Latest Carter

It was a stellar night in NYC with the world premiere of Elliott Carter's Clarinet Quintet with Charles Neidich and the Juilliard Quartet.

Each member also played a solo work by the 99 year old composer, with MVP awards to Ronald Copes and Samuel Rhoads who especially shone in their spotlight moments.

After intermission, Carter joined the players on stage with Juilliard Dean and Provost Ara Guzelimian for a discussion of the new quintet - and you would have never believed Carter was in his 90s, with wit, humor, expression and gestures of a 50 year old, but the wisdom only he could convey.
My favorite quote from Carter comes from mentioning a recurring effect throughout the 20 minute work, a snap pizzicato. "The pizzicato you hear in the cello and then throughout the work is unrelated to the intervals and notes in this quintet - I put it in there like a splash of color in a painting."
It was a delight to hear the work twice in the evening.


Dr. Dick's entry is here on his blog. Read about hearing all five String Quartets last January here and about "Ten for Carter" here.

Election news

Pennsylvania Superdelegate Bill George announced his support for Hillary Clinton today.
George said Clinton was the best equipped to beat Sen. John McCain in a general election and deliver real solutions to the challenges facing the working families of Pennsylvania and the nation.

“Hillary Clinton has the strength and experience to jumpstart the economy and rebuild the middle class,” George said. “Working families in Pennsylvania overwhelmingly favored her in last week’s primary, and I feel that she is our strongest candidate to carry Pennsylvania in November and win back the White House.”

George has been a DNC member since 1996 and is President of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO.

Catching up

My friend Paul, seen singing below, and I performed Friday night at MJ's Coffeehouse in Annville, PA. The crowd was small but appreciative. The owner, Skip Hicks, is a real joy and gentleman - stop by, have a refreshing drink and tell John & Paul sent you.
Earlier that day, we wrapped up the spring membership campaign at WITF-FM, with a successful $112,000 raised! Helping out the entire 9 day campaign were volunteers like these from St. Ann's Retirement Village:

Tagged

The fabulous Alex Shapiro tagged me in a meme, so here goes:
1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Open to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people, and acknowledge who tagged you.

My cubicle is lined with books at the top right corner, and closest to my reach was "When I'm Dead All this will be yours!" - Joe Teller, a portrait by his kid, Teller
Page 123 is a cartoon drawn by his dad with this caption:
The bookies used to meet at the flower stand.

I'll tag Dr. Dick, Mark Grube, Joyce DiDonato, Adam Carriere, and Molly Sheridan. All others are equally welcome to jump into this tide pool of literary goofiness. The more, the merrier!

Idiots

So I mentioned protesters at my gig Monday on facebook, hard to believe in Annville! But yes, there are idiots everywhere I suppose.

Welcome!

She rocks with the Friday informer, now Molly Sheridan is blogging!

Sparkles Video

How I Met Your Mother does another brilliant job with a new Robin Sparkles video, too funny!

Sunday with family

I spent time with wonderful friends who feel like family Sunday afternoon in Rockville, MD.

Emerson String Quartet

I heard the Emerson String Quartet last night (Friday) at Market Square Church in Harrisburg.

Before the performance, Eugene Drucker read from his book, The Savior.

It was the coolest thing since sliced bread. Really.

They performed with passion and confidence rarely seen on stage.

But it was with ease and musicality.

They played an all modern program, and encored Bach!

Afterwards they greeted the audience and signed autographs.

Grammy filled summer

GRAMMY FOUNDATION® NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR FOURTH ANNUAL GRAMMY CAMP® TO BE HELD ATUNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THIS SUMMER
April 30 is Deadline for Youth to Apply for Summer Program that Brings Them TogetherWith Outstanding Artists and Music Industry Professionals
WHO: GRAMMY® Award-winning and -nominated professionals, industryspecialists affiliated with The Recording Academy® and high school students from across the United States. Past teaching artists include: recording artist Brandi Carlile; GRAMMY Award-winning songwriter/producer/recording artist Lamont Dozier; multi-GRAMMY Award-winning group Earth, Wind & Fire; DJ Faust; multi-GRAMMY winning producer David Foster; multi-GRAMMY winning producer and Recording Academy Board chair Jimmy Jam; singer/songwriter Josh Kelley; saxophonist and KTWV–FM (The Wave) radio host Dave Koz; songwriter/producer/recording artist Jeff Lorber; Minor Productions Inc. President/CEO and "American Idol" musical director Rickey Minor; DJ Shortee; GRAMMY winning guitarist Steve Vai, Sublime's Eric Wilson and GRAMMY Award-winning film score composer Hans Zimmer.
WHAT: Fourth Annual GRAMMY Camp® — The program offers 75 selected highschool students a 14-day interactive residential summer music experience. Focusing on all aspects of commercial music, this unique opportunity provides instruction by industry professionals in an immersive creative environment with cutting-edge technology in professional facilities. GRAMMY Camp is sponsored in part by Epiphone Guitar.
The curriculum engages students in the technical aspects of creating, performing and recording and emphasizes new and emerging music technologies. The program offers 15 music career tracks: Audio Engineering; DJ-Remixing; Film Scoring; Music Journalism; Music Production; Video Game Music and Sound Design; and performance tracks in Keyboard; Guitar; Bass; Drums; Saxophone; Trumpet; Trombone and Songwriting. A new track this year, Concert Promotion/Production, is being coordinated by AEG Live. All tracks culminate in media projects, CD recordings and/or showcase performances. GRAMMY Camp will be held at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music and other professional venues throughout Los Angeles, Calif.
WHERE: University of Southern California Thornton School of MusicLos Angeles, CA 90089 and other professional venues throughout Los Angeles, Calif.
WHEN: Online application now available at http://www.grammyintheschools.com in the GRAMMY Camp section. Student and counselor deadline to apply is April 30, 2008 GRAMMY Camp runs July 12 – 26, 2008
The GRAMMY Foundation was established in 1989 to cultivate the understanding, appreciation and advancement of the contribution of recorded music to American culture — from the artistic and technical legends of the past to the still unimagined musical breakthroughs of future generations of music professionals. The Foundation accomplishes this mission through programs and activities that engage the music industry and cultural community as well as the general public. The Foundation works in partnership year-round with its founder, The Recording Academy, to bring national attention to important issues such as the value and impact of music and arts education and the urgency of preserving our rich cultural heritage. For more information, please visit www.grammyintheschools.com.

