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 with a string quartet, augmented percussion, and celeste in Benjamin Britten’s Turn of the Screw. Britten wrote the score for “eleven solo instruments,” and organized his twelve-tone row into triadic tonal centers so the ear hears common practice harmony.

Three of the woodwind quintet members double on other instruments. Flute/alto flute/piccolo, oboe/English horn, clarinet/bass clarinet and C clarinet. Britten’s orchestration is amazing. He creates a broader palette of pleasing sound than any other 12-tone composer.

The opera is based on the Henry James novella, and is every bit as scary. There are only four characters: a young boy and his older sister, the new governess, and two very sinister servants, a woman and a man. It’s a plum role for a boy soprano, and is not often performed.

I had a stupendous senior year in college. Actually two years. Sonoma State University in the late 70’s, faculty all Berkeley ph.d.s, slathered in non-western and experimental music. A lucky, lucky woman. I’ve been fortunate in having an arts management career on both the east coast and the west coast. Austin is not as fertile ground for me, or at least not yet. I’ve been fortunate in what I’ve found, and tonight I am very grateful for that.

This is the cool-down for The Good Musician, and I have learned quite a bit, especially about the pedagogy of blogging. Quite a challenge with a day gig, performing, and a tour. I’ll still write about music in my other blog (shameless promotion– http://friedokraproductions.blogspot.com), but you’ll have to put up with the rest of my nonsense if you dare.

Gardner also illustrates the relationship of the chakras to the overtone series. When you produce a pure tone, either vocally or instrumentally, it sets up vibrations that are strong enough to be heard, occurring mathematically on a vibrating string. Going from the root to the octave, the fifth, fourth, third, and so on…

This is one of the most effective, quick warm-ups for a flutist, and a tip I give every student: Play a low C, then focus the airstream slightly to sound the octave, the fifth, through the overtones, ascending as far as possible and still maintain some tone quality, then descending, one breath. Don’t force, feel your way up and down until you can seamlessly adjust your embouchure in that especially challenging third octave. It will limber up your chops in less than 5 minutes.

Same thing with voice. Start as low as comfortable and hum into your nose as high as you can, smoothly turn around and come back down to the “fry,” or when your voice rumbles in your chest, like a monster talking. Same quick results as above.

I must have been 17 or so when I first heard her. In fact, Fred Tackett, the same person who introduced me to Mose Allison turned me on to her. Strange Fruit. Having grown up in the racist South, I knew what the woman was talking about. It chilled my soul. This woman is so affecting, and at the same time such a magician with her voice and piano, and her writing…you are compelled to bond with her on many levels. Yep, I’m in love with anyone who refines their talent to the point that it exquisitely supports their inner being. And delivers and demands authenticity.

It’s a distinctive style that no one has been able to copy. But greats like Bonnie Raitt, John Mayall, Eric Clapton, The Who, The Clash, and Van Morrison love to cover his songs as much for the wry, quirky lyrics as the music. With titles like Your Molecular Structure, Middle Class White Boy, Your Mind is on Vacation, Parchman Farm, Seventh Son, Certified Senior Citizen, Everybody’s Crying Mercy, it isn’t difficult to figure out why. He is famous for his razor-sharp hooks and realismo humor.

Do yourself a favor and check out this remarkable musician. He is the best thing to come out of the Deep South since William Faulkner. I wrote that last line, then checked out some sites. I found two citations that referred to him as “the William Faulkner of jazz.” Guess they heard the same thing I did.

My dear friend and choral conductor of Princeton Pro Musica, Frances Slade, studied with Hillis at Northwestern U music school, and sang soprano with the CSC. Slade admitted that Hillis expected the utmost from her singers, and as a result of her tutoring, Slade learned to be a better choral conductor. I certainly had a fabulous time singing with her.

The Volume 21, Number 3 issue of “The Voice of Chorus America” lists eight phrases that gives us a peek at Hillis’ thinking about music.

1. Voices are not made for music, music is made for voices. Serve the music!

2. The music is not on the page–only the notes.

3. Enjoy the phrase, don’t just be obedient.

4. Listen more.

5. The eighth note has been lost since the beginning of time.

6. “Piano” doesn’t mean passive.

7. Bar lines are like children: they should be seen and not heard.

8. You sing first with your ears, then your heart, mind, voice.

Works for me! The woman was a junior golf champion at twenty, and a civilian flight instructor in WW II. Her disciplined approach was balanced by her great love of music, and she was the best at making the chorus sound just as good as the orchestra.

Orchestra Hall–home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.

served by picapp.com

1. Thou shalt attend thy rehearsals with steady faithfulness.

2. Thou shalt not touch graven metal with thy bare hands.

3. Thou shalt not take thy sharps and flats in vain.

4. Remember thy performance dates and keep them holy.

5. Honor thy director that thy days be long upon the land.

6. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s bell assignment.

7. Thou shalt not tap thy foot with exceeding loudness.

8. Thou shalt not steal thy neighbor’s pencil.

9. Thou shalt return thy bells to their cases, shiny and unscathed.

10. Thou shalt return thy director to his or her car, shiny and unscathed.

So saith the handbell director. These commandments will hold true for other instruments as well :)

Image details: Power 105.1’s Powerhouse 2005: Operation Takeover served by picapp.com

“Sly Fox” is old news by now. Nas nails it with class. This young hip-hop artist is right on the money with his rhythms and rhymes, his telling it like it is without resorting to cliches or puerile gesturing. Nas is wide awake and doing better journalism than the MSM.

He may be selling out somewhere, but not in his music. This Good Musician has a social conscience, incisive raps, wrapped up in compelling harmonies and precise, grooving beats.

Mr. Nasir Jones gets loads of love from AlterNet, one of my favorite internet news sites. Take the time to watch “Sly Fox” and Black President.

Then unplug, get out there, and make a difference.

Any period, any genre. Here are a few of my favorites–a contemporary American, a French Impressionist, and a French 20th century composer.

Les Chansons des Roses Morten Lauridsen

Trois Chansons Claude Debussy

Four Christmas Motets or O Magnum Mysterium Francis Poulenc

What would you program for an a capella choral concert? Your suggestions are welcome–who knows–one day you may get to hear your dream program.

Image details: Claude Debussy served by picapp.com

Darren has a Zen calm that shines through every blog post or vidcast he puts up. His generous, welcoming spirit makes you feel that he has just invited you into his living room expressly to help you become a better blogger.

Darren is currently sponsoring a Problogger book competitiont with the one remaining Problogger book on his desk. Even if you don’t enter the contest, his book will show you what you need to add value to your blogging. To enter, all you have to do is tell Darren why you need his book in 250 words or less. If you don’t win, buy it!

Here’s one of Darren’s vidcasts.