The Rest Is Silence

Leonard B. Meyer, composer, professor, and author of "Emotion and Meaning in Music" has passed away. The New York Times has an obituary and recap of his life's work. I read his book in 1993 when I was just embarking upon my teaching career and it helped shape how I view music in our lives and culture and in my every day activities. He asked that his gravestone read Hamlet's dying words: "The rest is silence."

REPOST: The Canadian Brass - Gabrieli/Monteverdi

This is an album of antiphonal Renaissance brass music by Claudio Monteverdi and Giovani Gabrieli that I got by mistake...and it was a good mistake! This was sent to me for not returning my monthly card to the Columbia CD club way back in 1990. It has turned out to be one of my all-time favorite albums. Although, not listed as a "Christmas" album, I always play it at the holiday times due to the fact that the Vespers of the Blessed Virgin by Claudio Monteverdi (who is also credited with writing the first true Opera) are true Christmas pieces from the Renaissance era.

The Canadian Brass, the long-standing brass quintet from north of the border, teams up with the principal brass players from both the New York Philharmonic and Boston Symphony Orchestra to perform these sensitive and yet powerful pieces written over 500 years ago. Recorded in a cathedral with various placements (the liner notes tell which ensemble can be heard on what channel - left, right, center), the resonance is amazing, and the power of the brass ensemble can be felt here like on no other recording I own, except perhaps some of DCI performances. The skill of the musicians is obvious, and the glory of music truly makes me feel the joy of the Christmas season. You can sample all the tracks from the album at Amazon.com, and my students can check this CD out from my Music Library. I would highly reccomend adding this recording to your library for the holidays or any time of year!

UPDATE: This album is now available on iTunes as well. Click here to go to the iTunes music store.

Franz Schubert - Ave Maria (Frank Ticheli, Arranger)

Almost on a whim I dropped a piece...okay...two pieces from my upcoming Holiday concert to tackle a new setting of Franz Schubert's Ave Maria by Frank Ticheli, one of my favorite composers for band. I've conducted many a work by Mr. Ticheli over the years, but much like his setting of Amazing Grace, he milks every ounce of emotion out of this beautiful tune, keeping it quite true to the original piano piece, yet still infusing enough of his own personal style that it is unmistakably his. Not only is this a cool piece, but you can download a FREE mp3 of the piece from Manhattan Beach Music, as well as read the full program notes and instrumentation. What a great way to kick off the upcoming Christmas season!

1. Find Drum. 2. Grab Stick. 3. Bang! Boom!

Fred Armisen from Saturday Night Live parodies all the other Rhythm Methods (no pun intended, Mr. Peart) and gets away with it. Can't wait for a promotional copy of this DVD to show up in my mailbox at school. Read all about it at the New York Times.

Drive Home Music - Bitter:Sweet

On my way home from parent-teacher conferences tonight I caught a tune on my iPod that I didn't even know I had. I collected quite a few songs of the day from Starbucks over the last few weeks and just hadn't gotten around to listening to all of them yet. The band's name is Bitter:Sweet and the song is "Heaven (Nicola Conte 'West Coast Vibes' Remix)" and it's a cool laid back latin groove that I just had to drum along with on the steering wheel. It's the closest you might be able to get to the classic "Girl from Impanema" cut by the Gilbertos and Stan Getz. I was in a much better mood when I got home than I was when I left work. Can any of us ask for much more out of a song?

Video Game Marching Band Show

Okay...I'm a music geek and a computer geek, which makes this video double the fun. This is pretty cool, even by my strange standards of entertainment. The University of California marching band did a "Video Game" halftime show this fall that plays music from Tetris, Zelda, and Mario. The drill is amazing with the drumline playing Pong with the cymbal line, Tetris blocks floating across the field, and even Mario jumping on the flag at the castle. It's filmed from the visitors side, so be aware that the drill is upside down, but still pretty cool. I'll look for a better video from the home side when I have some spare time, which will be in....well, June.

