sorry for the sparse posting on my part; I’ve been trying to finish up some arrangements for our Scandinavian Christmas concert in December and, in the parlance of my Hawaiian roots, it is kicking my ‘okole. Arranging and composing always … Continue reading →
