Easter

What a beautiful day!
I slipped away to Manhattan, taking the 7:10 Amtrak train and arrived just before 11am. I popped down to the village (seeing some inspiration for my planned Manhattan Suite for violin)
and went to brunch at Shopsins. Yum-o! I took Teller's recommendation of ebelskivers (a Norwegian sort of pancake) and was so delighted (I went with the chocolate and whipped cream variation - hey, it's all apart of my 36th birthday celebration!)
I was meeting a friend for coffee before the concert, which got moved to after the concert - so I enjoyed a cigar in front of Carnegie Hall.
My friend Kirsten Agresta (the young harpist - inside joke) soloed in Debussy's Sacred and Profane Dances. I have to say honestly it was the best thing on the program. A high school from Florida (I think) opened the concert with three selections for strings. (They were very, uhm, young.) Then an intermission for stage set/changing groups - next was the New England Symphonic Ensemble with a male chorus and baritone soloist in Debussy's Invocation and a Durufle Mass. Both okay. At least the Durufle was well written. Another intermission. Now the combined choirs (several high schools from all over) marched on stage. They also brought out the harp, woohoo! Kirsten's reading was a charming and able rendition, with great dynamics, incredibly flowing lines and enough originality of interpretation to keep it fresh and yet traditional.
Poulenc's Gloria that rounded out the program wasn't the case - a bti overdone and very amateur. It also clocked in at several hours, when a very nice program length would have been the Debussy Invocation, Dances Sacred and Profane and then the Durufle Mass. But then their wouldn't have been the en masse voices, et al. Oh well, I was very happy to go, and to hear Kirsten live.
Afterwards I did get to meet up with a radio business friend and touch base - a good conversation - we have lots of mutual contacts and friends, besides artists, so it was fun to talk shop in a very relaxed setting.
By this time I had enough time to slip down to Penn Station, grab a slice of NY Pizza and get on the train. Now I'm back in Harrisburg, ready for a new week - albeit busy: Lang Lang Tuesday in Philadelphia and back Sunday for TWO concerts, Perlman & Zukerman at the Kimmel Center and then that Sunday night, Orchestra 2001 - where I'll get to meet Augusta Read Thomas in person finally. (Oh, Saturday is Market Square concerts in Hbg with the Miro 4tet, will be cool as well!)

Springtime

Enjoy this scene from my front yard...as a friend said this weekend, you have to enjoy beautiful days...I wanted to capture the flowers while they were basking in the sun, and before the rabbits eat them.
Ironically, the rabbits seemed to enjoy my violin playing in the backyard this evening, despite occassional diminished octaves, composing and cigar smoke!

Mutter vs. Mutter

Early and late recordings of Mozart with Anne-Sophie Mutter... an audio comparison.

When Anne-Sophie was 19, she recorded the 2nd and 4th Violin Concerti by Mozart with the Philharmonia Orchestra and Ricardo Muti (Angel/EMI).

Then at the age of 42, Anne-Sophie re-recorded all of the Mozart Violin Concerti, this time with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and herself conducting (DG).
Hear Anne-Sophie's first and latest recordings of the 4th Violin concerto. They are different! I think the first recording is more together in ensemble, but that the latest recording has a much better sound. The tempos now are much faster than the 1982 set - which is very interesting.

First part of the Angel set [mp3]

First part of the DG set [mp3]

2nd part of the Angel set [mp3]

2nd part of the DG set [mp3]

Cadenza of the Angel set [mp3]

Cadenza of the DG set [mp3]

And as always...the most fun part, mixed together!!!

Both parts of the first example [mp3]

Both parts of the 2nd example [mp3]

Both cadenzas [mp3]

Recommendation

If you can get to Carnegie Hall (alright already with the practice jokes!) this Sunday (yes Easter Sunday) April 16th - go see harpist Kirsten Agresta play Claude Debussy's Danse sacrée et danse profane.

Kirsten Agresta

"In 1904, Pleyel’s had commissioned Debussy to compose a work to demonstrate the musical potential of their own new design of harp. Instead of the conventional pedal instrument, Pleyel had devised in 1897 a ‘chromatic harp’ with a string for each semi-tone. Erard’s design eventually proved the most successful, but like the Ravel, Debussy’s Danses are now well-established in the conventional pedal harp repertoire. The ‘danse sacrée’ has an antique character, coloured by modal rather than tonal harmony, influenced perhaps by the style of Satie’s famous Gymnopédies for piano (two of which Debussy orchestrated), but far more sophisticated: in the composer’s word: ‘It’s not possible to write down the exact form of a rhythm, any more than it is to explain the different effects of a single phrase’. The contrasting ‘danse profane’ introduces gentle waltz theme in D major which is developed with exquisite grace and increasingly elaborate harp ornamentation, building to an impassioned climax and deliberately understated finish, almost tongue-in-cheek."

