One of the Best NonPop Works I’ve Ever Heard
This artist seems to be growing at an enormous rate. This growth, interestingly, comes at a time when this composer has decided to avoid contact with most people. Too bad for those of us who enjoyed at one time communicating with this composer, but whatever works in the name of art…, that is the most important thing. I just want to know what this composer used for vocals on this composer’s most recent work. But I guess I’ll never know.
Online Improvisation Friday
With the success of last night’s Improvisation Night, it has been brought to my attention by Jeff Harrington (who has greatly helped out with the concept) that we need to release the limitation of the Twitter Improvisation “Night” and turn it into an all day event. This is because the improvisers are spread across the globe. So, I’ll be hosting the event at 6 pm PST, but anyone is free to host earlier and, just like any event, there can be multiple hosts (or no host at all, anarchy!). This is a party.
Why Improvisation Friday?
To give the global classical community a place to perform, listen, and socialize. This isn’t the 1840s anymore. There is no Paris scene. This also isn’t New York City, 1960. This is 2009 and everyone is invited to this party.
Preview of Toub Sax Quartet
Yesterday I was pleasantly surprised by an email from composer David Toub which included a sneak peak at his upcoming Sax Quartet. I don’t want to give away any “spoilers” but I won’t hesitate to say this work is epic, easily one of my favorites of David’s. The work includes everything I love about minimalism (PM). That is, my taste of PM, and classical music in general, and actually all things artistic, leans toward a cerebral approach. I don’t view that as a game or trying to be elititist. It simply allows the listener to spend more time with a work; to spend more time than I would with some PM which only has surface qualities.
Overview of Twitter Improv Night – 3.6.09
Overall I think it went really well. I’ll be honest and say I didn’t expect much participation, but Jeff Harrington kicked it off with an old impro of his which really energized the Twitter crowd. Then Paul Hertz got in the action with a very, very cool piano impro that started off neatly structured and got crazy. Then Renato Borges jumped in with a sweet guitar impro that also showed off a great innate sense of structure and the beautiful, toneful performance made the impro shine. Then it was my turn, an impro for 4 clarinets directly followed by the kickoff of Amaranth Radio.
Amaranth Radio
I’ll be posting new radio sessions every week to every other week depending on how much time I have. Here is a link to the first session.
3.6.09 Program
Jeff Harrington – Gnomos
David Toub – Oblivions
Steve Layton – The Church of the World
J.C. Combs – Four
Misc. Corrections: I want to note that I mispronounced David Toub’s last name. Sounds like “Tobe” not “Tube.”
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