How the Oboist’s Art is Like a Bad Marriage

22. May 2013 · Comments Off on How the Oboist’s Art is Like a Bad Marriage · Categories: Listen, Read!

Although many musicians won’t admit it, there are conversations that go on between an instrumentalist and their instrument. Making all that beautiful music together requires the cooperation of both parties and there is always a subtle negotiation that goes on between them. For some instruments, these conversations are fairly straight-forward. For example, violinists have conversations that go like this:

VIOLINIST: I’d like to practice my orchestral part.
VIOLIN: Sounds good. Which page should we start on?
VIOLINIST: Page 7.
VIOLIN: Ready whenever you are, pal.

There are also instruments whose capabilities are so great that they start making suggestions:

PIANIST: I’d like to practice some Chopin.
PIANO: Wonderful! Etude or Nocturne?
PIANIST: Nocturne.
PIANO: You know, we could also play Liszt or Brahms or Bach or Mozart or Tchaikovsky.
PIANIST: Let’s stick with Chopin
PIANO: Right, Chopin it is. Good call. How about some Schumann later?

And then there are those instruments that are just plain difficult. Before I moved to New York, I was a professional oboist. In many ways, an oboe player and their oboe are like a bad marriage. You put on a good face at parties and always appear to be in love when in public, but behind the scenes there is constant bickering and non-stop drama.

AARON: Shall we practice?
OBOE: Sorry, not now.
AARON: What? Why not?
OBOE: I don’t feel like it. Besides, it’s raining.

and listen …

Many thanks to Pam Hakl for this link, as well as the Cleveland at the Bar link. 🙂

Cleveland at the Bar

22. May 2013 · Comments Off on Cleveland at the Bar · Categories: Videos

Spam Messages

22. May 2013 · 3 comments · Categories: Spam'nScam™

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Henri Dutilleux 1916-2013

22. May 2013 · Comments Off on Henri Dutilleux 1916-2013 · Categories: Losses

Henri Dutilleux, one of France’s leading modern composers, has died in Paris aged 97, his family has confirmed.

Born in Angers in 1916, he was a prolific composer of predominantly instrumental works, including symphonies and orchestral pieces.

His latest work, Correspondances, was recorded for the first time in January this year to celebrate his birthday.

Radio 3’s Tom Service said he composed music of “amazing sensual power”.

“Dutilleux’s exquisite catalogue of pieces is becoming, rightly, ever more popular with performers and listeners all over the world,” he added.

RTWT

TQOD

22. May 2013 · 2 comments · Categories: TQOD

Concerto per Violino e Oboe, Johann Sebastian Bach provides 6:34 of relaxing music. Slow that crazy brain down.