One of the unfortunate side effects of being a musician at Christmastime is that it really does tend to ruin your enjoyment of holiday music. Caroling is a lovely tradition, yes, but when you’re playing Sleigh Ride or the Dance … Continue reading →
Well, it’s actually the Year of the Ox (if you’re into the whole Chinese/Japanese astrology/zodiac thing), but Cow is so much funnier… Of course, no mention of the New Year would be complete without a Neujahrs-Konzert with the Vienna Philharmonic, … Continue reading →
I don’t know what it is about musicians that causes us to prize twisted, awful versions of melodies that everyone else treasures, but we do. Most likely, it has something to do with the ungodly number of times that we … Continue reading →
I know, I know, I’ve posted this before, but it’s just too good! And it’s one of those things that never fails to make me laugh (there are a couple of those in my life). Here it is; the most … Continue reading →
The Orchestra has just finished up a week of outdoor concerts all over the place, from Hudson, WI to Winona and Plymouth MN, playing the usual July 4th fare – Sousa marches, classics “lite” (think “Toreadors” from Carmen), John Williams … Continue reading →
We tend to think of Christmas as the big “musical” holiday – what with the Nutcrackers, Messiahs, caroling and holiday concerts and all – but New Years has its own musical delights. As I nurse my champagne hangover this afternoon, … Continue reading →
I grew up in the Quaker church (not nearly as exotic in my home state of Pennsylvania as it is in the Midwest,) so the kind of extravagant Christmas celebrations that so many religious traditions observe were foreign to me. … Continue reading →
Having been excused from Friday night’s holiday pops show because (get this) there wasn’t enough room on the stage for five stands of violas, I took advantage of the evening off to go to a movie I’ve been waiting to … Continue reading →
Sorry for the light blogging this week. In addition to the usual rehearsal schedule, I’m actually moving across town this week, so today will likely be the last you hear from me in this space until the weekend. I actually … Continue reading →
