Horngodess

IHS 43 Wednesday: Brain and The Barbies

2011-06-25T22:23:00.002-05:00

Wednesday's offerings included lectures on our patron saint of horn, Dennis Brain. John Ericson demo'ed different horns that Brain would have played on, and William Lynch shared his research on recordings of Dennis Brain that are new-found and unpublished.

Lunchtime college choirs included Jeff Snedeker's bunch from CWU

Our afternoon lecture featured some newfound ecordings of Dennis Brain. We were asrounded by the exhaustive effort put forth by William Lynch to track down these treasures!

The afternoon recital featured horns in two and fours; the duo Mirror Image and the horn quartet Quadre. I always enjoy presentations by Lisa and Michelle, and very much appreciate their many contributions to the (now growing) duo repertoire. And Quadre seems to get better and better every time I hear them. I very much enjoyed the new work "midlife Crisis," maybe a few of us in the audience could appreciate the sentiment!

Next up was the play and talk presentation from the new horn quartet sensation, Genghis Barbie. I had the chance to visit briefly with these gals backstage (and have them sign my GB CD fundraising mute), and I know we're all excited to watch and see where their wild ride takes them.

The evening recital featured the old and the new; some death-defying natural horn playing by Andrew Clarke, and a jazz horn presentation from Tom Varner

IHS 43: Tuesday

2011-06-22T16:23:00.002-05:00

Tuesday's sessions included a masterclass by our host, Wendell Rider, on "Inner Beat Phrasing." The students who participated truly seemed to benefit from the ideas of mini-phrase and micro-phrase repetition.

Our internet access was granted today, so many of our wonderful vendors were busy getting caught up on credit card transactions

Lunchtime choirs included Oklahoma State, led by Lanette Compton, our hosts froma recent wonderful Mid-South Workshop

Dinner was at Joe's of Westlake, old school Italian with a large menu and excellent service. Chicken cacciatore with polenta was rich and satisfying.

The evening concert featured Gail Williams and her former student, Nicole Cash. Besides the fine horn playing in solo and chamber works, highlights of the performance included young Jonathan Ring accompanying Gail on drum set, and some mind-meld duo playing by Gail and Nicole on the Beethoven Sextet. Turning pages for the Clearfield "Songs of the Wolf," I wondered if the huge strength of Gail's high range was carrying to the hall in the same way it was screaming to the back. From my spot onstage, it sounded like she was driving a Ferrari at 120 mph, and was about to drop the hammer and leave us all in her dust!

One of my favorite things at IHS is the informal horn choir readings that happen after hours, and one of these sessions happened at The Tower to finish out the night.

IHS 43rd Symposium- Monday: The View From The Stage

2011-06-21T16:53:00.004-05:00

Our Symposium opened with amazing playing by our fearless Society leader, Frank Lloyd, followed by a somber tribute to those we lost this year by the Symposium horn choir. Our concerto winner livened things up with her Strauss 1, and the excellent San Francisco Symphony horn section closed the show:

A quick lunch took us to the 3:30 concert, with Jon's and my Ewazen, A cool new piece presented by Denver IHS host Susan McCullogh, and some great trio playing by Nancy Joy, along with friends from my hometown on flute and piano! Louisiana represent!

Dinner tonight was near the Hampton Inn, at El Fin Nicaraguan/Mexican. Fish tacos were tasty, and Jon's fried pork looked great, with a side of plantains. Be careful with the pico de gallo they bring to the table, it is HOT!

While hanging out backstage waiting to turn pages for the evening concert (I duty I actually enjoy for the birds-eye view it gives me), I was approached by our AC representative from Japan, who wanted to thank the symposium-goers for all the emails of support in the aftermath of the Tsunami, and needed a word in English to describe his feelings. We came up with "heart-felt," and I was suddenly very glad I'd had to be backstage :-)

Turning pages for Patti Wolf as she played a wicked Czerny transcription was both an adrenaline rush and a jaw-dropper. There were places in the score where her fast hands blurred on the keys! Patti told me afterwards that Roger often recommends to his audience that, if they wish to program this piece, they had better marry the pianist! Great contrasts in this concert; the fireworks of Bill Vermulen's selections, and the beautiful aquatic flow of Roger Kaza's.

After my turning duties were completed for the night, word of a Barbies sighting lured me downtown. Missed those elusive Genghis Barbie girls, but enjoyed hearing a piano quartet at Revolution Cafe where the bartender repeatedly reminded the patrons that "this was a performance, not background music! Keep the talking down!" We tipped him well :-)

IHS 43: Rehearsals and PARKING

2011-06-19T21:22:00.004-05:00

This morning we had brunch at an unusual restaurant not far from the SFSU campus, The Mayflower Restaurant:

A phone call from wonderful Tomoko Kanamaru told us it was time for Ewazen, before the other performers snapped her up :-) so we headed to the Creative Arts Building. We had an hour between our Ewazen rehearsal and Symposium Choir rehearsal, so Jon and I walked the campus, which is quite beautiful:

Then on to Symposium Choir rehearsal, where it was great to see friends and enjoy playing in a horn section with some of the finest players in our Society:

Next up was scouting out parking for the week. There is a garage at the end of State St. that is just $5 a day.

and while we're talking about getting to campus in the morning, we were told by a San Jose native to avoid 19th Street at all costs, unless you want to sit in traffic for upwards of an hour (!). We are planning on coming in via 280 and Merced and avoiding 19th entirely . . .

Our Memphis friends Ion (of Balu Mutes fame)and Kyle met us at Extreme Pizza for a quick bite, where Jon and Ion began plotting the Next Big Thing :-) you never know what's coming next from Balu Mutes, so stop by his table at the Symposium and find out!

The show starts tomorrow at noon, folks! See you there!

--Catherine

San Francisco, and IHS 43, Here We Come!

2011-06-18T18:41:00.003-05:00

Another year of playing and teaching means time for another International Horn Symposium, hosted this year by Wendell Rider at San Francisco State University.

You can download the .pdf of the program HERE

After an uneventful plane trip (except for discovering that my Conn V8DS does NOT fit under the seat of an American Airlines' Embraer, when it DOES fit on a Continental one), I arrived at SFO, picked up the rental car, and jumped into rush hour traffic to meet a Gap friend downtown. After some pics and an adventure ro remember where I parked (!), I headed back to pick up Jon at SFO.