Schoenberg/Sibelius Release Party

It was a blast at Drom in the East Village Saturday night/Sunday morning!

Hilary Hahn played solo Bach (Hahn Solo if you will) and also played with Josh Ritter, Gabe Kahane and Tom Brosseau.

Gabe also accompanied Hilary in the slow movement of the Sibelius Concerto, and my friend Satomi turned pages!

Name that tune, er theme

From my playlist today, 4/11:
Henry Purcell: The Old Bachelor: Overture
John Rutter: A Clare Benediction
Ottorino Respighi: Church Windows, The Matins of St. Clare
Thomas Baltzar: A Division on 'John, Come Kiss Me Now'
Claude Debussy: Clair de lune

Also seen

Myself and Pam Tronsor at the Bravo! A Toast and Tribute to Mike Greenwald.

Mr. WITF

A lovely evening last night for Mike Greenwald at WITF's PMC.

On the upper left is Mike with Elizabeth Schindler and Suzanne Graney, the event coordinators for WITF.

Below right is "toaster" Ellen Brody Hughes speaking with Harrisburg Symphony Music Director Stuart Malina.

WHAT WAS THAT?

Holy cow, they cancelled a piece for its loudness! Read the details here.

Five Things about Gabriel Kahane

I heard Gabriel Kahane at Joe’s Pub Wednesday night. If Billy Joel and Paul McCartney can write “classical music”, why can’t composers write “pop music”?
1. Gabe Kahane is a good singer, great pianist and out of this world showman. His wry and wonderful wit comes through his music and lyrics. Wednesday night Kahane shared his sounds with humor, humility and always in an entertaining way.
2. Ensemble with the four man band, including: piano, banjo, violin, clarinet, bass clarinet, drums, guitar, electric bass, toy piano and a melodic, was generally tight and toe tapping. Less stellar was the drummer playing banjo – it just didn’t click and wasn't heard very well – perhaps it was his trip from Seattle. Later when Kahane picked up the banjo, it was heard fine and in time!
3. Rob Moose played excellent lines whether it was on violin, guitar or bass. Also Sam Sadigursky shone in his bass clarinet lines, and as a toy pianist, rocked the joint.
4. New songs including Keen were charming, including a Pan-Am bag on the subway inspired song written that day – although the riffs were cool, the selections weren’t always memorable.
5. The highlight of the evening was Kahane’s Craiglistlieder, a 21st Century masterpiece, both a virtuoso vehicle for Gabe singing and playing, and a biting commentary. Operatic riffs including pseudo recitative and rhythmic variety made this in a word, perfect.
The show was short but sweet – keep an eye out for the new album in August and go to http://www.gabrielkahane.com/to experience the Craiglistlieder for yourself, you’ll be glad you did!

New Hilary CD

There's been much waiting for the new Hilary Hahn CD - and it comes out this next week!!!
Grammy Award-winner Hilary Hahn to Perform at Drom to
Celebrate New Schoenberg/Sibelius Disc
With special guests Josh Ritter, Tom Brosseau and Gabriel Kahane

New York, NY – After her sold-out performance at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on Saturday, April 12th, Grammy Award-winning violinist Hilary Hahn will head downtown to the recently opened club Drom to host a release party for her new album, the Schoenberg and Sibelius concertos on Deutsche Grammophon, with Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Swedish Radio Symphony. To help celebrate the release, Hahn will be joined in performance by a trio of unique singer/songwriters: Josh Ritter, Tom Brosseau and Gabriel Kahane.

Hilary Hahn continues to revel in unanticipated repertoire for her recordings. On the surface, the Violin Concerto of Arnold Schoenberg, finished in the mid-1930s during his exile in America, is not an obvious pairing for Jean Sibelius’ Violin Concerto, written at the start of the 20th century. As Hahn explains it, she knew that this would be many listeners’ first experience of Schoenberg’s probing, virtuosic music. Accordingly, she says, “I wanted to pair the Schoenberg with something that would reflect its dark lyrical side, as well as its playfulness, from an unexpected angle. The Sibelius concerto seemed to me the perfect foil. The Sibelius is often presented as either a highly Romantic work or as very cold, but I think that it carries within it other aspects that don’t always rise to the surface in traditional couplings. I thought that the Schoenberg and the Sibelius, side-by-side, might bring out unexpected nuances in each other.” The album will be released in the US on April 8th.