Are The Arts Important To You?

Are the arts important to you? Is music an essential part of your life? Do you feel that your involvement in music in your school days was just as important as your academic pursuits? Do you believe you are a better student, citizen, and person due to your participation in musical performing groups while in high school? Do you feel that the arts are an essential part of a quality education and should not take a back seat or reduced role because politicians say that reading, writing, math, science, and social studies are much more important?

If you so believe, would you be willing to defend your position if called upon?

I'll keep you posted.

Listening To Music

I'm so sorry it's been so long since I've posted on the Good Music Adventure. I took the Summer off to fully enjoy being with my family, then the Fairbanks Marching Band took more than a fair chunk of my time and it seems I have been eternally busy since. The Panthers made the playoffs and then a quick exit and marching band has wound down a bit. I still have two holiday parades in the next two weeks, but that it is. Then pep band beings. There really is no "off season" being a band/choir director.

I've updated "what I am listening to now" in the left column of the blog, as well as changed the look of the page to try and freshen up the visual impact as well as refresh my desire to write. Don't get me wrong..I've been listening to LOTS of music over the last six months, investigating some new artists as well as returning to some old stand-bys. I saw Bela Fleck and the Flecktones live for the first time in Dayton, Ohio this Summer and it was everything I expected it to be and more. I've listened to the Flaming Lips enough that I'm actually starting to understand what it's all about, and I've sunk into the depths with Jeff Tweedy and Wilco, both on their newest album "Sky Blue Sky" as well as older adventures with "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" and "A Gost Is Born." I am much different musically than I was six months ago and I'm liking the direction my listening is taking me. I'm pondering spending the 9.99 on the new Jay-Z album, but I'm not sure I am really ready for a new dose of Hova yet. I'll keep you posted.

So. What have you been listening to lately?

It Was FORTY Years Ago Today

I simply cannot believe it is the fortieth anniversary of The Beatles Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. I was not alive when it was released on June 1, 1967, but I was around when it celebrated its twentieth anniversary.

Here's an article that give a nice perspective on the importance of Sgt. Pepper at MSNBC.com.

Have a great weekend!

This Might Be A Bad Idea (Take Two)

Apparently there's something in the water or the air or something infecting everyone with the "let's turn this thing into a Broadway musical" fever. I just mentioned a few days ago about Marvel Comics and U2 planning a Spider Man musical. It seems strange to me, but then again I never thought I would see puppets singing about racism and porn on Broadway either, let alone that same musical winning a Tony award.

According to Rolling Stone magazine, Aaron Sorkin, creator of The West Wing and Studio 64 on the Sunset Strip, has been signed on to collaborate with the Wayne Coyne and the Flaming Lips to bring their 2002 album Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots to the stage. The strange story of a karate-chick fighting and army of robots will feature new songs, as well as some Lips material from other albums to bring the unusual story to life.

While I find the work quite creative, the story is a bit hokey (and OUT THERE) and may not appeal to a wide enough audience to fill the seats on the great white way.

As I did with with Spider Man, I wish them the best of luck. If it's magnificent, you can slap me and call me Patsy, but I have my doubts. Successful or not, I'll be interested in seeing it...maybe as art, maybe as the car crash from which I just cannot look away.

I Think This Might Be A Bad Idea

Hey, I'm all for superheroes. I'm a big fan. I'm also an admirer of the Broadway musical scene as well. However, apparently U2's Bono and the Edge have been approached about writing music for a "Spiderman" broadway musical. I must be honest that I'm skeptical, and that's being conservative. If they pull it off, I'll eat my words, but I have a hunch they might have a flop on their hands.

Anyways, I ran into Spiderman on Broadway last Spring...and trust me...it was quite disappointing.