Next morning we headed to lunch at a local spot, Lakeside Cafe, where the patty melts are delicious and breakfast is served late:-)

We drove over to SFSU Campus to check out the venue, and happened to walk up as our host pulled up to unload supplies for registration. And to supervise the set-up of nearly 100 tables for our vendors!

UL Horn Choir Raises Money to Get to Midsouth Horn Workshop

2010-01-22T19:01:00.011-06:00

Like many universities across the country, UL has been forced to make budget cuts. Our president chose to handle ours in ways that wouldn't affect student instruction (our number one priority at UL). One was to freeze the travel budget.

So, in order to get my students to the wonderful Mid-South Horn Workshop in March, we are selling t-shirts and hoodies!

For your $20 donation, we will send you a short-sleeve version of the shirt pictured above. For $30, you can have a long-sleeve t. For $40, you can have a hooded sweatshirt. And the shipping is included! (If you live in Lafayette, contact me at UL for pricing WITHOUT shipping!)

Be sure to tell us your size; click HERE for the Gildan 100% cotton shirt size chart, and the address you want us to ship your shirt to.

Our local orders are being taken through the end of February, and our local vendor (Talk 'N T-Shirts) needs about 10 days to fill our order, then we can send your shirt to you!

2010 Southeast Horn Workshop, March 26-28, USM, Hattiesburg, MS

2009-09-12T09:47:00.009-05:00

The 2010 Southeast Horn Workshop will be March 26-28 on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi, in Hattiesburg, MS. The host will be Heidi Lucas, horn prof. at Southern Miss.

Give Heidi a little more time to get emails out and the website up and running. She got married this past weekend to USM trombone prof., Bruce Tychinski! Congratulations and best wishes to both of them!

For those of us who work within the university setting, a regional workshop may be all we can swing financially this year, what with budget cuts and the International show being in Australia. So I'm predicting that attendance at the Southeast show will be a record-breaker!

You will see both me and my studio there, with lots on tap; a consortium premiere, some music for horn and soprano, and all of your favorite vendors.

As Heidi gets info out, I'll be replicating it here, so check back!

Horn vs. Mellophone

2009-08-12T09:57:00.003-05:00

On the heels of the DCI Finals, and with college and high school marching bands across the country firing up for another school year, we are once again faced with the yearly dilemma-- how to keep our horn students playing well on BOTH instruments at the same time.

Having marched with my single-letter 8D in high school (!), I came to mellophone rather late, as a college freshman. I struggled at first, but then came to realize some simple truths:

While horn and mellophone share some similarities (being a brass instrument, a set of partials, and some fingerings with the B-flat side of our double horn), there are enough differences (airspeed, tone, range, more fingerings in lower range & played with r.h., embouchure) to cause problems on both.

As the current private teacher of horns in a BOA Finalist band and major professor for a corps member of Spirit of Atlanta and Phantom Regiment, I have had the most success having students treat the two as ENTIRELY DIFFERENT INSTRUMENTS. Some students have more trouble with the r.h./ l.h. and fingerings issues than others, but all need the AIRSPEED and EMBOUCHURE differences brought to their attention and re-inforced.

Our horn embouchure of "2/3 upper, 1/3 lower" is less effective on the mellophone, and most students quickly adjust to a more "trumpet-like" embouchure of 50/50. Airspeed on the mello is ALL ultra-focused and fast. Having the student bring both instruments to a lesson and re-inforcing differences and correct technique is the key. If they have trouble detecting the difference, video feedback helps, as with my LHS student Shelbie in this clip. Allowed to play her horn with her "mellophone" embouchure and airspeed, the results are rather telling!

(And for all you Phans out there, SUTA! See you at Drums Across Cajun Field, where I am Tabulator)

0@/ horngodess

Playing/Singing During/After Pregnancy

2009-07-02T20:25:00.005-05:00

Bruce Hembd posted an amazing video of Helene Tomböck playing the Long Call in the 9th month of her pregnancy:

The subject of Playing/Singing During/After Pregnancy is one that has gone around before, but it bears repeating. Back in the days before YouTube, I kept right on playing through my pregnancy, to the delight of my OB/GYN, who thought it could do nothing but improve my breathing and tone muscles for the event to come. The only difficulty I really experienced was finding "prego" concert black options and where to rest my bell! I played principal on Overture to Die Meistersinger with the university orchestra eight hours before going into labor, 6th or 7th horn (can't remember) in Mahler 2 with Youngstown Symphony four weeks after delivering, and my master's recital a month after that.

Mommies of the horn world, what was your experience?

Musicians' Initiative Needs Your Help!!!

2009-06-23T21:53:00.002-05:00

Musicians' Initiative 2009

Our Acadiana Symphony Orchestra has been hit by the economic downturn and we have lost thousands of dollars in corporate sponsorships. We believe in the importance of our orchestra and wish to support our hard-working board and hope you will help us. We orchestra members are launching our Musicians’ Initiative in hopes of raising $10,000. We will present our check the night of the July 4th concert - a fitting way to begin our 25th Anniversary Season!

If each person we contact donates any amount, small or large, we can reach our goal (and maybe even surpass it!). If 500 people give $20, that’s $10,000! You might also be interested in knowing that orchestra members who are able have donated a service fee back to the ASO.

The Acadiana Symphony Orchestra is a 501(C)(3) organization which makes all contributions 100% tax deductible. Donations can be made in the form of:

1) A check made out to the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra
Please write “Musicians’ Initiative” in the memo and send to:
412 Travis Street, Lafayette, LA 70503

or

2) Click HERE to make your donation online using a credit card.

Thank you for helping us keep the ASO at the forefront of our Acadiana Culture!

Respectfully,
Catherine Roche-Wallace, second horn, and
The Acadiana Symphony Musicians

Click HERE to make your donation online

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Music/Poetry . . . Poetry/Music

2009-06-21T19:15:00.005-05:00

David Amram on left in both photos, Jack Kerouac with drink in hand, Allen Ginsburg wearing glasses, 1959 photos by Fred McDarrah

below, left, photo of David Amram at the 41st International Horn Symposium, 2009, by Bruce Kelley

So, in my newly-titled role of "Athena of SeniorBopperdom Reportage" (Thanks, David!), I am realizing that my non-jazz colleagues and students would appreciate a little background on exactly what it was that David Amram and Jack Kerouac did in the late fifties in East Village, Manhattan. What better way to communicate that than "straight from the horse's mouth:" an excerpt of an interview David gave for the blog JerryJazzMusician:

JJM What was the artistic atmosphere of the 1950's prior to the jazz-poetry readings?

