Midsummer matrimony
Mendelssohn – Wedding March, A Midsummer Night's Dream, conclusion
Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony, February 2, 2008
July 2008
Enough 'elitism'
Many of us in the performing arts feel that the constant application of the concept of 'elitism' to our work is misguided, if not irrelevant. Mark Swed of the LA Times tries to convince everyone else.
Copywrong redux
I'm sure that the issue of copyright will come up again and again over the life of this blog, since it is an area that greatly impacts individuals working in orchestral music and is also, in my opinion, ripe for legal reconsideration.
In the meantime, a quick follow-up to my previous post on this subject. Tim Rutherford-Johnson notes that musicologists need to be more involved in shaping public policy as it pertains to music copyright issues; I think the same could be said for performing musicians.
Copywrong?
If you have ever programmed orchestral concerts on a budget – regional music directors and education conductors know what I'm talking about – U.S. copyright law and its arcane ramifications have doubtless driven you to distraction. Want to introduce kids to an array of music from the last 70 years? Sorry, it'll probably cost too much.
Should your work require you to become more saavy about copyright protection, public domain and fair use [or if you just want a glimpse into the complexities of copyright] try out this handy public domain tool. Props to Molly Sheridan of Mind the Gap for the tip.
Iowa composers, WCFSO on air
Broadcast – My May 10, 2008 concert with the WCFSO featuring composers Michael Gilbertson, Jonathan Chenette, Jeremy Beck, Brooke Joyce and Jerry Owen will air on Iowa Public Radio's Symphonies of Iowa series Saturday morning, June 26 at 9:30 am CST.
Summer music
Amidst several consecutive seasons of wild midwestern weather, summer served up a perfect day for the fourth annual WCFSO concert at the Sturgis Falls Celebration. This year's program paid tribute to Abraham Lincoln on the occasion of his bicentennial. Click on the image below to view the complete photo set at this site, or check out selected images on Facebook.
60 x 365 = New music
In 2007 composer David Morneau embarked on 60x365, a project to write a one-minute piece of music each day for a year. Morneau's odyssey of daily composition ended on June 30 – explore the results at the 60x365 website. While you're in the mood for listening visit the mp3 page of Morneau's site, 5of4.
Face[book] the music
Now that Facebook has enabled public pages for artists I've taken the plunge and joined up. Check me out – I am feeding this blog to my Facebook page, and will also be uploading other content from this site [including upcoming events, photos, video and more]. If you are on Facebook you can become a fan of my page and receive updates whenever new content goes live.
It's about time
In 2005 I led the WCFSO in a concert highlighting composers engaged in dialogue with music from earlier centuries; the superb guitarist Manuel Barrueco was soloist. Three years later the guitarist and the outline of the programming concept make it to St Paul and NPR listens up.
Score!
The web continues to open up the music publishing industry and facilitate ever greater access to musical materials. I've already posted a link to the complete Mozart critical edition at the International Mozarteum Foundation website, and this month the IMSLP returns with a new name [Petrucci Music Library], a fresh look and a virtual mountain of scores.
As American as...
The arrival of Independence Day coincides with the conclusion of Leonard Slatkin's tenure as music director of the National Symphony Orchestra. The connection should be obvious – our national musical culture has been enriched by Leonard's work, in particular his multitude of commissions and repeat performances of works by contemporary American composers.
Over the course of a dozen years with the NSO Leonard's creative programming and determined advocacy enlivened the musical scene in our nation's capitol. Anne Midgette takes a look back for the Washington Post, and Tim Smith offers a summary in the Baltimore Sun.
Note: In 2000 I participated in the inaugural edition of the much-lauded National Conducting Institute with the NSO. Leonard's website has his Washington Post article about that program; here is an inside look at the first NCI from the New York Times.
New media music
The web video revolution meets classical music performance – check out medici.tv, a new web video portal from Medici Arts, for free streaming concert broadcasts and paid downloads.
Blogging the classics [and the new stuff too]
This month, enterprising musicians who blog. More of this to come as I transfer links from the blog roll [and add new ones] to the links category via these posts.
Conductors
Edwin Outwater We grew up on the same street – something in the water?
Kenneth Woods From the podium, the incisive views of a respected colleague
Composers
Daniel Wolf Fascninating and informed perspective on music in the 21c
Nico Mulhy Musings from the NYC new music scene
Players
Brian Sacawa New music, cycling & Baltimore – how is it possible we've never met?
Jeremy Denk Superb pianist, pretty good writer too
Ensemble
eighth blackbird The influential chamber music crew