The new album and double performance in New York on April 12th are the latest in a series of projects stemming from Hahn’s attention to unexpected musical and thematic threads across the traditional boundaries of classical music. In 2004, Hahn was the violin soloist on the Oscar-nominated soundtrack to M. Night Shyamalan’s film The Village; in 2005 and 2006, she appeared as a guest on albums by the band …And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead and wrote and performed violin parts on singer-songwriter Tom Brosseau’s record Grand Forks before appearing with him on several of his record release shows. She continues to tour with Josh Ritter this spring, after inaugurating their performance collaboration last summer at the Ravinia, Aspen, Verbier and Eastern Music festivals; next season, they will play a show together in Tokyo.

Gabriel Kahane, Tom Brosseau and Josh Ritter have each found their ways into the indie spotlight with their particular perspectives on and contributions to the contemporary American songbook. Kahane has been trained in the classical and jazz traditions and now, armed with technical virtuosity and an intensely deep gift for writing, he has won over fans and critics with his affiliation of raucous pop culture and deft high-art craft. Of the North Dakota–raised and –inspired Brosseau and his latest album Grand Forks, Time Out London said, “There are some singers, a rare few, whom it’s hard to believe are really from this time, such is the otherworldly pull of their voice... Dakota songman Tom Brosseau is one of these strange birds.” Ritter has quickly caught the attention of anyone interested in the progression of American folk music, having recently released his fourth critically-acclaimed LP. Jon Pareles wrote of him in the New York Times, “Josh Ritter reaches back to folk-rock that was invented before he was born - not just for its sound, but for its ambitions.”

Hilary Hahn will perform excerpts from the Schoenberg/Sibelius album and will join Kahane, Brosseau and Ritter on selections of their original works.

R3s34ch

I've just had a breakthrough uncovering relatives of Johann Sebastian Bach. It turns out there were more children and relatives of the great master in the US.

Thanks to Elinor Frey for discovering:

L.O.L. Bach (Loretta Oprah Lorraine) "Laughing Daughter"

O.M.G. Bach (Otto Michael Gottfried) "Pious son"

W.T.F. Bach (Wilhelmine Trombette Friederica) "Inquisitive daughter"

There turns out other relatives included:

A.F.K. Bach (Alfred Friedrich Koppel) "Composed away from the clavier"

B.F.F. Bach (Bartholomew Friedemann Francis) "Trusted friend"

B.R.B. Bach (Brunnhilde Rachel Barbara) "The travelling sister"

B.W.V. Bach (Baptiste Wilhelm Viet) "Genealogical brother"

C.Y.A. Bach (Catharina Yetta Augusta) "Much adieu daughter"

N.O.O.B. Bach (Noah Oren Ornette Bernhard) "Unexperienced cousin"

D.0.0.D. Bach (Dietrich something something Donner) "City slicker whose middle initals appear to be zeros"

P.W.N. Bach (Phillip Wotan Nicholas) "Wealthier and arrogant uncle"

S.N.A.F.U. Bach (Sebastian Nibelung Altnikol Froh Ubung) "Always wrong bungling cousin"

T.E.H. Bach (Theodore Edward Hermann) "The dyslexic brother"

There is more advice here if you run across these or other composers in concert and want to txt someone! Also, Dr. Dick's out of sight car! And you can always have a laugh with our friend Peter Schickele at the PDQ Bach website!

Happy April

Enjoy Poetry Month with the latest from wordsmith Adam Carriere and company:
http://thedansemacabre.blogspot.com/

While in Ithaca

I went by, but hadn't made an appointment, the Karel Husa Archive at Ithaca College. I'll have to come back!

Tween a rock garden

I enjoyed a cigar and the rock garden on campus before the concert...

More on the stage

Steve Stucky gave a sweet, funny, and touching tribute to his friend Chris Rouse at the Eissner Awards last night.

CCA Artist of the year

It was nice to see Christopher Rouse receive the Eissner Artist of the Year Award last night!

Brave New Works performed Rouse's Compline, a charming and evocative hommage to Rome.

Masterclass

Elinor Frey teaching at Ithaca College.

What's the score

Cornell students following a work by Chris Rouse during a seminar this afternoon.

Review

Be sure to checkout my latest NY review over on Sequenza21:
http://www.sequenza21.com/index.php/753
BMOP rocked!

Sum-sum-summertime

Music at Gretna has 24 events in 31 days!

August 1, 8:00 p.m. – Jimmy Sturr, polka king
August 2, 8:00 p.m. – The New Black Eagles Jazz Band
August 3, 11:00 a.m. – Jazz Worship Service with Rev. D. Darrell Woomer and The New Black Eagles Jazz Band
August 3, 7:30 p.m. – Wister String Quartet, with Natalie Zhu, piano
August 8, 8:00 p.m. – Maria Bachmann, The Red Violin
August 9, 2:00 p.m. – New Century Saxophone Quartet
August 9, 8:00 p.m. – The Capitol Steps
August 10, 7:30 p.m. – Rodney Mack’s Philadelphia Big Brass
August 14, 8:00 p.m. – A Midsummer Serenade, with Priscilla Porterfield and Tom Brown
August 15, 8:00 p.m. – The Lascivious Biddies
August 20, 8:00 p.m. – Audubon String Quartet, with Carl Ellenberger, flute, and Ting-Yu Chen, dance
August 21, 2:00 & 8:00 p.m. – Molière’s Tartuffe, or The Hypocrite
August 22, 2:00 p.m. – Audubon String Quartet, with Allen Krantz, guitar
August 22, 8:00 p.m. – Leon Redbone
August 23, 2:00 & 8:00 p.m. – Molière’s Tartuffe, or The Hypocrite
August 24, 7:30 p.m. – Audubon String Quartet, with Frank Shaw, viola, and Jeremiah Shaw, cello
August 26, 8:00 p.m. – Simon Tedeschi, piano, with Owen Watkins, saxophone
August 28, 8:00 p.m. – Veasley-Beasley-Loeb Jazz Ensemble
August 29, 7:30 p.m. – Jazz Twin-bill with Cyrus Chestnut and Nnenna Freelon
August 30, 2:00 p.m. – The Four Freshmen
August 30, 8:00 p.m. – Regina Carter
August 31, 7:30 p.m. – Lark Chamber Artists, with Anna Polonsky, piano

