Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Big guns

The latest "big name" classical performer has been announced for June 2011: In celebration of Mexico's 100th Anniversary, Placido Domingo will perform a romantic concert of opera, zarzuela, tango and Mariachi favorites accompanied by guest artists and a full symphony orchestra. Find out more at SAOpera: http://www.saopera.com/placido_domingo/

In January, pianist Lang Lang plays Rachmaninoff with the San Antonio Symphony. Information here: http://www.sasymphony.org/index3_1011.php?eventIdD=53
A recital by Itzahk Perlman takes place in March:
http://www.stradviolin.com/spotlight-events/itzhak-perlman-march-19-2011-7-30pm-lila-cockrell-theater-san-antonio-tx.html
Also in March, Yo-Yo Ma comes to town with the Silk Road Ensemble:
http://www.artssanantonio.com/IndividualPrograms/Yo-YoMa/

Simple gift ideas

Still shopping for that right gift for that person? Didn't find what you wanted on Black Friday or Cyber Monday?
Check out our suggestions from the KPAC staff for your holiday needs: http://www.tpr.org/articles/2010/12/simplegifts.html
There's more to come, as well as the year's best of list and don't forget to check out the KPAC 100: http://www.tpr.org/articles/2009/09/kpac100.html

Stay abreast of holiday concerts this season too on Classical Spotlight, Thursday afternoons at 1pm on KPAC & KTXI.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Composer Award - Grawemeyer

Congratulations to Louis Andriessen for winning the University of Louisville’s 2011 Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition. He received the award for La Commedia, his fourth opera. This year’s award is $100,000.


He was also Musica America's Composer of the Year 2010.  You can learn more about him and his music here, including a free cd-rom!

Friday, November 26, 2010

Home of the Fighting Turkeys?

Benjamin Franklin thought the Meleagris gallopavo, or Wild American Turkey would be the best avian symbol of our country. He explains in a letter to his daughter…

"I am on this account not displeased that the Figure is not known as a Bald Eagle, but looks more like a Turkey. For the Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America . . . He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on."

Since Thanksgiving is the quintessential American Holiday and the turkey isn't quite gone from our refrigerators yet, on the Piano this Sunday we present a U.S. program with American composers, not imitating Europeans, but making music that best exemplifies life in this country.
There is Charles Ives, hard nosed and brilliant, Virgil Thompson's take on American mythology with George Washington and the Cherry Tree and a Texas boy, David Guion and music close to every Westerner's heart.

The Piano, hear it this Sunday afternoon at 5 on KPAC & KTXI.

host, Randy Anderson

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Classical Spotlight: Thanks!

NUTS ABOUT TCHAIKOVSKY
Delight your whole family with this cherished tradition — The Nutcracker, performed by the San Antonio Symphony and Ballet San Antonio. Don’t miss this charming classic. It’s a holiday celebration for the whole Family! Starting Friday November 26 to December 5 at the Majestic. Find out more at http://www.sasymphony.org/ or http://www.balletsanantonio.org/

ENCORE, ENCORE!
The first concert of our 2010-2011 “Musical Evenings at San Fernando Cathedral” series, this concert will feature Russian artists Mark Cheiket, violin, and Elena Portnaya, piano, performing an entrancing program of all-time violin favorites, from their new CD, Encore! CDs will be available for signing after the concert, during the delicious dessert reception catered by Giovanni’s.
Please visit http://www.musicalbridges.org/ for more information.

CHRISTMAS FAVORITES – ALL THAT JAZZ
December 2 at 12:10pm First Presbyterian Church in San Antonio presents their first Midday Noel 2010! Join the Mark Little Trio as they perform the Christmas music of the jazz legend, Vince Guaraldi. The Trio appears regularly at Old San Francisco Steak House and includes Little (piano), George Prado (bass) and Kevin Hess (drums). You’ll hear “music of the spirit” that began with his musical foundation "in the church" in Amarillo, Texas, where he was born and raised. Little began piano lessons at the age of four, studying with the director of his church choir. Mastering the music quickly, he played by rote and then, flying in the face of tradition, he expanded with his own versions. Far from putting down her student as a musical vandal, his teacher enthusiastically encouraged him toward further innovation, a path Little has pursued ever since. A Full Lunch will be served in Westminster Hall after each concert for $7.00 and a “Grab & Go” Sack Lunch will be available as you exit the Sanctuary for $3.00.
More at http://www.fpconline.org/

ON THE RISE
December 2 the Symphony of the Hills has Rising Stars- featuring Collin Turner, violin; Evana Toll, string bass; and a new composition by young composer Jonathan Willing. Jay Dunnahoo directs. There's more information at http://www.symphonyofthehills.org/

