Video Games Live: In

23. July 2008 · Comments Off on Video Games Live: In · Categories: Announcements

Play! A Video Game Symphony: Out (for now)

Seen at the SSV site:

LATE BREAKING NEWS:
Symphony Silicon Valley will perform Video Games Live August 26th in San Jose’s Civic Auditorium. This exciting performance has just been announced and more details will be available here soon.

Play! A VIDEO GAME SYMPHONY has been postponed until early 2009. Look for more information about this program at this site in the coming months.

I don’t know that I’ll be playing Video Games Live, as I believe it calls for a smaller orchestra. I hope I get to, but I don’t know yet, and I have my doubts, optimist that I am. 🙁

Because we all know a symphony should have …

23. July 2008 · Comments Off on Because we all know a symphony should have … · Categories: Ramble

… drum roll … twelve movements.

But “Dead Symphony” is more than just pop songs arranged for an orchestra — it’s an honest-to-goodness, 12-movement symphony by a respected classical composer that twists the Dead songs it’s inspired by in adventurous directions.

Ah yes, an “honest-to-goodness, 12-movement symphony” is what the world needs.

Over my dead body.

Really horrible pun intended, even though it failed badly. 😉

I read about it here.

And now I am home …

23. July 2008 · Comments Off on And now I am home … · Categories: Ramble

but I teach in 20 minutes, so it’s coffee time.

What a day … whew!

Don Giovanni

23. July 2008 · 6 comments · Categories: Ramble

This morning, as you read this, I am in rehearsal for Don Giovanni*. I’m assuming this first rehearsal is orchestra only. But I can’t tell you. Because of course I’m at the rehearsal. You are not. And I don’t have my computer with me, so even if they have wireless access (which they just might — I hear that is now in some orchestra’s contracts) I can’t blog about it. Besides, don’t you think blogging during a rehearsal is a wee bit tacky … and grounds for dismissal? I’m guessing so. I’ll just have to fill you in later!

And yes, I will be back home this afternoon to teach. 🙂

Speaking of Don G, and thinking of Levine, enjoy the overture:

(I like the not too slow tempo at the beginning … I’m used to it being a little slower. This is nice!)

*You might think I’m always blogging in real time … that I sit at my computer all day long to post these rambles of mine. Well. Not so. 🙂

MQOD

23. July 2008 · 3 comments · Categories: Links, Quotes

I tell my students to work as fast as possible on their reeds. It shouldn’t take more than a few minutes. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to tell a bad reed from a good one. Everyone looks for a gimmick to help make good reeds, but I just make an awful lot of them and keep plenty on hand.

-John Mack

I read it here. This was a 1997 article. Do you think the woman now makes perfect oboe reeds every time?

Injuries & Illnesses

23. July 2008 · Comments Off on Injuries & Illnesses · Categories: Repair Quickly! · Tags:

Injuries and illnesses are a part of life, but it just seems odd to read about three well known musicians, all sidelined.

Itzhak Perlman (rotator cuff surgery)
Andre Watts (wrist injury)
James Levine (the removed kidney was malignant, but it appears they caught it early)

And earlier this month I blogged about Joan Sutherland’s broken legs.