DA The atmosphere was wide open in those circles that we traveled in. To an extent, we opened them up ourselves by walking into places and spontaneously doing something together. In a jazz atmosphere, the audience members were so quiet and respectful of the musicians that you felt you were almost part of a meeting at a church or a temple, where everyone was completely in tune with the sermon and what the whole event was about. It was a wonderful communal feeling that was largely unspoken, and very strong and very warm. I jammed with Monk and Bird and played and recorded with the bands of Mingus, Oscar Pettiford, Lionel Hampton, Mary Lou Williams, Dizzy Gillespie, Kenny Dorham and many great players at venues that were often attended by just a handful of people. At places like the Cedar Tavern, the painters were really the center of what you might you call the social scene. They would have "bring your own bottle" parties, and people would bring something with them, whether it be a drink, a poem they had written, or a musical instrument -- or just come to hang out. They were basically informal get-togethers that were open to anybody who happened to come by and walk in, from a street person to a potential art collector who would hear through the grapevine that artists were having a party.

Esquire, in a July, 1957 issue, has a photograph of me playing the French horn at the Five Spot. The photo shows the sculptor David Smith, the painter Larry Rivers, the poet Frank O'Hara, and others as well. This picture wasn't taken in an elegant setting like Elaine's Restaurant, but rather a club where people like that were hanging out all the time. TheEsquire article associated with the photo was called "Upper and Lower Bohemia." The Upper Bohemia people wore tuxedos in an art gallery, and Lower Bohemia was all of us. The people of Upper Bohemia would come down and check out what was happening downtown. There was no such discussion of a "cutting edge." It was just all this wonderful stuff going on.

Jack Kerouac, reading

1959

photo by Fred McDarrah

JJM What are your memories of the first ever jazz-poetry reading at New York's Brata Art Gallery in 1957?

DA The fact that we even did it is a miracle, because we used to do our readings on park benches or in people's apartments, or in the Café Figaro or some bar at 3:00 AM -- whatever we felt like doing. Howard Hart and Philip Lamentia thought we should try to do it in a better setting. We met with the poet Frank O'Hara, who was a link between Upper and Lower Bohemia, and who worked at the Museum of Modern Art, where we had hoped to do the readings. The people at the Museum were horrified at the idea of having any of us there. They were not about to open up their museum to a bunch of "ruffians." So, having been turned down there, we decided to do it at the Brata Art Gallery, where I was known. On occasion they would ask me to play the horn or bring some musicians to play. In exchange for playing, we would get wine, crackers, and the chance to meet a variety of fantastic artists, and perhaps even pursue romance with a young woman who was interested in art.

So, we went to the Brata Gallery and they welcomed us there. I remember the day of the reading being quite rainy. In anticipation of the reading, we had a few mimeographed announcements that were handed out in the different coffee houses, bars and park benches, because that was the way everything was advertised then -- by word of mouth. To our amazement, the Brata was packed with people. There was no microphone, and nothing was planned. Jack was the emcee, and On the Road had just come out previous to that. People knew his name from the incredible reviews, but he didn't have the pressure on him then that he did even a month or two later.

JJM The readings were pretty much spontaneous?

DA Yes. I never knew whether Jack was reading something that he made up on the spot or if it was something of his own. There may be something by Walt Whitman in there, or maybe a fragment of a poem by Hart Crane, or something from Shakespeare, Beowulf or Chaucer. He knew all of these French poets like Celine, and he would say "check this out" or "dig this" and start reciting a Celine poem from memory. He had an enormous memory for music and for jazz and the classics. He could sing the melodies from different Haydn and Beethoven string quartets. He was like an encyclopedia of music and classic literature from Europe. He also had an enormous knowledge of Buddhism. He had a tremendous knowledge of Judaism, as well as the writings from the Old and New Testaments as well as from the Mass. He had this knowledge of so many different things. When he was reading, I would submerge myself into whatever it was he was reading, and I tried to anticipate what would happen next.

JJM What instrument were you playing?

DA This was 46 years ago, and I played mostly French horn and some piano and percussion. At times I might play some kind of folkloric flute, although I didn't play those with the frequency or the skill then as I do now. I would listen very hard to what he was reading, and on the spot create music that the readings gave me ideas about. That is something that I was trained to do when playing jazz, always think ahead. When you are accompanying someone, you are listening to them the way you listen to a Bach Chorale, where four parts are going on at the same time, all of which are gorgeous melodies, all being played simultaneously. In jazz, you listen to what the bass player is doing and what the drummer is doing, what the pianist and the guitarist is doing, and then you play something that compliments that, so you are thinking simultaneously and thinking ahead. In symphonic music, when you are conducting, you do the same thing. You are feeling the whole orchestra, thinking ahead so you can prepare for a change. That enables you to accompany somebody even if it is not planned and be able to come up with something that is appropriate.

The other thing is you really have to want to submerge yourself into this situation. That is what I did with Jack, and that's why he liked to do the readings with me because he knew I was there for him, and for our ability to blend the poetry and the music. When he was reading I tried to do something to compliment the music that was already there in his reading.

--snip--

JJM Douglas Brinkley said that "Each generation rediscovers Kerouac on their own terms." How is Kerouac being "rediscovered" by today's generation of interested readers?

DA There are a lot of wonderful things created in our culture that have been ignored that can speak to them. When today's generation reads Jack's books or they listen to the music created by some of us, I believe that they see there is a different way of approaching today's life and today's sometimes seeming hopelessness that can provide answers. That by listening to some music, by reading some books, by looking at paintings, and most important by hanging out with one another -- by collaborating with one another and creating your own network -- you can achieve something that is much better than what is out there.

JJM You and your friends used the motto, "By your works ye shall be known." How will you be known?

DA I would hope it starts with my music, and would be considered compositions that exemplify what I believe is the common factor of all great music. From Bach to Bird to Bartok, all share the following in common: Purity of intent and an exquisite choice of notes. My compositions, I believe, will have lives of their own long after I am gone. They are built on the philosophy of what we used to call a selection of "choice notes." I hope my music will be of value to future musicians and artists of all kinds to inspire them to dare to tell their own story, to be themselves, and to see that art and life don't have to be separated.

