When I was an undergraduate student, I won a prize that got me a reading session with the school orchestra. I showed up for the session and discovered that one of the professors had decided to use the time to get a reading of a piece he had written. I got five minutes at the end of the session. The orchestra got through the first 20 measures of my piece, a work I had spent the better part of … [Read more...]
Archives for January 2017
eighth blackbird
We have eighth blackbird in residence this week, stimulating us with their sharp and sparkling brand of new music. On Wednesday, they recorded music by some of our student composers, last night they played a vibrant program of works by Andres, Muhly, McGowan, Hearne and Dessner. Today they are presenting a seminar on building a career in contemporary chamber music and giving master classes and … [Read more...]
Nine for Four with Prism Quartet
In 2009 I heard the Prism Quartet play Pagine, a set of arrangements by Salvatore Sciarrino of works spanning several centuries. I was taken with suppleness of the ensemble, its ability to adapt itself to widely divergent styles. I was also struck by the license Sciarrino took in collecting vastly different works into a single set, a license that fit nicely with my view of music. The … [Read more...]