Gretna Music Summer Internship Opportunity
Gretna Music wants YOU! Sure, most of you who receive this update have past the stage where you’re looking for summer internships. But we’ll bet you know some bright young folks who haven’t. And who better than you to put them in touch with us?
Our full-time summer Arts Management Internship position runs from late May through early September. Exact start and end dates are flexible. This internship affords the successful candidate the opportunity to work with Gretna Music’s staff and board to gain valuable experience in areas such as customer service, public relations, promotions, corporate and community relations, artist relations, and marketing, as they relate to arts management.
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, and should possess good interpersonal, writing, research, and design skills. An ability to learn quickly and apply existing knowledge and experience to new situations is especially valued. Applicants will need to supply their own housing and reliable transportation, and be willing to work weekends. A stipend of $3,000 is included with this position.
A sample of responsibilities could include order processing, writing press releases and other promotional materials, researching and writing program notes, artist hospitality, box office and general support. We will tailor the final job description to fit the successful applicant’s interests and skills. This position is particularly suited for students with interest in arts management, writing, communications, public relations, marketing and of course music.
Many of our past interns learned of this opportunity through friends and family who are Gretna Music enthusiasts. You are the best eyes and ears we have!
For more information about this summer internship opportunity with Gretna Music, please call Carl Kane at 717-361-1508. Thank you.

Strange bedfellows

MYSPACE, SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT, UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP AND WARNER MUSIC GROUP PARTNER IN LANDMARK JOINT VENTURE: “MYSPACE MUSIC”
“MYSPACE MUSIC” EMPOWERS ARTISTS AND CONSUMERS GLOBALLY WITH UNPRECEDENTED DIGITAL MUSIC SERVICE AND E-COMMERCE PLATFORM

New Company to Leverage 30 Million Unique MySpace Music Traffic to Activate Monetization Around Music Content

MySpace Music to Offer Digital Downloads, Ad-supported Audio and Video Streaming, Mobile Storefront and Sponsorship Solutions

LOS ANGELES—April 3, 2008—MySpace, the world’s biggest and most popular social network, and three of the world’s largest music companies, SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group (NYSE: WMG), today announced the formation of a landmark joint venture, MySpace Music. The new company marries the most popular music community in the world with the most comprehensive catalogue of music content available online, unveiling a host of new music services and monetization models. The financial terms of the partnership were not disclosed.

The product vision for MySpace Music is to build on the existing traffic, credibility, and popularity of the MySpace Music platform (http://www.music.myspace.com) by creating a fully integrated 360 degree global music solution. MySpace Music will feature the network’s first integrated e-commerce solution and evolve the user’s ability to discover, share, and socialize by adding commerce and music management tools. The new offering will seamlessly transform the MySpace Music experience into a groundbreaking mix of community, commerce, and discovery. The product will roll iteratively in the coming months.

The MySpace Music product will integrate new content and music capabilities across three primary areas: the MySpace Music home page, the site’s more than 5 million artist profile pages, and individual user home pages, providing bands and fans multiple touch points to discover, share, and purchase music and merchandise in one place for the portable device of their choosing. MySpace Music empowers bands and fans with unprecedented digital music service and e-commerce platform within MySpace that will include DRM-free digital downloads, ad-supported audio and video streaming, a mobile storefront (powered by News Corporation’s Jamba mobile company), as well as various sponsorship solutions.

For users, MySpace Music will have the richest music experience on the Web by enabling the site’s global community to discover music and then download, stream and personalize music content. The personalized music management product will allow users to control their entire MySpace Music experience directly from their user page by creating playlists and having access to enhanced purchase opportunities and search functionality.

For the labels’ artists, the formation of MySpace Music will offer them the opportunity to provide their fans with digital downloads as well as mobile ringtones, SMS, and artist wallpapers, all directly from their artist profiles. Additionally, artists will be able to evolve their MySpace experience beyond the promotional by now monetizing their full repository of content with a 360 degree solution including not only the sale of digital content, but also physical goods such as t-shirts and concert tickets.

Already one of the cultural cornerstones of MySpace, the new company is uniquely positioned to quickly launch its new music product with nearly 30 million unique monthly visitors for the Music channel and its more than 5 million artists. As the most popular music community in the world today, MySpace Music has the greatest collection of artist profiles, tour dates, artist blogs, music videos, and artist photos in the world. Additionally, MySpace Music has the participation of millions of major, indie, and unsigned artists via their music profiles and interaction with the MySpace community.

Immediately, the new MySpace Music will be able to tap into the world’s largest library of content to offer unique audio and video content for the MySpace community. MySpace’s rich history with the music community has already included album exclusives from the biggest major and independent acts in the world. The new library will enhance existing MySpace Music franchises including Secret Shows, MySpaceLIVE!, Transmissions, and The List.