Interesting that Dan Brown's (who just won his court case in England) The Da Vinci Code (soon to be in theaters) mentions the unsupported rumor that Debussy was a grand master of the Priory of Sion, a secret society that is said to have existed since the middle ages.

Anyway, that's this Sunday afternoon at 2pm who those of you at home keeping score and who should get out for some great live music.

Thanks!

From travelling, folks singing, pastries, beer, phone calls, music and cards (some favorites include a Beethoven paraphrase and an allusion to age, violins and myself - hmmm) but no telegrams (and that's okay!) Thank you everyone! It was a great 36th birthday!

(from my 32nd birthday in Las Vegas)

Vegas Kids at Carnegie

The whole reason (other than turning 36 on Tuesday) for going to NYC this weekend was to see the Green Valley High School play at Carnegie Hall Sunday night. My friend Geoff Neumann is their conductor and they did a fine job in Copland's Outdoor Overture, Barber's First Essay and Tchaikovsky's Marche Slav. The GVHS Band played before them and another high school group from Vermont played after intermission. Kudos to Geoff and his orchestra!

Do you play violin?

Wild and wacky moment in NYC this trip (and a first in Manhattan!) - I went around to get the tickets for tonight and next week, and leaving the box office, stopped to light a cigar and go to Central Park. I finished lighting it, and was looking up at the architecture (another of part of my love affair with Manhattan) but I hear in a light Russian accent, "Do you play violin? You DO play violin, it's John!" - and then this lovely brunette (she was blonde in Las Vegas) says, "It is YOU!"

Kiera and John, Fall 2003 (posing in front of sculptures of her)

I was quite shocked to see this model I knew from Las Vegas (turns out she was picking up tickets for that evening in Zankel Hall - and had moved in 2004 to L.A. was was just in town. We had mutual friends who were artists/fashion designers...and I had played an art reception where I played lots of Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff for her (and as she reminded me, played my violin while I drank wine - she doesn't really play but had been excited to make some squeaks.)

Serenading Kiera and Carmen, Fall 2003

So Kiera recognized me in a city of 8 million. It's happened in other places to me, part of the whole "dj" sorta thing, but this was a first for NYC. Small wacky world.

At the Beach

So staying over in Milford, CT we had a light breakfast looking over Long Island Sound.
There was a gentleman there doing Tai Chi - who afterwards mentioned to us April 29th as World Tai Chi Day "One World, One Breath"
Definitely interesting, I'll see what I can find that day - I'll be in Washington, DC...anyway, we thought focusing was a good idea. Here's Stu searching for just that right shell.

On the way back, we took a different route, and laughed at the amount of money in this sign (it really is $77 - not $7,700 as it looks)
Stu was a great host and it was good to catch up - and see his new place...here he is on the porch:

See you for OysterFest - or some other time in Stars Hollow, er, uh, I mean Milford! Kisses to Lorelei.

In the village

After the park and some window shopping, Stu and I wandered here and there, finally ending up at an Irish pub in the Village.

We were entertained greatly by our cute bartender, who even agreed to be seen with us. (we weren't as big of Red Sox fans as she is...)
We had a lot of fun, many beers and even a tasty bowl of Bacon-Lentil soup (far better than it sounds - and somewhat healthy too!) Getting your picture taken though, does come with a price, as we found out - the barback took a self portrait:
He was funny as well, thinking that dressing up for a party means a costume, not formal wear; (Long story) which did lead to some interesting conversations with several other waitresses.

Central Park in the Light

After noshing at Popover Cafe, Stu and I strolled back down the westside, stopped at Papa Beard for cream puffs, and then made it over to Strawberry Fields, Central Park and the lake.
Oh, and a cigar on the way down to Columbus Circle...

*apologies to Charles Ives for the title.

And eat it too!

I pondered the "words behind the initals" of WITF since applying for the job last summer, and then found the true meaning, Where Is The Food, not long after starting work, hehehehe.
(It actually stands for Its Top Flight - which also ties into an employee award - called, you guessed it, Top Flight!) So yesterday's radio staff meeting had a cake in honor of the newsroom's Edward R. Murrow award from PRNDI. Thanks Craig! And kudos to the award winning news team.

