In my line of work, I endure a lot of ribbing for my love of radio rock. I can plead a case citing the emotional catharsis possible due to the harmonic choices favored in the composition of the triumphant power ballad (the tonality of testosterone?), but I'm still not going to win many converts. However, I think I have it figured: double the fun. Love or hate you some Nickelback, this is honestly musically pretty fascinating. Be sure to strap on your headphones first, or you won't get the … [Read more...]

Just when you think music criticism will never offer the kind of professional drama the doctor's of Grey's Anatomy enjoy, we have a development. Music Critic Sues Employer, Orchestra Officers Now who will play Don in the mini-series? Elsewhere, why hire a music critic of your very own when you can share? To the journalists in the room quaking in their Chucks, don't faint. We may yet profitably move this show to the internet. … [Read more...]

Elliott Carter got a birthday shout-out on the local news last night. It's also rumored that there will be some Willard Scott attention tomorrow morning on Today. UPDATE: The Willard Scott segment has been postponed till "early next week." We'll keep you informed.UPDATING THE UPDATE: Our pal Sarah over at B&H phones in to report: "We received confirmation from the TODAY show that Willard Scott will wish Mr. Carter a happy birthday this Friday, December 21, at 8:30 a.m. EST." Be advised, my … [Read more...]

Delivered without the nuance of the nation's great editorialists, perhaps, but much less annoying than CNN's Headline News, no? To be fair, school kids, not ADD office workers wasting time on the internet, are the intended audience for these two-minute music video newscasts. From The Week in Rap. Get the full back story here. … [Read more...]

Brian is teaching me the joys of being a cat person. We have adopted, but riffling through Russian literature and Greek goddesses is turning up nothing resonant as far as potential names. We'd call her Lulu, but that just seems to be courting disaster.Any suggestions hit ya? … [Read more...]

So, a few posts back I turned up the volume on an internal debate I was having between "intellectual" and "real world" creation. I got off on a rant because I was anxious about spending so much quality time with just my computer, and I was looking to get a little physical. Since then, I have spun right round like a record. Obama may be on course for a smooth transition, but I am feeling a little lost while locking in on future goals. This may be a bit of a red herring, but a major tripping … [Read more...]

In an age when holograms beam in to report for CNN and I attend staff meetings via Skype, I guess it's not so crazy that you can audition for a seat in a symphony orchestra without leaving your basement. Sure, you could MapQuest your way to Carnegie Hall, but why bother now that you can just upload your audition via YouTube and Tan Dun, MTT and Co. will listen at their leisure? Bonus: On-demand audition review mean no one risks missing the finale of Heroes or anything. Ah, the 21st century is a … [Read more...]

After a day of kitchen fun, B and I are considering getting out of this music racket and refocusing our blogging careers on food. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! … [Read more...]

Before orchestra musicians get up on stage to play those massive masterworks, they grocery shop and pick up their kids from daycare just like the rest of us. When life breaks from the hum-drum and things get really intense, however, they have a distinctly appropriate mental playlist on hand. We have all been to the panel discussions and/or read the articles lamenting that the symphony just isn't as cool/sexy as other genres, but it seems that as a society we still cleave to the collective … [Read more...]

Now, see, in this example, the singing totally doesn't seem like the silly, far-fetched part! It works in the trailer. In full-length, apparently not so much. Sad! Anyone have a report? So, um, what 21st-century opera needed to seem less ridiculous was an ice pick! I'll leave that to the sociologists. Do wonder though: What would Ron Rosenbaum say? … [Read more...]