The new company will be based in Los Angeles and will have a dedicated executive management team to oversee the business. In the coming months, MySpace Music will begin to roll new content and product functionality within the existing music channel. The process will be iterative to take full advantage of the popularity and existing traffic to the Music channel already booming within MySpace.

Talkity talk

From my friend Jeff, taken at a pre-concert talk for Concertante, March 21st, 2008 at HACC.
Percussionist Chen Zimbalista was a real delight to interview and discuss the music for the program!

Da finals

Go Wichita Wingnuts!
Vote here for my friend Joe's awesome logo for the minor league team in Wichita, KS:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/23898413

Glorious

It was spectacular to hear Joyce DiDonato Sunday in Philadelphia. She sang with everything in her power, not just the notes with beautiful color and phrasing but with her heart and soul.

We go way back, to August 1988 when we were at Wichita State University! Joyce and Katie (her roommate) were in Brennan 2 and I lived in Brennan 3. We also were in Benson Headley's sight singing class 3 (I had skipped 1 and 2 the summers before, along with theory and violin lessons!) - which was interesting to say the least. We later were in Bertil H. Van Boer's Music History classes together, sang in Concert Chorale under Bob Glasmann, and in lots of operas - I in the pit and Joyce either in the chorus or with a role, often directed by George Gibson.

But that was many years ago!

We've stayed in touch, and even run across each other - once in Richmond, VA where she was a soloist for the Messiah, and I at National Public Radio, and another friend, Sara Avery, the principal 2nd violinist. Last time I saw her I had been engaged and just back from New York City to hear a friend's Carnegie Hall debut (this was 1999 - and I never got married, long story, ask me sometime!) and my then fiancee and I stopped to visit Joyce at her home in Kansas City.

Yesterday it was like no time had passed - in fact, Joyce came out on stage smiling, but as she saw me in the 2nd row (I was in her line of sight off to the right) she smiled even bigger - later I got a wink, and when she mentioned singing Copland at WSU, gestered towards me with her left hand. It was sweet. Her husband, Leo, teased me afterwards about being jealous, mentioning the smiles and wink, and even the WSU nod. It was awesome to meet him, and spend a brief few minutes reconnecting. I took five friends from around the area (and even my ex-fiancee!), who all just flipped over Joyce.

She has a link up on her blog (for ClassicallyHip) for one of my posts about performing Rossini back in Wichita, oh so many years ago. Take a look, she has wonderful insights and photos on YankeeDiva!

Final Four

Vote through tomorrow morning for the Wingnuts!
http://www.cnbc.com/id/23878416
Go Wichita!

In Philly

Had a delightful Sunday in Philadelphia...here is my friend Jann and I before a concert we caught.

Sweet 16

and you know what I mean...vote for the Wingnuts!
http://www.cnbc.com/id/23791565
(thanks everyone who voted last round!)

midwest

Nice trip so far with the 'rents. The central time zone feels good.

Go nuts voting

Er, that should be Vote for the Wingnuts, a baseball team in Wichita, and their awesome logo.
But just as the deadline for registering in PA primary is looming, this deadline is tomorrow - so go vote now!
http://www.cnbc.com/id/23706466

You’ve never really lived

Derek Hale has started a list, and it's a good one...here's my contribution off the top of my head:

A list of things that would cause me to say, “I had never really lived until I ________________.” Here is what I came up with.

I had never really lived until I:

Saw the Grand Canyon.
Arrived late to a wedding and fell for Andie MacDowell, saw her at another wedding, went to her wedding, went to a friend’s funeral and then left my wedding for her – oh wait, that was not me, but Hugh Grant in Four Weddings and a Funeral, sorry!
Took a chance for love.
Heard Penderecki's Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima (live!).
Saw a tornado pass by.
Stood up for what I thought was right no matter what.
Taught a student to enjoy music.
Gave time to spend with others who needed friendship and company who were alone.
Watched the sunrise with a loved one.
Conducted an orchestra.
Heard the applause of an adoring audience after a musical performance.
Made loved outside under the stars.
Went backstage at Carnegie Hall to congratulate a friend after a performance.
Smoked a Cuban cigar.

Anyone else care to chime in?

Karma Kameleon

I laughed looking at my most recent facebook notifications, and it is indeed karmatic:

John Nasukaluk Clare -- you have been given good karma by Brandi P.
You have been given good karma by Jann.
You have been given good karma by Derek.
Cecily called you a beslubberring, bat-fowling skainsmate!
You have been given good karma by Katherine.
John Nasukaluk Clare -- you have been given good karma by Jennifer.
John Nasukaluk Clare -- you have been given good karma by Brandi H-B.

You see, I sent some "karma" to friends and also pulled out ye ol' Shakespearian Insult Generator, so I was very amused to see a friend reply within all of my karma...too funny!

