Join us this afternoon for world premieres and new music! First up is a local youth, Nicco Athens (left) and his Five Tableaux. He'll start his final year at Juilliard this fall, and we talk with him about music and growing up in San Antonio.
Next, Joseph C. Phillips, Jr (right) is celebrating the release of Vipassana on Innova Records. There's lots to appreciate on this cd, with stellar performances of his group Numinous. We'll sample Into all the Valleys Evening Journeys and learn more about this powerful and engaging music.
Finally, Philippe Entremont (center, with Danielpour left and host John Clare right)turned 75 last month, and Richard Danielpour wrote a tribute based on five cities in the conductor/pianist's life: New York City, Tokyo, New Orleans, Paris and Vienna. The work is called Souvenirs.
(Best to watch the video above in full screen since it's a widescreen shot!)
Classical Spotlight: July 4th edition honors the 233rd birthday of the US and new music! 2pm on KPAC & KTXI.
An indepth, high definition look at the International Festival-Institute at Round Top with founder James Dick, conductor JoAnn Falletta and reporter John Clare.
Read more!
News from the UK about Michael Jackson: Besides his epic run of concerts and an on-again off-again pop comeback record, Michael Jackson was allegedly working on something else at the time of his death – an album of classical music.
Composer David Michael Frank claims he was approached about the project about two months ago. He and Jackson had met in 1989, working on a TV tribute to Sammy Davis Jr. Two decades later, the star invited Frank to his home in Los Angeles's Holmby Hills. They discussed classical music – Frank says he was "impressed" by Jackson's knowledge – and then the singer showed him "two demos of two pieces he'd written". Neither composition was complete.
"For one of them, he had a whole section of it done in his head," Frank told Billboard yesterday. "He had not recorded it. He hummed it to me as I sat at the keyboard in his pool house and we figured out the chords – I guess this recording I made is the only copy that exists of this music."
Jackson asked Frank to work on orchestral arrangements of the pieces.
At the time of their meeting, Jackson appeared in good health. "He seemed totally healthy, not frail, and gave me a firm handshake when we met," Frank said. "[He] had a good voice and was in good spirits. He was very skinny, but from what I knew, he was always thin. He was also taller than I pictured, but he might have been wearing some platform shoes. And he was impeccably dressed."
The composer did not see Jackson again, though he received a call a few weeks ago to see how the arrangements were progressing. "He mentioned more instrumental music of his he wanted to record, including one jazz piece," Frank said. "I hope one day his family will decide to record this music as a tribute and show the world the depth of his artistry."
David Michael Frank is primarily a film and TV composer, working on television series such as The Mole, Fortune Hunter and Above the Law. - - - - - - - And you might enjoy this video of an organist's tribute to the King of Pop on the King of Instruments: Read more!
With South Texas' dry conditions fireworks are dangerous but musical fireworks can stir the blood. This Fourth of July weekend is for celebrating America's independence and what better way than hearing U.S. composers mark important events and a spirit of freedom with their music?
On the Piano, Charles Ives' give us a March in Two Keys, George Washington "wings it" to heaven courtesy of Virgil Thomson and Elie Siegmeister celebrates American authors on The Piano, this Sunday afternoon at 5 on KPAC & KTXI.
Gene Dowdy will lead the top orchestra at the YOSA String Camp starting this next Monday. Gene talked with host John Clare about the camp and what to expect. Take a listen to their conversation: MP3 file
Find out more here. And listen to Steven Payne talk about the camp as well here.
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An update from BSO staffer Kathleen Drohan: BSO MUSICIANS BEGAN THE FIRST LEG OF THE FIRST-EVER RELAY RUN FROM BOSTON TO TANGLEWOOD, JUNE 29, AT 2 P.M., AT SYMPHONY HALL IN BOSTON. THE RUN TO TANGLEWOOD CELEBRATES THE OPENING OF THE 2009 TANGLEWOOD SEASON, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE FRIDAY, JULY 3, WITH JAMES LEVINE LEADING AN ALL-TCHAIKOVSKY PROGRAM.
TO START THE 150-MILE RUN TO TANGLEWOOD, BOSTON POPS CONDUCTOR KEITH LOCKHART FIRED A STARTER'S PISTOL AND POPS TRUMPETERS BRUCE HALL AND RICH KELLEY PLAYED A FANFARE, ALL THREE OF WHOM ARE PICTURED IN PHOTO. THE THREE STARTING RUNNERS FEATURED IN THE PHOTO ARE BSO BASSIST TODD SEEBER, BSO LIFE TRUSTEE JACK COGAN, AND BSO STAFFER STEPHANIE SMITH.
THE RUN WILL CONTINUE OVER 33 LEGS, EACH BETWEEN 3.5 AND 7 MILES, AND WILL ARRIVE AT THE TANGLEWOOD MAIN GATE AT APPROXIMATELY 1:15 P.M. ON TUESDAY, JUNE 30. TANGLEWOOD IS THE SUMMER HOME OF THE BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, LOCATED IN LENOX, MA.