Harry Connick, Jr. (feat. Lucien Barbarin) - Luscious

One of my new fav albums is Harry Connick's big "b" side to his latest vocal album, Oh, My Nola. Released on Wynton Marsalis's jazz label, Chanson du Vieux Carre is mostly instrumental jazz, although it does feature a few vocals from Connick's band members. Luscious features both vocals and a killer trombone solo by Lucien Barbarin. His solo playing in this track is just get down, growlin, kick a** bone playing.

Connick takes a back seat with his piano playing, but he's definitely getting better and better with his arranging skills. I heard Connick interviewed about recording this CD and he mentioned how great the performance of his band was, especially since they entire group toured for months before going into the recording studio. The group is tight and in tune with each other, and really show how capable they are of getting down and dirty. You'll love Luscious!

Lyle Lovett - Since The Last Time

Since The Last Time

I went to a funeral
Lord it made me happy
Seeing all those people
I ain't seen
Since the last time
Somebody died

Everybody talking
They were telling funny stories
Saying all those things
They ain't said
Since the last time
Somebody died

But you take a look around you
Don't it seem like something's missing
I said something that weren't missing
Lord the last time
Somebody died

You took him from the last time
To that hallowed ground
I'm praying take me to the next time Lord
So I can hang around

Then the people start to looking
And some of them start crying
And all the little children
Lord they're scared
Because they ain't never seen
A dead man before

You took him from the last time
To that hallowed ground
I'm praying take me to the next time Lord
So I can hang around

He's swimming through that Jordan
Going to the other side
But if it's all the same to you Lord
I think I'll stay dry

Now it's church on Sunday
It's a bar on Friday night
It's work on Monday
The preacher Lord you know he might sing

Hallelujah
Sing hallelujah
Sing hallelujah
Sing hallelujah

He's got church on Sunday
And he got drunk the night before
And he got his good gal when he got home
The preacher said he wants some more of that

Hallelujah
Sing hallelujah
Sing hallelujah
Sing hallelujah

Now if you want to get to heaven
Let me tell you what to do
You better grease your foot up buddy
With that mutton stew
And when the devil comes after you
With them greasy hands
You just slide on over to the promised land

Sing hallelujah
Sing hallelujah
Sing hallelujah
Sing hallelujah

Now there was two little imps
And they was black as tar
And they was trying to get to heaven
In an electric car
And that car wheel slipped
On down the hill
Instead of going to heaven
They went to Jacksonville

Sing hallelujah
Sing hallelujah
Sing hallelujah
Sing hallelujah

Thank you, you've been so nice
All my friends they came
Now close the lid down tightly
And quit crying
Because when they close them
They all look the same

And grab hold of the handle
It won't be too heavy
And take me to the graveyard

I went to a funeral
And Lord it made me happy
Seeing all those people
I ain't seen
Since the last time
Somebody...

William Walton - March "Crown Imperial"

My musical adventure for today started off with Sir William Walton's Crown Imperial blaring in my speakers in the car this morning. For we orchestral/band-type music geeks, this is just "can't drive slow/roll down the windows and crank it up" kinda music. Composed for the coronation of King Edward VII, it was never used for that purpose, as Edward abdicated the throne and the coronation was held instead for his brother, King George VI. Although originally scored for orchestra, I am quite partial to the standard wind band arrangement by W.J. Duthoit, which really kicks it with trumpets, trombones, and French horns a blaring. It is, no doubt, a long march. However, I plead that you stick with it, as the payoff at the end is tremendous. I remember hearing this played in 1993 at the inauguration of Paul G. Risser as Miami University's twenty-third president. The Miami University Wind Ensemble repeated it for over 20 minutes as the huge procession made its way from Withrow Court to Millett Hall. I bet they were tired.

C'mon. I Dare Ya.

I dare you to tell me my tastes aren't eclectic. To my face. Or by commenting. Really. I'm a bad*ss of musical eclecticism....or at least a bad*ss of saying "musical eclecticism." A regular musical Renaissance man. A bad*ss muscial Renaissance man (because I can actually spell "Renaissance" without having to look it up).

Anyways, I digress. Check out what I've been listening to lately: