Happy happy

Lots of things to celebrate, and people to honor...today marks the birth of Jacob Druckman, one of the great American composers of the 20th century. Composer-in-residence with the New York Philharmonic, Druckman taught at The Juilliard School, Brooklyn College, Bard College, Tanglewood Music Center, and Yale University, and his students included Aaron Jay Kernis, David Lang, and Michael Torke. A student himself of Aaron Copland, Bernard Wagenaar, Vincent Persichetti, and Peter Mennin, he was president of the Aaron Copland Fund for Music, providing opportunities for young composers' works to be heard.
To quote Mark Swed: “At the heart of the works of Jacob Druckman lies the bold, sure, and often arrestingly physical dramatic gesture....Yet Druckman's scores have always exhibited another characteristic as well: that of careful structure, built with meticulous attention to detail. The process of integrating these two sides of his character...has been a consistent factor throughout the composer's development.”

Over at the KPAC blog, we'll honor another American composer who would have been 100 years old this weekend, Leroy Anderson. Don't miss hearing from Kurt Anderson - Leroy's son; and Maestro Leonard Slatkin, who is currently recording the complete Leroy Anderson on Naxos.

Ala the Schleptet

Ever heard the Yehudi Menuetto Hey Nonnie Nonino from PDQ Bach's brilliant Schleptet?
Well, listen to this phrase from a late Beethoven Quartet, I guarantee you will smile:

Nice going Ethan!

Small world

One of my friends has a cool wedding gig: playing on the Today Show! Tune in Wednesday morning to hear a killer harpist!

Sneak Peak

I talked with Leonard Slatkin yesterday for a KPAC project I think you'll like. Watch the new blog over there, http://kpac883.blogspot.com/ for updates and the entire coverage of Leroy Anderson's 100th birthday.

Here though, are a few questions I had a chance to ask the Maestro: about his move to Detroit, the new Made In America project, and Jennifer Higdon's Piano Concerto.

mp3 file

Friends

I'm blessed with alot of friends...not just acquaintances, but real people who mean alot to me. The problem is we're all so spread out across the world it isn't funny.
I always quote Mystery Alaska about my weight, "Everytime I meet a new friend, my heart grows - its gotten so big from having so many friends, which is why I'm this heavy."
Well, doctors could probably argue that, but anyway...here is a lovely shot of my going away celebration at Mangia Qui in Harrisburg.





Another friend is in the studio right now, here is an awesome preview:

Refresh

I've tweaked ClassicallyHip dot com, take a look at the new front page, and enjoy the pics!
It was fun learning a bit about php, hoot!
More soon on an awesome weekend!

ART

I'd really like to be in Denver right now. Don't get me wrong, I'm loving San Antonio, and this is the right move for me.
But the NPAC is going on right now, and I had entertained thoughts to attend - I have tons of friends there and would like to do some interviews, talk about trends, etc. I'll just have to hear from them about it, and read their blogs.
This article from the NY Times is quite interesting and the timing with NPAC is perfect I believe.

It's alive!

Well, it's a start...check out the new KPAC blog, a work in progress:
http://kpac883.blogspot.com/

Enjoy!

Great week

Well, it was a lovely first week! I went on air as of Tuesday and today I did my first interview for Classical Spotlight with composer Miguel del Aguila (seen with yours truly left). We had lots to talk about, from his Conga Line From Hell to new recordings being made, common friends like JoAnn Falletta to new aquaintances like Stephen Gunzenhauser.

I couldn't have asked for a better start.

For those keeping track, I was in the pool 5 out of 7 days this week. I am also walking to work, which helps the pocketbook and exercise. Expect to see me more healthy and tan!

Adjusting

Things continue to be groovy in Tejas. Learning how local names are pronounced (Bexar=bear) and settling in.
On other blogs though, some hilarious graphs from Derek, and brilliant discourse from Dick. Check 'em out!

First day

Awesome start at TPR...I'll be on the air tomorrow between 2 and 6pm.

From the Road

While I was driving, I caught this storm in Kansas...there is something beautiful about the Flint Hills, and this was taken between Emporia and El Dorado.