_______________________________

Meeting David Amram-- An Email from a "Beat"

2009-06-20T11:12:00.010-05:00

l to r: David Amram, Percy Heath, Dizzy Gillespie, 1986

David Amram at IHS 41, 2009

l to R:Larry Rivers, Jack Kerouac,
David Amram, Allen Ginsberg,
Gregory Corso (with back to camera), 1959

One of the amazing features of International Horn Symposia is having the opportunity to meet the people that shape our musical world. David Amram is one of those people, and we were blown away by his music, his playing, and just listening to him TALK, in true stream-of-consciousness, beat-poet style.

My friends and I got some great photos of him in performance, so I forwarded them to him, with a short note. THIS is what I got in return:

FromAmramdavid@aol.com

Subject: to Catherine from David amram

Date: June 19, 2009 12:49:46 AM CDT

To: cmr3877@louisiana.edu

Dear Catherine:

Thank you for your nice note

The IHs was a real treat!

What wonderful players (and NICE PEOPLE!!)

i may be coming down in the Spring of '10 to Louisiana for a performance of one of my operas and will let you know when I find out for sure. If i do, maybe i could drop by and do something with your students.

Best to contact me via e-mail

amramdavid@aol.com

www.davidamram.com for all info

Facebook is great for fotos and connecting with old friends but HARD to correspond with!!

I've been going non-stop the last two months, and IHS at MACOMB WAS LIKE A REAL VACATION!!

This past weekend there was a showing of the film THE FRONTIER GHANDI, for which I wrote and conducted the score, back in December of 2007. Here is the announcement.

BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC JUNE 14TH 5 PM

at the

BAM Rose Cinemas

is showing the film

The Frontier Gandhi: Badshah Khan, A Torch For Peace

Produced and directed by Teri McLuhan

Score composed and conducted by David Amram

Sunday, Jun 14th 5:00pm

This dramatic documentary tells the extraordinary tale of Muslim peacemaker Badshah Khan, a reformer who helped shape India's modern political, social and spiritual landscape. Born into Pashtun warrior society, Khan managed to raise a nonviolent army of 100,000 men, women, and youngsters as he struggled for India’s independence alongside Gandhi.

Shot in India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, this eye-opening film includes rare historical footage, remarkably candid interviews from world leaders, and a score by world music pioneer David Amram. This film is a co-production of the U.S. and Canada.

In English, Urdu, Dari, Pashto, and Hindi with English subtitles.

Directed by T.C. McLuhan

2008, 92minute

I'm lucky to be doing more than ever in my life, and grateful to be able to do it.

While waiting to hear from an orchestra about a new commission for a symphonic work, I am doing all kinds of events and they are all a treat to be part of, as well as a challenge.

I have been asked to organize the grand finale for a monstro concert in Central Park June 21st, organized by a 24 year old flautist where hundreds of musicians, after finishing playing with large ensembles throughout NYC all come to Summer Stage at 8 p.m. for a grand finale,

I will create a piece made up on the spot, with everyone becoming part of the band, including the audience. They are calling it an Amram Jam.

When the organizer asked me what several hundred musicians could do all together that would be spontaneous without being total chaos, I wrote out the 12 bar blues chord changes on a napkin for her during out lunchtime get together and she is printing them on the Flyers and programs, so all the musicians (and interested audience members) will see that there is a science to jazz and vital ongoing roots and logic along with freedom!! And they will all have the equivalent of a Map Quest road map, (the chord pattern for the 12 bar blues, written out on huge banner as well as on the flyers) So everyone will have a common point of departure.

Many of the musicians who are going to come to participate are talented and want to know about jazz but don't have a clue, because of the 30 year drought in public school music ED)

Among other things, I hope this can give them some inkling of some of the basic ABCs, and see that along with a yea-saying and egalitarian spirit, music of quality can be created on the spot and be UPLIFTING as well as FUN!!!! smli to what we all did at the Blues workshop at IHS.

Since I'm currently just a young whippersnapper of 78, I have been working nonstop, as I know you also do.

With my Big 80 coming up (Nov 17, 2010) great stuff is already happening!!

As you no doubt know....today's 80 is......

The NEW.....95!!!

Dizzy Gillespie told me on his 70th birthday, years ago , "Now that you got gray hair Dave, it's time to put something back into the pot!"

So that's what we all can do!

Now that my piano concerto is finished, with a great premiere in January with Jon Nakamatzu soloist, I am editing the final corrections for publication and future performances, as well as a new forward for Vibrations, originally released in 1968, my first book (and third to be published by Paradigm Publishers) and now out of hibernation, resuming my world wide travels, which fortunately include New YORK!!

I am really fortunate that Larry Krayman, and founder of New Port Classic Recordings, who released two CDs of my symphonic music in the 90s, (one of which includes "Theme and Variations on Red River Valley" which you have. Larry is now doing an ongoing documentary about the many worlds that make up my world, showing how all these various activities enable me to continue composing.

Since he is classically oriented and not PETRIFIED by the fact that I am not (and never planned to become) a cash cow to be exploited as a flavor of the month and then reinvent myself every year with the knowledge that whatever I do is destined for the landfill.

He understands that i have chosen to take that LONG ROAD....wherever i am for who ever wants what i have to offer and he plans to have the film complete by the time my BIG 80 hits the Big Speedometer in the Sky around Nov 17, 2010

He has already filmed a four camera shoot of a live performance of my recent orchestral work Symphonic Variations on a Song by Woody Guthrie. He also filmed a recent concert at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Robert Frank/Kerouac book The Americans and my collaborations with them, with performances of my chamber music and jazz compositions.

He has filmed a whole night of my playing my monthly gig with my jazz quartet in the Village and is filming a whole series of other events.

He is also planning to video my opera Twelfth Night which I wrote with a libretto by Joe Papp and he is also recording a lot of my concert music and plans to release it on his label via I-tunes.

He also plans to and use all out-takes of everything filmed to put up on YouTube!!

Hopefully. All this will inspire young artists to HANG IN THERE!!

I'm managing to keep the farm where i live in shape between crazed activities, and REALLY enjoy doing the outdoor work, which is my Summer aerobics.

I am doing all kinds of events and they are all fun, and help to keep me inspired to compose!!