Summertime

In the city and looking for somethin' to do?
Settlement Music School AnnouncesSummer Camps Schedule and Six-Week Summer Instruction Offering
Philadelphia, PA - The largest community arts school in the country is currently enrolling students for a variety of summer camps for children ages 4 -18 along with a six-weeks of individual lessons for continuing student and those who "just want to get their feet wet" and explore music lessons in a more relaxed time of the year. For details, call 215-320-2600 or visit www.smsmusic.org.
Financial support is available for all camps which include:
SUMMER JAM Ages 12-18, June 23 - July 3, 2008 9am to 3pm, Monday through Friday Cost $530. Germantown Branch, 6128 Germantown Avenue, Germantown 215-320-2613 andKardon Northeast Branch, 3745 Clarendon Avenue at Knights Road, Philadelphia 215-320-2623.Audition dates are Saturday, April 26, 2-4pm at either branch. This newest camp is for teen musicians and garage band members looking to hone their skills, record a CD or learn about the business of making music. Summer Jam emphasizes practical playing experience through clinics by professionals in the field. Participants will record their work and perform live at a local club.
SUMMER ARTS CAMP
Ages 4-7, July 7 - Aug 1, 2008 9am to noon, Monday through Friday Cost $620.Mary Louise Curtis Branch, 416 Queen Street, Queen Village Call 215-320-2603 andGermantown Branch, 6128 Germantown Avenue, Germantown. 215-320-2613. This arts camp provides daily activities in music, dance and visual art. Families are invited to a presentation of the students' work. Healthy snacks are provided. Students must register for full four-week session.
SUMMER STRING CAMP
Ages 7-14, June 16 - July 27, 2008 9am to 3pm, Monday through Friday Cost $590 Jenkintown Branch, 515 Meetinghouse Road (in Alverthorpe Manor.) 215-320-2633June 23 - July 3, 2008 9am to 3pm, Monday through Friday Cost $530. Mary Louise Curtis Branch, 416 Queen Street, Queen Village. 215-320-2603.This training camp includes music theory and appreciation classes, supervised practice time, sectionals and two full ensemble rehearsals for beginners and chamber music coaching for more advanced string players. Healthy snacks are provided. Children must pack own lunches.
SUMMER MUSIC THEATRE CAMP
Ages 6-12, July 7 - August 1, 2008 9am to noon, Monday through Friday Cost $170.Camden School of Musical Arts Branch, 531-35 Market Street, Call 856-541-6375.The 4-week session will provide singing, dancing and acting activities. Students will be grouped according to age and families will be invited to an informal presentation of the students' work during last week of camp. A healthy snack will be served each day. Principal funding is provided by the Campbell Soup Foundation. Additional funding by the Camden County Cultural and Heritage Commission through the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Settlement Music School, founded in 1908, is the largest community-based school of the arts in the United States according to the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts. Settlement is dedicated to providing children and adults with the highest quality instruction and activity in music and the related arts. With six locations in South, West and Northeast Philadelphia, Germantown, Jenkintown and Camden, NJ, the School serves about 15,000 students of all abilities regardless of age, race or financial circumstances, and awards close to $2 million a year in financial aid. Settlement is the largest employer of musicians in the region, with more than 325 qualified and dedicated faculty.

Sláinte!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!
I'll be blarin' the green on WITF from 12 to 3pm today, including the Celtic Symphony and Michael Torke's Green from Color Music.
Friday I caught up with coworkers and past coworkers at LBC before hearing the California Guitar Trio and Adrian Belew Power Trio at the Whitaker Center. It was sweet seeing my friend Bert Lams jam with his group, I have all the the California Guitar Trio cds, but hadn't heard them live. I enjoyed Adrian's group as well (and found great blogs about them, including the drummer and bass player's mom's blog!) but after a long day, needed to get rest.
Saturday found me working on some projects and then at Cornerstone Coffeehouse in Camp Hill, jammin' with my friends Paul, Hank and Zach. Lots of new tunes and no Irish music (the nice sized crowd didn't call for any!) and it felt good.
Sunday was more independent work and rest.
Tonight I'll lift o' pint with friends at a Mexican restaurant I've never been to, Herbies. I'll let you know what I think.

Six Secret Fears

Recently there have been several comments about self criticism creating music, and even Yahoo has had features about "secret fears."

I thought I'd share after the hundreds of interviews I've conducted with composers, the top six fears of composition.

#6. Cleftomania, the fear that you'll steal the attention of the ensemble from having written the wrong notes in tenor clef for upper register cello or wrong notes in viola clef (although only Paul Hindemith would really know if the notes were right or if the violists were just missing them!)

#5. Hollandtosis, the fear that Bernard Holland will review the world premiere or NY premiere of your composition.

#4. Influtenza, the fear that flute choirs will continually commission you for flute choir works - often with bass flute candenzas.

#3. Scorrevolephrenia, the continous flowing or gliding of musical ideas, often found in great American composers born on December 11th, 1908.

#2. inNANESity, the fear that Richard Nanes will write more works, or that your composition will sound like Richard Nanes. (Related to Jenkinsdice or the sounds of Karl Jenkins)

and the #1 secret fear of composers: Chronic Fugue Syndrome, the fear that you will write too fugually OR wind up in one of John's silly blog posts.

Composers suffering from the above symptoms show consult an ASCAP, AMC, ACF or BMI professional immediately as well as book a taping on Dr. Philharmonic (seen right).

I'm sure there are more fears and diseases (let's leave Schubertian VDs out of it, too Spitzer-esque) that composers suffer - leave your fears/suggestions in the comments!

Meanwhile in Sin City

Now hear this: "Go hear this!"
LAS VEGAS CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY PRESENTS
FLUTIST KAREN HAID IN CONCERT

Las Vegas, NV, March 12, 2008. The Las Vegas Chamber Music Society announces a special presentation of Las Vegas flutist and Nevada Artist Fellow Karen Haid in a solo recital at Las Vegas Clark County Library's Performing Arts Center, 1401 E. Flamingo Rd. on Sunday, April 6th at 2 p.m. Inspiring her audiences "with style and fire" (American Record Guide) and with interpretations "gorgeously lyrical" (The Scene), she will perform works by Bach, Telemann, Ibert, and Paganini.

