this week May 13, 2007
Posted by Charles Noble in : the orchestra world, add a commentI’ve noticed that some other orchestral bloggers give their schedule, and I think it helps give the layperson an idea of what we do during the week, so I’ll do the same for this last classical subscription week of the year (with gigs included): (more…)
conductors and conducting May 13, 2007
Posted by Charles Noble in : the orchestra world, 1 comment so farI know this is a subject which is the source of endless running in circles in the orchestra world, but I’m going to put my own two cents worth in now.
Let me first put out the following caveats:
- I understand that conducting is a difficult thing to do, if it were otherwise, more people would be doing it well than are at present.
- I also understand that conducting involves having a large ego: if you’re going to convince 80 - 100 highly trained and egotistical orchestral musicians to do something your way, you’d better be sure of yourself and your methods.
Rather than harp on specific circumstances, I’m just going to make some helpful, constructive, and likely sarcastic suggestions, directly to the conductors out there. I know it’s akin to spitting into the face of a tornado in its likely effectiveness, but I’m an optimist at heart, so here goes. (more…)
variations upon paganini May 13, 2007
Posted by Charles Noble in : Uncategorized, 1 comment so farA performance of his own jazzy variations (interspersed with Paganini’s originals) on Paganini’s 24th Caprice, by the violinist Li Chuanyun (who was a recent recipient of a G.B. Guadagnini violin from the Stradivari Society in Chicago): [click 'more' for video page] (more…)
thomas lauderdale and gus van sant action figures May 11, 2007
Posted by Charles Noble in : Uncategorized, add a commentThis came via an anonymous tip - it’s typical youtube fare, but with a local connection: [click 'more' for video page] (more…)
introspection and exploration May 10, 2007
Posted by Charles Noble in : the orchestra world, 1 comment so farI think that there’s a link between looking within and looking without that isn’t often explored. I think I’m a case in point right now. (more…)
latte art from crema May 9, 2007
Posted by Charles Noble in : Uncategorized, 1 comment so far
One of the best lattes you can find in portland is to be found at (more…)
self criticism May 8, 2007
Posted by Charles Noble in : the orchestra world, 1 comment so far
A visual representation of the creative process (I’m being pretty nice to myself in this shot).
shosty 8 - post concert May 7, 2007
Posted by Charles Noble in : the orchestra world, add a comment 
Photo: Dmitri Shostakovich, 1975.
[click photo to enlarge]
With the last bell-like tones of David Buck’s dulcet flute (by the way, have you heard such amazing and beautiful sounds from a flute before?) and the eerie calm of the fading chords of the strings, the end of the hour-long Shostakovich Eighth Symphony faded into the night at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. The silence after the music evaporated into the air was mystical, spiritual and magical. (more…)
historic moment May 7, 2007
Posted by Charles Noble in : the orchestra world, add a comment
I caught this photo and story from the Chamber Music Society of Lincon Center’s blog. (more…)
orchestral sandwich construction May 5, 2007
Posted by Charles Noble in : the orchestra world, 3comments
The Chicago Symphony bassist Michael Hovnanian writes a delightful blog, and here is one bit of terminology that I’ve not heard used before. He refers to the classic orchestral programming scheme known as the “shit sandwich”. I’ll let him explain in this excerpt from his blog: (more…)