Just played Caenegie Hall Monday night June 15 for honoring of Theo Bikel. he is 85 and STILL LIKE HE WAS in 1955 when i met him!

That's what i would like to be like when i reach his and PeteSeeger's age!! Let's both continue drinking from that Fountain of Youth

All cheers from that endless road.

Hope our paths cross soon, and wish you all creative energy, great chops, lots of crawfish etouffe and enough Louisianna cayenne pepper hot sauce to play kopprach an OCTAVE HIGHER!!!

your friend here in Yankee Land

David

PS We have had so much rain here that our cattle ARE SWIMMING IN THE POND.I fed thm some leftover buffalo wings and ribs from the grease palace where we went each night in Macomb, whuch i briught back in a bag, and.....i thnk they are starting to MUTATE!!

Here is foto i just took (here appeared a Photoshopped shot of a cow and a dolphin frolicking in the waves)

UL Horns go International day 7-- Saturday! Our performance!

2009-06-17T12:58:00.005-05:00

Click on the blog entry title, above, for the Symposium program for Saturday-- we're on page 25!!!

UL Horn Studio on the way Home!

2009-06-09T10:28:00.003-05:00

One last photo from the Finale concert-- Geoffrey Simon conducts the Symposium horn choir

l to r: Nancy Joy, Jeff Nelsen, Susan McCullough, Marshall Sealy, Jazz horn winner Morris Kliphuis, IHS prez Jeff Snedeker

Wild looking bridge north of St. Louis

Missouri state line!

About to stop in downtown St. Louis

That's the arch between Kyle and Daniel!

Lunch at Spaghetti Factory, downtown St. Louis

photo op at the arch

can you see the base of the arch above us?

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

UL Horns Go International-- Finale!-- day 8-- Sunday

2009-06-08T10:26:00.003-05:00

Click on the blog entry title, above, for the Symposium program for Sunday

UL horn students and Dr. R-W at the banquet.

CR-W with old friend, Jeff Nelsen. Can you tell I've had 9 hours of sleep in the last 48???

Horn quartet competition finalists from TAMUK

Horn quartet finalists

Horn quartet finalists from UT Austin

Horn choir finalist UT Austin

Symposium Choir playing London Horn Sound's "Bohemian Rhapsody"

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

UL Horns go International day 6-- Friday

2009-06-06T14:56:00.001-05:00

Click on the blog entry title, above, to see the Symposium program booklet for Friday

The alphorn choir rehearses

The alphorn choir

The Conn-Selmer table, Mark Gifford & Mike Kamphiuis

Mark Gifford, the man who made my horn!

The Four Hornsmen of the Apocalypse

Audrey, Gerry, and Paul

Paul, Tony, and Gerry

Annamia Larsson

Annamia and Tomoko Kanamaru

Jeff Nelsen

Annamia and Jeff

Annamia, Jeff, and Tomoko

Annamia and Jeff

George Napuda talks John K's ear off-- in Ukranian!

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

UL Horns go International, More day 5-- Thursday

2009-06-05T15:55:00.001-05:00

Click on the blog entry title, above, to see the Symposium program booklet for Thursday

Rick Todd and Jim Rattigan with the WIU faculty jazz

Rick Todd and Jim Rattigan

British jazz hornist Jim Rattigan

Great WIU jazz faculty!

Rick Todd visits with UCLA alums

Geoffrey Simon conducts the Symposium horn choir

Geoffrey Simon conducts the Symposium horn choir, with David Amram and Rick Todd on . . . COWBELL?!?!

Geoffrey Simon conducts the Symposium horn choir

Rick Todd with WIU jazz faculty

David Amram

Rick Todd, Jim Rattigan, and WIU jazz faculty

David Amram and Jim Rattigan

Alex, RICK TODD, and Daniel hangin' at BWW

Mary

David Amram and Rick Todd

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Temperaments

2009-06-05T15:44:00.005-05:00

On Sunday, I presented my lecture on learning to recognize Keirsey's Temperaments in your horn students, and how to teach to each type in the horn studio. Surprisingly, every seat was taken, as it was at 9 am and a partial conflict with the horn choir rehearsals. LOTS of lively discussion ensued!

Ul Horns Go International day 5- Jazz!

2009-06-05T02:44:00.001-05:00

Click on the blog entry title, above, to see Symposium program booklet for Thursday

WIU faculty perform a David Amram composition

John Q. Ericson

Nancy Joy and Fred Bugbee in a world premiere

Susan McCullough

Susan McCullough and Wei-chun Lo

WIU WW faculty with Joe Ognibene

Yasuhiko Isobe and Tomoko Kanamaru

Alex with his new Hoyer!

WIU jazz faculty Michael Stryker

Rick Todd

WIU jazz faculty John Cooper and Rick Todd

Rick Todd

Rick Todd and Jim Rattigan

Absolutely amazing to listen to David Amram talk jazz (and hear his pieces played)!

Kimonos in the afternoon concert!

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UL Horns Go International, day 4- Wednesday

2009-06-04T01:22:00.003-05:00

Click on the blog entry title above to go to the Symposium program booklet for Wednesday

Marcia Spence, with Simon Sargon at the piano

composer Simon Sargon

the University of Illinois Horn Choir, conducted by Joe Neisler

The University of Illinois Horn Choir, conducted by Joe Neisler

Bruce Atwell performs les Parcs de Paris

Naomi Seidman, Jennifer Ratchford-Sholtis, and Jason Aquila

composer Walter Mays, Nicholas Smith, and Hyung Gu Kim

Nicholas Smith and Hyung Gu Kim

Doug Lundeen plays Rossini's Prelude, Theme & Variations

John B., Bruce, and Mary came with me to buy sheet music. Lots and lots of sheet music!

The University of Missouri Horn Choir

Bill Klingelhoffer and Jason Aquila

Andrew Pelletier

The Four Hornsmen of the Apocalypse

Audrey Wood and Paul Blackstone

The Four Hornsmen, backed by the Symposium Horn Choir

This morning I enjoyed a lecture demo with Marcia Spence and Simon Sargon. I'll be doing some of Sargon's A Clear Midnight with Shawn Roy and Chan Kiat soon!

We had our first horn choir rehearsal, and we'll rehearse two more times between now and our performance Saturday afternoon.

The afternoon concert featured modern works, and Rossini T&V.

