The Good Musician

All woodwinds, that is. The so-called woodwind quintet is a flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and french horn. The latter, however, is frequently included in small chamber consorts, especially in the Baroque, as they play those lovely hunting calls and stirring royal fanfares.
The Baroque sonata form often contained a 3/4 or 6/8 meter movement, and horns would feature prominently. The horn can also sustain a pedal tone or sound the root of a chord to support the other four instruments.
There was lots ‘o repertoire written for woodwind quintet in the 20th century. There is a woodwind quintet nestled in …read more

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It’s been a little over ten years since Margaret Hillis, the indomitable conductor of the Chicago Symphony Chorus, passed away. I met her at a Chorus America convention in the late 80’s, and was suitably awestruck. She had complete control over her chorus, and more, the CSO as well. My mom attended a performance of the Beethoven Ninth Symphony, and Sir George Szolti was the director at that time. Sir G was taken ill, and Ms. Hillis filled in with only a few moments notice. Mom said it sounded just as good, if not better, than the Szolti version. Hillis …read more

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The Austin Chamber Music Festival kicks off tonight with a special concert featuring Peter Bay conducting George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” with pianist Michelle Schumann. Also on the program is the world premiere of University of Texas composer Dan Welcher’s “Four Personal Ads,” featuring soprano Mela Dailey. The Cecilia String Quartet tops off the evening with Gershwin’s “Lullaby.” The concert takes place at the Lady Bird Johnson National Wildflower Center, 4801 LaCrosse Avenue, Austin TX.
The festival continues throughout the week.
Saturday, July 12, 3:00 pm
Austin Chamber Music Festival: Wild Basin Winds
Mathew Krejc flute, Ian Davidson oboe, Steve Girko clarinet, Thomas Hale …read more

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Not so very blue, yet an important river, whatever color it may be.

Here’s Herbert von Karajan wafting down The Blue Danube Waltz.

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This is cool. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky wrote the 1812 Overture to commemorate the battle that broke the back of the French invasion under Napoleon. It was commissioned for the completion of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, which Tsar Alexander II meant as a memorial for the battle.
Tchaikovsky considered it crap. A sell-out. None-the-less, it is one of the most played compositions since its introduction to the US in the 1930’s.
Somehow, probably because Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops featured it on a Fourth of July concert, thinking the bells and cannons a nifty way to observe the …read more

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King Wenceslas (Szent Vraclav) statue, Wenceslas Square, Prague, Czech Republic.
Photo by TGM.
Prazska Muzejni Noc
Web designers: Czech out this gorgeous Web site!
Anniversary of 5th Prague Museum Night, a collaboration among the National Museum, Prague Public Transport Company Inc., and Association of Museum and Galleries of the Czech Republic. 25 cultural institutions and 51 sites were involved. Happens on Thursday evenings. Admission and transportation are free, except for a free will donation to two national sites.
The evening also includes concerts, recitals, movies, theatre, and dance performances, public readings, lectures, and guided tours.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if every city in America …read more

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James and Gus photo by John Katz. Used with Gus’ permission.
The Good Musician interview with Dallas-based composer and sound designer, James Neel, principal of James Neel Music House. James is the very definition of “a musician’s musician.” And he’s been doing it for a long time. Maybe this interview will stir up some of the old gang to comment, hint, hint.
1. Who is your greatest unsung influence (as opposed to favorite famous composer/performer)?
Richard King Hamilton – now living in Los Angeles (incredible musician – all world). When I was a junior in high school, he showed me …read more

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Please bear with The Good Musician for jumping out of chronological order–came across this tidbit when organizing trip brochures (yes, I collect all that stuff–the arts administrator Web/print schizoid database mind).
Notenspur Music Trail opens fall 2008. It’s a 4.7 km signposted walking trail through musical wonderland. Sort of a pilgrimage to experience the homes and churches of an exceptional musical city. Leipzig was home to so many greats, poets as well as musicians and artists. But the city excels in nurturing music.
This relatively small area–the centrum being only a few dozen blocks or so, is lush with …read more

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Image details: Mendelssohn served by picapp.com
Neighboring Georgetown is building a nationally recognized mega-festival of the arts. The Georgetown Festival of the Arts is an exemplar of community involvement producing a highly educational, thoroughly interactive, fun place to be for all ages. Kids can explore an instrumental petting zoo, learn the history of the dulcimer, and play along during a performance. Art in the Park ran May 31-June 1, and featured two days of fine arts shows and sales in the lovely San Gabriel Park. Georgetown even has it’s own Festival Pyrotechnician.
This coming weekend, June 5-8 is all about Mendelssohn in …read more

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The Good Musician travelog talked about Hungarian and Czech composers. Here are some of the astounding churches and cathedrals where those composers wrote and made music, and where Chorus Austin will perform this summer. I’ve been browsing the concert schedules, and it looks like there will be lots of fantastic music while we’re there.
Budapest is smaller than Prague, and sadly received more damage during World War II. This is a lovely church in Budapest.
Image details: A Church In Budapest served by picapp.com
Here’s a view of Budapest and the Danube–waltz, anyone?
Image details: Budapest and danube river served by picapp.com
This is …read more

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