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Just underway this afternoon! On June 29, at 2 p.m., at the entrance to Symphony Hall at 301 Massachusetts Avenue in Boston, BSO bassist Todd Seeber, along with 20 other musicians and staff members, as well as a life trustee, will begin a relay run, introduced by a brass fanfare and starter pistol, to the main gate of Tanglewood, to mark the opening of the 2009 season. The run will continue over 33 legs, each between 3.5 and 7 miles, and will arrive at the Tanglewood Main Gate at approximately 1:15 p.m. on June 30, in anticipation of the first BSO rehearsal at Tanglewood on July 1 and the opening night program on July 3, featuring an all-Tchaikovsky program led by BSO Music Director James Levine. Tanglewood is the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra located in Lenox, MA. A group of 26 runners—fourteen Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Pops musicians, several of their family members, six staff members, and a life trustee—will run the 150 miles cross state relay. Each leg will be run by one to four participants. The average run pace will be 6 miles an hour or 10-minute miles. BSO bassist Todd Seeber and BSO violinist James Cooke, both longtime runners, conceived of the Run to Tanglewood. In addition to Seeber and Cooke, BSO musicians participating in the run include principal violist Steven Ansell, associate principal violist Cathy Basrak, violist Rachel Fagerberg (along with her two children), oboist John Ferrillo, bassist Benjamin Levy, cellist Alex LeCarme, horn player Jonathan Menkis, bassoonist Richard Ranti (with his wife and two children), and principal horn James Sommerville. The Lenox community will be invited to Tanglewood to cheer the runners on the final leg of the run from the Tanglewood Main Gate to the Tappan House on the Tanglewood grounds. For further information about the run or to sponsor a runner, visit tanglewood.org/relay.
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The only thing worse than getting old is not getting the chance. The tragedy is compounded when the person is gifted and does not reach their potential. On the Piano this Sunday two recent releases of young pianists that amazed us and all too quickly left the stage, Youri Egorov and William Kapell perform music close to their hearts. A rare recording from Kapell's last tour of Australia and Egorov plays Schumann this Sunday afternoon at 5 on Texas Public Radio
Rejuvenation "You are my source for peaceful rejuvenation of my soul." —Marie Helsley Making Life Worth Living "KPAC 88.3 FM is my source for the auditory elixir that makes life worth living, no matter what!" —W. Royall Cox, Ph.D. Peace and Elegance "As I make my way to and from my workplace five days a week, I see traffic creeping at a snail’s pace, impatient drivers weaving in and out of lanes and tempers flaring. Thanks to KPAC 88.3 and the modest sound system in my little Subaru Outback, I am magically transported to a place of peace and classical elegance where I float happily to my destination – many times much quicker than I would like." — Cathey Champlin Inspiration "KPAC 88.3 FM is my source for inspiration when is late at night and I’m seating by my drafting table seeking for a new design for my architecture design studio class. The classical music sets me in an artistic mood when I need it the most. The classical music at KPAC 88.3 FM is my Muse." — Lina Luque Enlightenment "When I moved to San Antonio more than 30 years ago, the airwaves constituted an aural waste land. Though the city was home to a fine orchestra and several other talented ensembles, it was easier to find a corral in the undeveloped reaches of Bexar County than a choral symphony on the local radio. San Antonio was one of the largest cities in the United States, but it was not until KPAC began broadcasting in 1982 that its spirit could begin to be as capacious as its population. I have been a member and listener since the first moment that the station began filling the air with exquisite arrangements of sound. Though I am especially fond of "Listener's Choice," which delights with offerings ranging from the banal to the esoteric, KPAC is in general this listener's choice. It is my source for entertainment, enlightenment, and inspiration." —Steven G. Kellman Carrying Me Through "My story starts with an old radio. My dad passed away in 1995, we were cleaning out his house and there was an old table radio. A Panasonic. It has a wooden case and a great sound, but was difficult to tune. When you tuned it, it was staticy and erratic, so no one wanted it. Well, it belonged to my mother, who died quite young, of cancer, in 1968, so I took it for sentimental reasons. In 2004, we moved here to be with my daughter and her family, because she was very sick, and needed us. I put the radio in my little office, got it tuned to 88.3 and it sounded just great. It's perfect because I have no reason to tune it to anything else. During the dark days of my daughters illness, it was a great comfort, and in those days you had "Adventures in Good Music" which I learned to love when I was in the Army. AFRS carried the program and is was real bright spot during my military years. I miss it, but enjoy all the programs especially "With Heart and Voice" on Sunday morning, Writers Almanac, "The Piano" is very good and Musica Antiqua is often very interesting, but the constant supply of "good" classical music is the greatest blessing of all." —Carl Kirkegaard
Tell us how KPAC impacts your life by email: mysource@tpr.org or call (800) 622-8977. Be sure to include your name, email and daytime phone number so we can get back to you about recording your story.
First up is a local youth, Nicco Athens (left) and his Five Tableaux. He'll start his final year at Juilliard this fall, and we talk with him about music and growing up in San Antonio.
Next, Joseph C. Phillips, Jr (right) is celebrating the release of Vipassana on Innova Records. There's lots to appreciate on this cd, with stellar performances of his group Numinous. We'll sample Into all the Valleys Evening Journeys and learn more about this powerful and engaging music.
Finally, Philippe Entremont (center, with Danielpour left and host John Clare right)turned 75 last month, and Richard Danielpour wrote a tribute based on five cities in the conductor/pianist's life: New York City, Tokyo, New Orleans, Paris and Vienna. The work is called Souvenirs.
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