This afternoon, money was spent on sheet music- lots of money!

The evening concert featured Anrew Pelletier as the star of the show!
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UL Horns Go International, day 3

2009-06-03T01:06:00.006-05:00

Click on the blog title, above, to see the IHS program booklet

Waiting for the opening concert to begin

Our host, Randy Faust

Our president, Jeff Snedeker

The Symposium Horn Choir

Ensemble masterclass with Rick Todd. Rising ULL freshman Daniel Terrebonne is in the driver's seat!!!

Shawnee, TAMUK student, and Daniel in the Rick Todd Masterclass

Jacob Medlin and his fine horns! C'mon, Jacob, make a Kruspe wrap!!!

Stuart de Haro and his fine horns.

My friends John K., John B., and Mary at chinese family-style

Greg Hustis performs "Voices from Spoon River"

The Four Hornsmen!

Mary and Bruce at the pub. The ONE and ONLY pub in Macomb.

Today was the opening day for the Symposium. Our host, Randall Faust, gave introductions and tributes, and led the WIU Horn Choir in a few tunes. The president of IHS, Jeff Snedeker, added tributes and thank-yous.

Our rising freshman, Daniel Terrebonne, jumped into the driver's seat for the ensemble masterclass led by Rick Todd, horn prof at USC and movie score hornist!

Up-and-coming horn craftsmen Jacob Medlin and Stuart de Haro are here-- I'm enjoying my Medlin "practice pipe!"

We enjoyed performances by Paul Basler, and Laurence Lowe.

Dinner was chinese family style! But slow, we missed the downbeat of the evening concert!

Wonderful evening concert with Jenny Dugle Kummer and Greg Hustis, and we found a pub with Blue Moon on tap!
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Day 2: Alex Caught a Roll!

2009-06-03T00:40:00.000-05:00

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UL Horn Studio goes International Day 2

2009-06-02T00:39:00.003-05:00

Just off the interstate, we stopped at the place we'd all heard of--

Kyle ordered "The Rooster," thinking he was actually going to be eating a rooster, not a larger portion of chicken! :-P

Heading into St. Louis

Our second travel day saw us running to Ion Balu's to load up an "opening day's" supply of mutes-- U of M's Kyle Hayes will man the table Tuesday while Ion works feverishly in Memphis to finish more mutes!

From Memphis we took I-55 into Arkansas, on to Missouri and right to famous Lambert's Cafe, home of the "throwed rolls!" The guys caught some long ones!

On to St. Louis, where we ran into traffic downtown, right under the arch!

Past St. Louis was the most challenging part of the drive, a mostly two-lane road for 4 hours! But we arrived in Macomb, happy to be here and excited for the Symposium!
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UL Horns go International! Day 1

2009-06-01T00:06:00.002-05:00

Alicia did a great job driving the big van!

Single-letter 8D! Still has the sound!

Visiting at Dr. Ellen Manthe's house

Mutes drying at Ion & Lisa's house

Visiting with Ion Balu

On the road again! We rolled out at 10 am, heading north on I-12 to I-55, headed to Memphis, the halfway point for our trip to the International Horn Symposium. We were hosted by Dr. Ellen Manthe (for dinner and the girls' bunks) and mute maker extraordinaire Ion Balu (where the boys stayed.) Tomorrow, more driving!
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Thus Spake Thomas Bacon

2009-05-29T16:33:00.005-05:00

One of the benefits of having our trumpet prof., Paul Morton, as head of the UL Concerts committee is always having a great brass group come to campus, and the masterclasses that usually come along with it.

2 1/2 years ago we had the St. Louis Brass come in, whose newly appointed hornist was the esteemed Thomas Bacon. My students Jim and Alex each had what amounted to a private lesson with Thom, with me observing. One of the big things we (and especially Alex) took away was the directive to "never let them hear your WATER!!!"

Well, I reminded Thom of that just now on Facebook, and his response appears above!

The Raccoon Fiasco Ended in Tears . . .

2009-05-27T22:05:00.007-05:00

Well, those of you who know me on Facebook heard about the raccoon family that moved into my master bath. Over the Memorial Day weekend, I no longer heard (or SMELLED) the mama, and hadn't heard the kits, so I thought, "Hallelujah, she moved them out!" Well, Monday night I heard one lone kit crying for her mama, but didn't think much of it, as I'd heard them calling her before. But Tuesday night rolled around, and still no mama back for this kit. I had to go in to work Wednesday morning, and as I was getting ready, I realized that the mewing was coming from not my light box above my vanity, but DOWN IN THE WALL. Uh-oh! I called John A., my bug guy, who raised raccoons back in the day, and has been advising me on all this.

We pulled the wall open, and got her out! But, she was too far gone, and didn't live.

Now I need to get the chimney siding replaced, the vents put back into my soffits, and have something like a WALL built between my soffit box and my bathroom lightbox, so this never, EVER, happens again!

More Fiddle Photos

2009-05-26T14:30:00.000-05:00

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Hunt Family Fiddlers

2009-05-26T13:59:00.000-05:00

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-----Original Message-----
From: cmr3877@louisiana.edu

Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 18:48:01
To: <go@blogger.com>
Subject: Fw: Hunt Family Fiddlers

Back in April, the Hunt Family Fiddlers came to Lafayette. This is a family of 8 who homeschool and teach violin (sort of) through the Suzuki method. Our studio got a masterclass with them, and enjoyed their show the following night.
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2009-04-07T14:04:00.001-05:00

UL Lafayette School of Music

presents

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

7:30 pm

Grace Presbyterian Church

518 Roselawn Blvd., Lafayette

FREE ADMISSION

Gap Give & Get -- 30% off Entire Store -- Four Days Only

2009-03-12T19:09:00.000-05:00

Click HERE to download and print your coupon.

If you would like a coupon to use online, just email me.

Jericho, for horn and piano

2009-03-03T20:49:00.001-06:00

My friend, our new theory/comp guy, Gabe Miller, has whipped up an Eastern-influenced theme and variations for me to premiere at the Mid-South Horn Workshop at the University of Memphis in a few weeks. Its modal melodies make me think of veiled women and a holy army bringing down the walls of Jericho with a mighty blast on seven shofars!

Cajun Cup 10K

2007-11-22T22:49:00.000-06:00

Finished Choker; Worth the Wait

2006-08-13T14:48:00.000-05:00

Hello all!

