Travel begins next week—travel not to conferences, feet propped up on the dashboard with my goodie bags of chips, sunflower seeds, computer paraphenalia, and spare shoes on the floor (Hank drives in case you were wondering). No, this travel begins inside a metal tube pushed … Read more
In a new paragraph, if not chapter, of my life, I am now working with a touring agency located in Sydney, Australia. They specialize in tours with intense cultural, historical, and scientific content. As you might guess, I’m excited! A bit of back story. I … Read more
I recently shared ideas on the subject of musical literacy in response to some questions posed by one of our readers. One question was “Why is repeated listening the key to musical literacy?” Repetition is key to so many things. We can’t begin to define … Read more
I was gratified to receive some nice comments, both public and private, after my post announcing that I was discontinuing the Friday Performance Picks. Let me first clarify that I will continue writing and producing other materials for Professor Carol. (She did not fire me … Read more
After more than 10 years of writing the weekly Friday Performance Picks on this site, I have decided that 505 of them is probably enough, at least for a while. I need to focus my attention on some other projects. For anyone who might feel … Read more
Clemens non Papa, Videte miraculum Videte miraculum is a Magnificat antiphon for the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The feast is generally known as Candlemas and is celebrated in many denominations on February 2. Professor Carol has written about celebrating Candlemas … Read more
What do I do with my slide box? There it sits, all c. 35 pounds of steel, awaiting its fate. Probably a “Repurposing Your 35mm Slide Cabinet” website exists somewhere on the internet (I’m afraid to look). If so, the suggestions will likely include jewelry … Read more
Clarke, Passacaglia on an Old English Tune for Viola Rebecca Clarke got a one-line entry in the 1980 edition of Grove’s Dictionary of Music and Musicians informing us that she was an English violist married to the composer John Friskin. Interest in women composers exploded … Read more
Hotteterre, Premiere Suite Jacques-Martin Hotteterre [“Le Romain”] (1674-1763) belonged to an imminent French family of woodwind instrument makers. Five generations of instrument makers began with Loys de Haulteterre, a wood turner who died c. 1620-25. His great grandson, Jacque-Martin, became the most famous member of … Read more
Chopin, 24 Preludes It seems appropriate to being the new year with a prelude. But a prelude to what? A musical prelude generally designates an instrumental movement that precedes the other movements of a large-scale work. You might find one at the beginning of Baroque … Read more