Rachmaninov, Études-tableaux, Op 39 Rachmaninov composed two sets of études-tableaux, Opus 33 (1911) and Opus 39 (1917). The works follow in the tradition of etudes by Chopin and Liszt: character pieces presenting specific technical challenges. Kapustin’s jazz etude featured last week, for that matter, belongs to … Read more
Graduations, weddings, new jobs: transition is in the air. Somehow it’s already late spring, even though a friend living in a mountain home in Colorado is still posting pictures of snowstorms on Facebook. It’s wedding season and you know what that means. Back in Bowie, … Read more
Kapustin, Jazz Concert Etude No. 1 This past weekend, Professor Carol and I had dinner with friends, a husband and wife who had Carol as a professor when they were at SMU. They both went on to earn their doctorates in piano performance and, fortunately, … Read more
What a strange week. In addition to all kinds of disparate things going on that needed to be fixed, written, and otherwise dealt with, two different events have preoccupied me. The first, the happy one, takes place this week. In fact, it may be going … Read more
Ticheli, Blue Shades Frank Ticheli (b. 1958) comes out of a strong band tradition in Texas. After finishing high school in Richardson, Texas, he studied theory and composition at Southern Methodist University. (That was before Professor Carol joined the faculty there.) Ticheli writes for many different … Read more
Ordinarily certain moments stand out in a busy conference: a warm conversation, a quick reunion with a student, or funny story shared by a colleague. But in this year’s Great Homeschool Convention in Cincinnati, every moment seemed to stand out! This conference rivals anything in … Read more
John Mackey, Asphalt Cocktail Have you ever thought of giving a musical composition to someone as a present? John Mackey’s 2009 Asphalt Cocktail came about in just such a way. An admirer of the Michigan State University Wind Ensemble and its conductor Dr. Kevin Sedatole … Read more
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had parents tell me they don’t know how to teach Fine Arts. Yes, teaching any subject can be intimidating. But many people never received any meaningful exposure to the Fine Arts in their own education. I hear the same … Read more
Pergolesi, Stabat Mater At the Cross her station keeping, stood the mournful Mother weeping, close to her Son to the last. I’m posting this week’s Friday Performance Pick a day early. Our weekly digest goes out on Thursday and, since the selection this week relates … Read more
Elgar, Lux Aeterna You may recognize this piece as “Nimrod” from Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations. It is also often performed as a stand-alone work. Writing in The New Groves Dictionary of Music and Musicians about the Enigma Variations, Diana McVeagh says: “Nimrod,” the Adagio core of the work, drops … Read more