I am finally home from Blue Lake; those photos are at my Flickr Photo Site

But I wanted to share my finished choker with you! As some of you know, I am a newbie to the wonderful world of thread crochet, and I challenged myself to complete this for the Accessories swap. Luckily, my swap partner is very kind and PATIENT (thanks, Jen C!)

This was a pattern test for Kathy of Crochet N Beads, and it was a great experience! I found a couple of simple typos for her, and even though I am a dummy at thread, it went smoothly, with patient encouragement from her. I think it is the most beautiful thing I have ever made!

Kool-Aid Yarn Dyeing Adventures!

2006-06-25T20:42:00.000-05:00

Another fun new thing! There was plenty of Bernat Lana Merino Wool in the clearance bin at HL, so I thought I'd give it a try!

First is the unsuspecting yarn itself, bwahaha!

Next is my prep; 3 c water, 1 c white vinegar, 3 pks Strawberry-Lemon Kool-Aid, 3.5 oz. of wool soaking for 15 minutes in hot water. I brought the dye mix almost to a simmer, squeezed ALL of the water out of my yarn, and stirred it into the pot!

I brought my "yarn soup" up to a simmer & cooked it for 30 minutes. All of the pink was absorbed and there was only slightly cloudy water left in the pot!

I turned off the pot after 30 minutes and lifted the yarn out with tongs & put into some clean warm water in a Pyrex bowl. I rinsed my yarn & admired it! Now, I didn't squeeze ALL of the water out of my yarn, so the color is not as even! Now I have to decide if I want to leave it like that or try again . . .

I made another skein; repeated the process with 2 packs Strawberry and 1 pack Cherry Kool-Aid; this time I made SURE I squeezed ALL the hot water out of my yarn BEFORE I put it into the "dye soup."

And Voila'! I may try to get a better pic tomorrow morning; this one just doesn't do justice to the color!

The finished product; yes, it WAS a pain in the rear to untangle! It took about 2 hours a skein!!!

Corrected Choker Center Rose -- Thank You, Kathy!

2006-06-25T11:53:00.000-05:00

It is SUCH A PLEASURE testing patterns for Kathy White! When I run into something confusing, she explains it , shows me a picture, and THANKS me for the input! It makes the whole process fun, and a great learning experience!

Is there a hook size smaller than 11/12? That's the smallest I found at my Hobby Lobby . . . I need to get the rest of the bullion stitches smaller!

Finished Overalls on Libby and Choker Boo-Boo

2006-06-24T10:45:00.000-05:00

I love trying new patterns; even though I get frustrated sometimes, I learn new stitches and techniques, and I remember them for future projects!

This is my niece Libby in a pattern I tested for Anna of "Lullabies and Lace." It came out cute, but TOO BIG! Shorter straps, smaller bib, and possibly a smaller hook size would probably help . . .

Next is the choker I am trying for Kathy. I have one too many bullion clusters, so I have to frog out. She suggested a smaller hook to try and get my bullions smaller-- my HL only has one size smaller (11/12)-- but I'll give it a go!

Something New; Katchkan's Choker

2006-06-22T10:11:00.000-05:00

I'm finally getting down to business with this beautiful choker! I'm killing two birds with one stone; testing the pattern for Kathy, and making a beautiful accessory for my swap partner, JenC.

I had some troubles, probably because I don't crochet with thread very often; 1) Stringing the beads on-- emrboidery needles were too big, sewing needles were too small for my needle threader! So, I went old school and threaded it by hand. 2) Could NOT find the connectors locally, OR online! Finally found brightlingsbeads.com who had the connectors!

A Little Wish Come True in my Mailbox!

2006-06-19T22:47:00.000-05:00

Thank you, RAOK Wishlist Fairy!

The beads are awesome! What cute crochet things I can make for my students with them!

My First Crochet with Beads Experience!

2006-06-19T21:55:00.000-05:00

The pattern is from Crochet! Magazine, March 2006. I used Caron Jewel Box in Deep Jasper and Bernat Matrix in Browser Blue. The beads came in one handy pack, Asst. Mixed Asian elements from The Beadery.

This belt is headed to JenC, my Accessories Swap partner (along with its own "accessory" matching scrunchie).

Pix from the Pittsburgh Pirates game!

2005-09-19T21:09:00.000-05:00

We had such a great time! And the Bucs won!

Hurricane Katrina E-Mail from Music Educator Marc Martin

2005-09-03T18:37:00.000-05:00

More News from Houma, LA

This is a personal email I am sending out to all of you who I think would like to hear some of this encouraging news...it's long so get comfortable.

I spoke with Brad Adams, director of the Vandebilt Catholic High School Bands...he had some more encouraging news from Houma (1 hour away from New Orleans).

He said the level of help being received in the city by volunteers is "overwhelming and impressive." They had to turn away volunteers today because so much help was being given.

Vandebilt (a school of about 900 or so students) already has names of 70 students that they will be taking in as a part of their family

Tuesday the school will meet and ask all students to donate one part of a school uniform if they can to help the new students coming into the school. Friday will be the new student orientation. Every single teacher in the school is going to take on one more class of teaching in order to accomodate the new students and no tuition is being required of anyone coming into the school. They have not advertised this yet but they are by Tuesday expecting up to 200 new students and it will be packed but Brad says, "They are ready to open their arms to whoever needs an education and a new family to care for their needs."

The school spent 20,000 dollars today purchasing more desks that would be needed. All credits from previous schools will transfer and transfer back when needed. The band at Vandebilt, about 165 students total....will be ready to take on more students. Brad also mentioned that if the show the band is currently doing cannot import the amount of students the band receives, then they will save that show for next year and redesign it to fit the size of the band at that time. He told me that "it is more important to fit those students into the program and make them feel like they give something to the band rather than to have them sit on the sideline and do nothing all year...that wouldn't teach them a thing and it woudn't make them feel like a part of the family. If we have to do a 20 set show instead of a 60 set show this year...and just perform exhibition at every show, then that's what we will certainly do....these people need their lives back..they need to know people care and they are more important than a score or a trophy."

Also...after redialing their number at least 50 times i got through and my mom spoke with me last night and mentioned that they have power back in many parts of the city and cell phone use is very slowly being restored.

