Globalization At Its Finest

On Friday I saw the latest 60x60 Video (2009/International Mix) at the MainStreet Cinema on the University of Cincinnati's campus. The 60x60 idea is something that I'm only somewhat familiar with (I did A 60x60 competition earlier this year, but it wasn't part of THE 60x60 Project).

My only gripe is that I found out about this viewing ONLY one week before the event, which means this wasn't highly publicized. However, I noticed that my friends Hermes Camacho, Danny Clay, and Dennis Bathory-Kitsz had their pieces performed. (Danny, get a website!)

What I liked most about this project was the mosaic of electro-acoustic pieces assembled with little bits of video art (by Patrick Liddell). I feel that electro-acoustic music needs some kind of visual (live or recorded) that accompanies the music, unless you have a specific listening room.



Okay, maybe I was imagining something a little more darker, comfortable, and Québécois, but maybe McGill University had a different idea.

Anyway, I'm glad I went! I plan on attending more 60x60 events in the future (if I can make them). And, maybe I'll contribute someday? The nearest deadline is December 31, but I have the wind piece (+parts) due then! Ack! If only I didn't have to...go..to..school...

What I'd be doing if I were in LA

Heard of this West Coast, Left Coast Festival? It's a three-week event happening with the LA Phil showcasing California as a land of inspiration. It starts this Saturday, thanks to composer John Adams, composer of Pulizer prize-winning music, writer of a blog and a memoir, and beneficiary of abundant California sunshine. Seriously, for 62 years old, he doesn't look so bad.

Read:

John Adams, the LA Phil's other new kid

Last Night in LA: Preludes to a Festival

N.B. The first article mentions a new cocktail created in honor of Dudamel's first Disney Hall concert as Philharmonic music director - the “Pasión.” A spin on the Malibu Breeze, perhaps?

The Musicians Are Coming! The Musicians Are Coming!

So, President Barack and First Lady Michelle welcomed musicians to the White House a couple of weeks ago (November 4) as part of a classical music outreach of sorts. Now the reports are in.

Here is a funny article from the LA Times Culture Monster Blog recounting how President Obama warmed up the crowd.

Here is a review of the actual event from The Washington Post.

Also, on CCM pianist Awadagin Pratt's website (yup, he was one of the high-profile musicians performing!), there is a video of the afternoon performance. And for those who are wondering, he is the second person from the left in the photo above.

More Composers Who Blog

I think I've been behind in the times. Maybe if I actually leave CCM and experience the real world (aka the interwebz) on occasion, I would know that Alex Ross has launched a new blog on the New Yorker website entitled Unquiet Thoughts.

On this note, Mr. Ross has a post called Blogging Composers where he lists notable composer blogs. I'm going to check them out over time; the first one on the list is John Adams's blog Hell Mouth, and I have already added the RSS feed under the How I Waste My Time section of the blog.

It's interesting. His latest post talks about how going out to the movies has changed over the years and how he despises the latest movie The Men Who Stare at Goats. (That's okay, Ewan! I will still see your latest film!!!)

In the meantime, I will further waste my time today by seeing two films I should have seen this summer: District 9 and Inglorious Bastards.

Do Not Use Frogs as a Muse

One more video celebrating Sesame Street's 40th anniversary.

Sesame Street: Lessons in Composition

1. First lessons in minimalism:



I have to admit, when I first saw the above clip (I think I was 4), I was a little freaked out.

2. Composing can be painful. See Exhibit A:



Then see Exhibit B:

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Who's Not Honoring Me Now? - Emmys
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor U.S. Speedskating

3. How to deal with librettists:



4. I forgot this had a synth soundtrack:



Happy 40th, Sesame Street. :D

Lowell Liebermann Clarinet Concerto

This weekend, the Dayton Philharmonic will be premiering the Lowell Liebermann Clarinet Concerto, which was written for Jon Manasse.

According to Liebermann's website,

A consortium of some 14 orchestras and organizations have commissioned Liebermann to write a Clarinet Concerto for Jon Manasse, whose recording of Liebermann's Clarinet Quintet has just been released by Koch Classics (see below.) The orchestras include the Dayton Philharmonic, the Las Cruces Symphony, the Evansville Philharmonic, the Bozeman Symphony, the Chappaqua Orchestra, the Erie Philharmonic, the North State Symphony, the Chesapeake Orchestra, the Roanoke Symphony the University of Massachusetts Amherst Symphony and the Juneau Symphony. The other members of the consortium include the clarinet manufacturers Buffet Crampon USA and Van Doren Paris/DANSR, and the Hanson Institute for American Music at the Eastman School of Music. The first performance of the consortium will take place during the 2009/10 season by the Dayton Philharmonic.

Will I be there? Yes. The composer will be in town.

The Aquarium

What a week. Yesterday my tenant's sewer backed up (surprise!), Johnny Damon double-stole during Game 4 (?!), and concert:nova asked a few composers to write a movement for their ensemble based on the title of a movement from Saint-Saëns's Carnival of the Animals.

Here are the composers involved in the project.

▪ "Introduction" - Xie Wenhui
▪ "The Royal March of the Lion" - Jeff Silva
▪ "The Cocks and Hens" - Charles Coleman
▪ "The Wild Animals " - Danny Clay
▪ "The Turtle" - George Flynn
▪ "The Elephant" - Inez McComas
▪ "The Kangaroo" - Jerod Sommerfeldt
▪ "The Aquarium" - Jennifer Jolley
▪ "The Mule" - Juan Campoverde
▪ "The Cuckoo in the Wind" - Douglas Knehans
▪ "The Birds" - Mara Helmuth
▪ "The Pianists" - Kurt Westerberg
▪ "The Fossils" - Michael Fiday
▪ "The Swan" - Douglas Pew
▪ "The Grand Finale" - Joel Hoffman

The concert is slated for early May, so more details will follow. In the meantime, I now have an excuse to purchase an annual pass to the Newport Aquarium. Scuba Santa arrives on November 27.

Harry Potter can run Max/MSP

I know Halloween has come and gone, but I still think this video is amusing. Very amusing.

This is a repost from Leah's blog. And, because I am perpetually bogged down by a laundry list of things to do (this plagues any first-year doctoral student - Leah included), I actually did not find this on Leah's blog. In fact, someone else posted this on my Facebook wall. Sadly, this is how I receive most of my news lately, but fortunately I do have some enlightened friends who post interesting articles online.

Anyway, without further ado, here is "Harry Potter Returns to Hogwarts." Cue the sleigh bells and the John Williams's theme (well, not quite):



N.B. You might want to speed ahead to the part where the composer/performer puts on the scarf.