I was interested to read an article by Frank J. Oteri in New Music Box today that resonated with me. He complains that increasingly all music is being described as ‘songs’. I’m grateful to know that I’m not the only one who calls a song a song, and an instrumental piece, a piece or composition. …
I was pretty shocked to read an article in the Denver Post a couple of days ago in which the recent playing of Ivo Pogorelich is described as “incoherent and interpretatively perverse”.
I was so pleased to read an article by Norman Lebrecht reporting the new look Barbican Centre, which apparently has a much improved concert hall and theatre, as well as a more user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing environment. Thanks to a Wikipedia article, I’ve discovered that the original architectural style is known as Brutalist (very apt)! …
I’m getting more and more of my news online these days and really enjoying the stimulation of being able to read the New York Times, L.A. Times, London Times, BBC headlines and Arts Journal daily. I just signed up last week to receive the London Times (known simply as The Times where I’m from) with …
This week I came across several very passionate discussions of the same topic- and one which rarely hits the headlines- the role of the piano accompanist. In a programme on BBC Radio 4 last week (sadly not archived) entitled “Am I too Soft?”, Susan Tomes, a highly successful British ensemble pianist, bemoaned the standard treatment …
Controversy Over the Role of the Piano Accompanist Read More »
I have a secret that I never told anyone, growing up as a classical musician- I hated Beethoven! My rather formal and strict piano teacher had very precise ideas about what constituted great music and Beethoven was her ne plus ultra. I therefore imagined that I had some dreadful flaw which no one must ever …
Last weekend Robert and I drove from L.A. to San Francisco with one specific aim in mind- to hear Martha Argerich in concert at Symphony Hall. The last time I heard her was in London at least five years ago, and I could feel something had been missing from my life.
Yes, I know talented musicians are achieving success at a younger and younger age- but this is something I haven’t come across before!
Finally, Robert and I have two our of compositions in mp3 format to share- we had great fun creating them! Green Tea Symphony (MP3 | 3:56 | 5.7MB) Light and Shadow (MP3 | 4:00 | 5.9MB)
Today I have the honor to refer you to the site of someone who has recently become a hero of mine. Milton Mermikides is a 30-something professional musician, composer and teacher in London who was recently diagnosed with leukemia and has been in hospital ever since. He immediately put up a website from his hospital …