The people down there also want everyone to know that what is being shown on CNN and MSNBC is only a very small part of what is really going on. The media has a very powerful voice and unfortunately it is most of the time the only voice being heard.....I for one am sick of the media asking the same questions to police, army officials and governmental officials. Stop asking questions and start helping more. Stop getting in the way of people trying to do their jobs...this is not a circus, it's a disaster. The only news channel I saw show any sign of hope to people was FOX NEWS when they interviewed many people who were giving praise to the way the shelters were helping them. Many people are VERY appreciate of the things being done for them....many people are still looking for family members and many people are sending out chuch choirs and music groups to give hope and some level of peace to these people that have literally lost everything they own.

On a personal note...just to let everyone know, while the national media and others around the nation may have been problems with what the Mayor of New Orleans said, many many people in Louisiana and surrounding states are very proud that someone finally stood up and said what they honestly felt...whether it was politcally correct or not doesn't matter to me. It's obvious that the one thing the Mayor did show was the level of frustration people are feeling...and whether someone agrees or not with what he said directly, he certainly has passion for what he is doing.

Dateline NBC was in Houma, LA today and at some point tonight there should be a special report about Vandebilt High School students helping out at the local shelters. They saw the kids helping out there and went to the school and filmed some things there as well. It should be on national television tonight or very soon. I am certain that if it is...it will be posted online as well.

I'm going to go ahead and say this also......I'm ready for people to stop bickering over issues that aren't of life and death importance right now...LIKE GASOLINE PRICES. Since when is gas more important than saving lives? I hope I sound frustrated about this because I sure am. What matters right now is helping people. That's the bottom line. Make a sacrafice and help these people. I couldn't be more proud of the Univ. of Houston School of Music, Band Directors, Staff, and band members for doing everything they've done. I'm glad to call Houston home right now. Also couldn't be more happy about the Vandebilt Band and everyone else out there doing things to help....there are so many bands, churches, and other organizations and volunteers helping....Lord knows we need it...and need more of it.

I will send more news as I hear it....
Marc Martin

Katrina Updates

2005-09-01T22:42:00.000-05:00

We are completely fine. Not a shingle displaced, didn't even get my feet wet. Unbelievable that two and a half hours away, people are fighting for their lives. A number of students of mine (theory, not horn) are from Metarie & Slidell. Some of their families are staying with them on campus, possibly for the next WEEKS until they are allowed back in. They may not have homes to go back to.

Lafayette is the closest large community west of the danger zone, and thousands of people evacuated to here. When every hotel in a 40 mile radius filled, they started putting people in the Cajundome, which is quickly filling to capacity. It holds over 7,000 people.

We enrolled 9 music majors from UNO, Tulane, and Loyola today. Their tuition has been waived for the semester, and we are pairing them with other students and giving them extra help to get them caught up.

Matthew's school bus driver was one of the 300 buses that took the doctors, nurses, and sick from the Superdome to the Astrodome, then came straight to run his school route with little sleep.

Thinking about all of you, and praying for peace & salvation in New Orleans.

My "I Must" List from Mara

2005-08-30T21:16:00.000-05:00

Mara's Blog

Pink striped pants.
I come from Alabama with a banjo on my knee.
Lemon.
"Did she just say !@#$ you??? She would fit in perfectly in our horn section!"
The very first memory was meeting you outside Walt and John Kowalchuk's hotel rooms. You were standing outside the big stupid van and I asked you how old you were.
A squirrel. Particularly Sandy from Spongebob Squarepants.
Are you on happy pills, or are you just naturally optimistic and bubbly?

Button for My Blog

2005-08-28T23:42:00.000-05:00

Here's my little button. A very small start, but at least now I have one.

Link to my blog!

Katrina

2005-08-28T20:14:00.000-05:00

Pray for New Orleans.

"Catherine is," Inspired By Mara

2005-08-15T20:16:00.000-05:00

directions: type "Yourfirstname is" into Google, with the quotes, and list your 12 favorite responses.

Thanks to hornist Mara Cushion for the idea:

http://hornorphan.livejournal.com

Catherine is a star

Mount Catherine is the highest in the Sinai Peninsula, towering some 8700 feet . . .

Saint Catherine is the patron (matron?) saint of unmarried women . . .

Catherine the Great is notorious for her love affairs, which included Gregory . . .

Catherine [in Wuthering Heights]is thrown out of heaven, where she feels displaced, sees herself an exile at Thrushcross Grange at the end, and wanders the moors for twenty years ...

Lake Catherine is located at 42°29'2" North, 88°7'27" West (42.483969, -88.124172)

catherine is the cause

catherine is dancing

Catherine is cool. She wears cool glasses. She also has a very clueful blog.

Catherine is a 25-year-old college dropout whose youth, gender and lack of formal training make it hard for her to be taken seriously . . .

Catherine is urging her artists to incorporate the
paint wash techniques learnt in the previous lesson, into their morning
task

and, my favorite,

Catherine, is a wonderful, endearing girl whom I couldn't help but like. She is bright, intuitive and intelligent, and she's not afraid to ask the tough questions about life. Rather than simply accepting her fate and the society she lives in, she tries to improve her world. She is kind and fair to the people and animals she meets, which makes her an anomaly in her time but a winsome, admirable heroine in ours.

T-Minus 7 Days . . . 6 . . .

2005-08-15T19:58:00.000-05:00

So, less than a week to start classes again. Am I ready? Noooo . . .

Since I'm already being lame and not knowing how to get my photo on my profile, I'll go ahead and list some links for University of Louisiana:

The School of Music:

http://music.louisiana.edu

Scholarships

http://admissions.louisiana.edu/scholarships/

Alabama IHS Pix

2005-08-14T09:09:00.000-05:00

About time I posted these!

Here are photos from our world premiere of Rhapsody for Horn & Percussion. Rhapsody was commissioned for me and Jeff Prosperie, my colleague at the School of Music at University of Louisiana, Lafayette, with assistance from the Meir Rimon Commissioning Assistance fund of the International Horn Society.

Home from Camp, But Still Not Unpacked

2005-08-12T22:34:00.000-05:00

I know, I know. Dealt with the yard (read that, mass of weeds that used to look like a lawn and rosebushes). Put camp check in the bank, and took out $10 in 50 cent pieces for Matthew. His violin lesson was not bad, considering that he hadn't practiced hardly at all while he was at his dad's. Big surprise . . .