daily observations » composition

more brilliance from A-ross May 2, 2008

Posted by Charles Noble in : appreciation/criticism, chamber music, composition, add a comment

Alex Ross, music writer for the New Yorker, who was Pulitzer shortlisted for his music history page-turner The Rest Is Noise, and blogger at the site of the same name, just wrote a review of the series presented at Carnegie Hall by the Brentano Quartet, which concerned the late works of a variety of composers.

How many classical music critics (or any other journalists for that matter) do you know who can regularly turn out such prose as this in the course of their beat?

Whatever it is that allows artists to maintain their powers of invention as they grow older, composers possess it more richly than most. Musical figures from Monteverdi to Messiaen have had careers that can be plotted as steadily rising curves. In old age, certain composers reach a state of terminal grace, in which even throwaway ideas give off a glow of inevitability, like wisps of cloud illumined at dusk

That’s seriously good stuff. Read the rest here.

A few old-school Mahler’s 9th recordings April 19, 2008

Posted by trumpetboy in : appreciation/criticism, audio, composition, conducting, guest post, music, recordings, add a comment

I’m pleased to welcome as my first guest blogger Jeffrey Work, principal trumpet of the Oregon Symphony. He, among other things, is an enthusiastic collector of old recordings, and as such, I thought that he might like to delve into his massive collection and give us some nuggets that relate to the upcoming work on the next classical series: Mahler’s Ninth Symphony. Enjoy! — CN

As the Oregon Symphony’s musicians prepare for our upcoming performances of the Mahler 9th, most of us will head to our record and CD libraries. It’s a common first step before we go to the more important second step: heading to the practice room. My routine is no different. (more…)

Daniel Ott premiere in NYC March 29, 2008

Posted by Charles Noble in : chamber music, composition, music, 1 comment so far

Composer Daniel Ott

Friend and composer Daniel Ott, whose new work for string quartet, solo violin, and piano (á la Chausson) entitled Blue Water is being given its world premiere at the venerable Bargemusic concerts in New York City this weekend, deserves a shout-out from this blog. Way to go, Dan! (more…)

thomas adés nytimes profile March 23, 2008

Posted by Charles Noble in : appreciation/criticism, chamber music, composition, music, recordings, the orchestra world, add a comment

G. Paul Burnett/The New York Times

British composer phenom Thomas Adés (age 37) is presenting a concert of his music at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall with the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group on Friday, March 29th. The New York Times’ Vivien Schweitzer writes this article about his background and ethos in today’s edition of the paper. Here are a few of my favorite observations from the article:

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fEARnoMUSIC concert tonight March 7, 2008

Posted by Charles Noble in : chamber music, composition, contemporary, music, add a comment

If you’re not set on what you’re going to do this Friday evening, why not go hear some spankin’ new music played to the hilt by some of the finest musicians around? (more…)