Lauded as "a chamber music superstar” (Richmond News Leader), Karen Haid has performed extensively as an orchestral player and has served on the faculties of Florida State University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and the University of Alaska. Laurels include the Coleman Chamber Music Award, a Certificate of Excellence from the Vienna International Music Competition, and top prizes in competitions sponsored by the National Flute Association. Karen Haid holds the Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from Boston University, a Diploma from the Juilliard School, and doctorates in both the flute and piano from Florida State University. Upon the release of her solo compact disc, The Music of Walter Gieseking (NI5696), the BBC
Music Magazine praised her as being "equally gifted on the piano and flute."

The Las Vegas Chamber Music Society was established in 2003 to meet the growing local need for quality chamber music concerts featuring local artists as well as an international array of the world's finest musicians.
In addition, the society is dedicated to establish opportunities for the young people to participate in master classes, perform in concert settings and attend performances. The Las Vegas Chamber Music Society is excited to produce and set new standards of performance for Las Vegas audiences.

The concert is free and open to the public, and is sponsored by the Las Vegas Chamber Music Society, Nevada Federal Credit Union, and has been funded, in part, by an Artist Fellowship award from the Nevada Arts Council, a state agency.

Latest from Janine

JANINE JANSEN RECORDS FIRST EVER
EXCLUSIVE CLASSICAL ITUNES SESSION

International release date of March 18th coincides with appearances in New York, Los Angeles and Cincinnati

"Janine Jansen is the most exciting violinist of her generation - an artist for the iPod era." Der Spiegel

Violinist Janine Jansen has created an exclusive download session EP for digital music audiences. The all-Bach program called Live Session: Bach (Cat. No. 4780526) will be the first ever classical recording in the iTunes Sessions series. Janine Jansen has tailored the program specifically for digital download by selecting powerful chamber pieces, having already proven that their combination of intimacy and immediacy is particularly appealing to the digital music audience.

Janine Jansen has been dubbed "Queen of the Downloads" (The Independent, UK) following the breakout success of her chamber-sized performance of The Four Seasons in 2005, which broke into the US Top 20 albums on iTunes, becoming that year's top-selling digital classical album, and it remains a digital best-seller three years on. Her latest album Bach Inventions & Partita once again topped the iTunes classical charts around the world. The digital success story of artists such as Janine Jansen illustrates a trail-blazing dynamic for marketing and selling classical music online. Janine's prior recordings have already succeeded in building a digital audience beyond the traditional classical record buyer. The new recording Live Session: Bach presents a sensational new stride towards developing the audience even further.

Janine Jansen's iTunes exclusive Live Session: Bach, recorded in Berlin on 29th February 2008 includes the following repertoire:

- Gamba Sonata BWV 1027 for violin, viola, cello & harpsichord
- Violin Sonata BWV 1017 Siciliano for violin & harpsichord
- Violin Sonata BWV 1019a Cantabile, ma un poco Adagio for violin & harpsichord

The session also features Maxim Rysanov (viola) and Torleif Thedéen (cello), trio colleagues from Janine's recent Bach album Inventions & Partita, and her father Jan Jansen on harpsichord, who played with Janine in her best-selling album The Four Seasons.

Janine Jansen Upcoming North American tour dates:

March 14th-16th 2008 / Cincinnati / Britten Violin Concerto
March 20th-22nd 2008 / Los Angeles / Tchaikovsky Concerto

Doodah

I want to hear from my friends about this one...
"After a while, you kind of get used to it."' That's what Kory McFarren says about having his girlfriend live in his bathroom for so long that her body became stuck to the toilet seat.
McFarren says Pam Babcock had a phobia about leaving the bathroom. After she went in, he says "time went by so quick'' that he can't pinpoint exactly how long she was in there.
He says Babcock wasn't sitting on the toilet the entire time. He says she moved around, bathed and changed clothes. He also brought her food and water and they talked.
But she wouldn't leave, and McFarren says he finally called police for help last month when Babcock began acting groggy and disoriented.
McFarren says he should have gotten help sooner, but Babcock's an adult and made her own decision.
Babcock is reported in fair condition at a Wichita, Kansas, hospital. McFarren says she has an infection in her legs that has damaged the nerves and she could end up needing a wheelchair.

In other news, Wichita is the 2nd best city to find a job in according to ABC News (via Dr. Dick)

Get out the vote

The deadline to register to vote in Pennsylvania's primary election next month is Monday, March 24, 2008.
This deadline also applies to those registered voters wishing to change their political affiliation. Currently, voters registered nonpartisan or independent cannot vote for party candidates in the primary election, but can vote on ballot questions.
To be eligible to vote in Pennsylvania, you must be at least 18 on the date of the election, a citizen of the United States for at least one month before the election, and a resident of the election district in Pennsylvania in which you register at least 30 days before the election.
Registering is easy. You can register in person, by mail or even fill out an application online and print it off. Click on or cut-and-paste: http://www.dos.state.pa.us/voting/lib/voting/02_voter_registration_applications/onlinevoterregformblank.pdf.

But wait there's more

You can see alot of Composing Thoughts LIVE with Jennifer Higdon here. Enjoy!

Laugh

A good time was had by all and all were had by the good time yesterday at Composing Thoughts Live! At the right is Jennifer Higdon and myself towards the end of the program.