Tomorrow (later today?) in the NUMBERS

It's one of those amazing things that happens every now and then...when numbers line up:
Two minutes and three seconds after 1:00, the time and date will be 01:02:03 04/05/06.
Pretty cool, huh?

Excellent Allen in Annville

Playing at MJ's Coffeehouse at the Allen Theater in Annville was a blast. I'll try to make it back for their jazz nights soon. The owner and staff were very friendly, the crowd appreciative and we had lots of friends come by from WITF.
In fact it was so busy and fun I only had a chance to snap a few pictures from before the gig...but we'll be back I'm sure.

April Fools

Well, I maintain that I was born ten days too late, and should have been born on the First of April.
To celebrate the day, I thought I'd post what WITF might look like if it broadcast in South Park, CO.

Tim, Morning Edition host
Cary, morning Classical Air host
John, afternoon Classical Air host
Eric, All Things Considered host
Dr. Dick, evening Classical Air host
John, Weekend host
Ellen, Desert Island Discs host
Kimilie, Operations Manager
Randy, FM/TV Engineer

Casey, Audio Systems Manager

Beau (Damon), Public Radio Capital News
Scott, News Director
Craig, Program Director
Mitzi, Radio Station Director
Paul, FM/TV Pledge Director

How well do you think I did? Compare most of us here. Create your own South Park character here.

In performance

Paul Zavinsky and I have a lot of fun, not only at WITF where we work, but when we play gigs...Join us this Friday night, the 31st of March in Annville at 8pm.

Singing and dancing 3/17/06 in Hershey, PA

Come out and hear us live, and get a sample of our playing here, Soundboard.

Helping out

From friends of the Audubon Quartet:

Dear friends and supporters,

The Audubon Quartet’s six year legal fight finally came to an end on February 3, 2006, with a settlement, agreed to by all the parties, that brings all court actions to an end. However, that settlement was very painful: Akemi Takayama had to make a $40,000 payment in order to remove the threat of continued litigations, including one that aimed at confiscating her (actually, her mother’s) violin and Doris Lederer and Tom Shaw have been forced to start over financially in the fourth decade of their careers. To meet the provisions of the settlement, Doris and Tom had to give up their home, a substantial portion of their retirement accounts, and an additional sum equal to the appraised value of their bows and instruments, a net loss of approximately $460,000. To raise this much money, Doris and Tom had to sell their instruments (about which, see more details below).’ In addition, all three still owe large sums to their lawyers.

The court of world opinion is with these three members of the Audubon Quartet. Many hundreds of letters and emails from all over the world have offered sympathy for their cause in the legal battle and in support of the assets they hold most dear their precious instruments and the reputation of the Quartet. Their instruments were bought by Dan Braden, a fair minded businessman who has signed a contract allowing them to have the use of the bows and instruments for ten years no matter who owns the instruments and offering them a short-term opportunity to buy them back (singly or all together) at a reasonable price. The instruments are now safely beyond any court action, but Tom and Doris are destitute and have no hope of regaining ownership of their instruments without outside help.

Many people have expressed a desire to help when it appeared likely that the court would order the instruments turned over to a trustee for sale. The time has come: your help is needed now. The Audubon Quartet Rescue Fund is a trust fund required to use all the donations it receives to buy back the instruments and return them to Tom and Doris and to pay for necessary expenses incurred in the processes. Counting all known and anticipated expenses, the total amount needed is between $215,000 and $225,000. This is a staggering amount to raise, especially since the U.S. Tax Code will not allow contributors to count their gifts as a charitable gift for the purposes of income, estate, or gift taxes. Nonetheless, with your help, we hope to return the instruments to their rightful owners, thereby ending this horrific saga on as good a note as possible. Since the trust fund can use the money contributed only to buy back the instruments and to pay reasonable expenses, you are assured that your donation will help to put the Audubon Quartet back on its feet and to return Doris’s and Tom’s precious bows and instruments to them. We appeal to you to give, and give as generously as you can, to the Audubon Quartet Rescue Fund.

Please send your checks to The Audubon Quartet Rescue Fund, c/o Richard Burian, 1002 Eheart St., Blacksburg, VA 24060. If you prefer to use PayPal, you may do so by going to www.enditnow.org (which contains additional information for those who are interested); using the ‘donate’ button, asking to deposit your funds to the Audubon Quartet Rescue Fund trust account via the PayPal donation system that you will find at www.enditnow.org .

Thank you for your help!

Richard Burian and Wallace Easter

P.S. Please share this appeal with others whom you believe might wish to contribute to this cause.