Caption Contest

Please leave your suggestion for caption(s) or a story in the comments for these four pictures. After enough entries, I'll explain the story behind the pictures. In the meantime, have fun!

At rehearsal

Last night the Harrisburg Symphony rehearsed the Percussion Concerto by Jennifer Higdon at the Forum in Harrisburg.

Visitors: Old York to New York

Looking at my stats for the last few visitors, its pretty cool to see Europe, Asia, and even folks here in PA.
1
Korea, Republic of Seoul, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi
2
Spain Tarragona, Cataluna
3
Belgium Brussels, Brussels Hoofdstedelij...
4
Belgium Hron, Liege
5
Netherlands Amsterdam, Noord-Holland
6
Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts
7
Berkeley, California
8
Charleston, West Virginia
9
Austin, Texas
10
East Brunswick, New Jersey
11
Neptune, New Jersey
12
Hackensack, New Jersey
13
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
14
Tucson, Arizona
15
Cedars, Pennsylvania
16
Reno, Nevada
17
Canada Red Deer, Alberta
18
Reno, Nevada
19
Chicago, Illinois
20
San Antonio, Texas
21
Mexico Mexico, Distrito Federal
22
Germany
23
Reno, Nevada
24
Elizabeth, New Jersey
25
Las Vegas, Nevada
26
United Kingdom Wolverhampton
27
South El Monte, California
28
Lexington, Kentucky
29
Germany Berlin
30
Austin, Texas
31
Reno, Nevada
32
Buffalo, New York
33
Cordova, Alabama
34
United Kingdom York
35
Franklin, North Carolina
36
USA
37
Germany Berlin
38
Hamburg, Michigan
39
New York
40
Sharpsburg, Maryland
41
Maricopa, Arizona
42
Concord, California
43
New York
44
Finland Valkeala, Southern Finland
45
France Courbevoie, Ile-de-France
46
San Francisco, California
47
Reno, Nevada
48
Columbus, Ohio
49
Oakland, California
50
Nevada City, California

Nif

I'm so excited about this weekend. It's the first Composing Thoughts LIVE at WITF's Public Media Center, Saturday afternoon at 3pm.
My guest is Jennifer Higdon - who has performances with the Harrisburg Symphony this weekend and in a few weeks with the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra.
Take a look at Dr. Dick's excellent post here, and be sure to stop by and meet Jennifer Saturday.

And so it starts...

Chelsea Clinton is hitting the campaign trail in Pennsylvania today to speak with college students about her mother's presidential candidacy.
The former first daughter is slated to appear at the University of Pennsylvania for an afternoon event called ``Our Voice, Our Future.''
Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign says this event is expected to be the first of many Pennsylvania appearances for Chelsea.

Five Things about Ten for Carter

Network for New Music presented Ten for Carter Sunday afternoon in Philadelphia.

1. Composers were commissioned for piano works ni honor of Elliott Carter's upcoming 100th birthday in December 2008. They included Milton Babbitt, Uri Caine, Jeffery Cotton, Alvin Curran, Jennifer Higdon, Jeffrey Mumford, Augusta Read Thomas, Maurice Wright, Ellen Taaffe Zwilich and Jeremy Gill. Babbitt's was not completed and instead pianist Marilyn Nonken included Carter's Retrouvailles from 2000.

2. Most striking was Bells by Augusta Read Thomas, played by pianist Steven Gosling and inside the piano by Marilyn Nonken. The work was colorful and inventive, truly capturing the spirit of Carter.

3. Mumford's a celebration of Elliott was brilliant, with stellar and facile playing from Gosling.

4. Higdon's Mr. Carter's Notes and Zwilich's A Poem for Elliott were entertaining and fitting, with care and panache from Nonken's musical playing.

5. Thomas Kraines was passionate in his reading of Carter's Figment #2, and was joined by other members of Network for Con Leggerezza Pensosa (from 1990 - the oldest work on the program!) and played it not once, but twice, before intermission and at the end of the program.

Afterwards, a reception followed with a q&a with the pianists and composers. The concert was also played Friday night in NYC. Hear an interview with Jeremy Gill here about his Eliot Fragments.

Now I saw his face

and I'm a believer!http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/tayside_and_central/7270795.stm

Find out how Bach really looked like according to scientists!

Oops

“It has come to our attention that there is a mistake in the printed booklet that accompanies the new release from Leif Ove Andsnes: Mozart Piano Concertos Nos. 17 & 20 with the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra. The booklet mentions that the cadenza for the last movement of Piano Concerto No. 20 is written by Leif Ove himself. This is incorrect; it is in fact written by Johann Nepomuk Hummel, Mozart's pupil. For the first movement of the same concerto, it says that the cadenza was written by Beethoven and arranged by Edwin Fischer; this is also incorrect: it is Beethoven's own cadenza that Leif Ove performs. EMI Classics will make sure that this information is corrected in any further booklet reprints, and kindly asks that reviewers of the album make note of this correction.”

Next month

Wear a sweater for Fred!


In honor of Fred Rogers on what would have been his 80th birthday, Mr. McFeely announced that March 20 will be sweater day in the Pittsburgh metro area. Wear a favorite sweater to cap off "Won't You Be My Neighbor" Days events and activities, March 15-20, hosted by WQED and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood production company Family Communications, Inc..

Hard act to follow

So what should he play?
The New York Philharmonic received a warm reception as it played today in North Korea. The unprecedented concert could mean warmer ties between the country and the West. Guitarist Eric Clapton is the next Western artist invited to play in Pyongyang.