HOW DO YOU GET TO CARNEGIE
Tenor Donald Braswell II joins Tim Janis for the American Christmas Carol Tour next week. This tour features Tim’s music, choir and singer/songwriter Jim Cole. Next Thursday, December 2nd at Carnegie Hall, Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage with The Tim Janis Singers (200 voices) and the 94 piece Tim Janis Youth Symphony Orchestra and special guests Sarah Darling, Emily Bear, Eli Mattson, Jim Cole, Chandler and Ryan Lutz.
There's more at http://www.donaldbraswell.com/ and http://www.timjanis.com/news.htm

CCSA EXPANDS
The Children’s Chorus of San Antonio (CCSA) is moving uptown! Starting January 20, 2011, CCSA will launch a new training choir outside of Loop 1604 to reach families in Stone Oak and neighboring communities. This ensemble is the latest in a series of new programs designed to reach young artists across San Antonio with the same great experiences that are a hallmark of the organization. Singers will participate in weekly rehearsals that nurture their artistic and personal potential through a comprehensive curriculum of performance and instruction. They will also have the opportunity to develop the confidence, poise, maturity, self-esteem, and self-discipline necessary for success in music and success in life.
Following are the details on CCSA’s new Junior Chorus North (JCN) program:
· JCN is open to boys and girls currently in grades 3-5
· Rehearsals will be held on Thursdays from 4:30 – 6:10pm at Northern Hills UMC, 3703 North Loop 1604 East, starting January 20, 2011. JCN singers will participate in concerts on March 27 and May 1, 2011.
· JCN conductor is Amy Ballenger, CCSA alumna and choral director at Bradley Middle School in NEISD.
· Space in JCN is limited to the first 60 singers to complete registration; no auditions are necessary! Cost for JCN is $165 and includes all materials.
· Registration is available online at http://www.childrenschorussa.org/ or by calling 210.826.3447. Deadline for registration is January 1, 2011.

REVEL IN RAVEL & BEETHOVEN
The Claremont Trio's newest cd is Beethoven & Ravel. Host John Clare recently spoke to Julia and Emily from the Claremont Trio while in NYC.


NOT A MUSICAL TRAMP
When sound came rushing in, Charlie Chaplin remained steadfastly a silent comic, producing his two greatest films, City Lights (1931), and nearly a decade after the introduction of sound, Modern Times (1936). By the mid 1930s, Chaplin had over two decades of experience on screen honing his Little Tramp persona. Perhaps because it was my first experience with Chaplin, but Modern Times, although the Tramp’s last appearance on screen, is my favorite Chaplin film. As a romantic comedy, it works well, but as a satire on “modern” life, it works superbly, and still does to this day. And it is deliriously funny.
TPR's Nathan Cone explains Charlie Chaplin was not only a genius filmmaker, but a gifted composer with a new Blu-ray and DVD of "Modern Times." More at: http://www.tpr.org/articles/2010/11/cinema-keaton.html

Find out more about Classical Spotlight and hear the interviews online at: http://tpr.org/programs/classicalspotlight.html

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Giving Thanks Key

This Thanksgiving I want to give thanks for the people with whom I make MUSIC. There are many of them: INSPIRED composers that create, MUSICIANS that realize a composer's dream, people who 'ORCHESTRATE' the means by which we make the music, to the receivers of the music -- the AUDIENCE.

This circle is a GIFT. We share something so beautiful, fulfilling, so RECHARGING. We connect in shared desire to reach out, to COMMUNICATE the soul of the music that touches us so deeply.

The music and people with whom I play have made me WHO I AM today.

I love them all. I owe them all. Thank you for YOU -- all of you!

Stephanie Key
Artistic Director & Founder, SOLI
Assistant Principal Clarinetist, San Antonio Symphony

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Giving Thanks Oboe

If I have a “main” story about gratitude in meeting a musician, it is my longtime friend Warren Jones that I have to talk about.
I started graduate school at the San Francisco Conservatory in the fall of 1974. The graduate school class was small – 20 or so. Many of us had accomplished some good things as musicians, but one of us, Warren Jones, was rumored to be the most significant of us. I didn’t know him at all.
We took a class together that met in the evening. Around dinner time I was in a practice room, working on the Oboe Concerto by Richard Strauss. The door burst open.
“Do you have a piano score for that?”
It was Warren. He’s a good bit taller than me and in those days dressing in ways that I would have to call bold and colorful. I was intimidated to say the least.
“Yes I do,” I said.
“Well let me play it.”
So Warren sat down at the piano in the practice room and started to play the first movement with me. It suddenly made musical sense that it hadn’t made before. Suddenly there was time for all the things I needed to do, breathe, extra time to elongate or emphasize part of a phrase, and much more. Now I knew why Warren had the reputation that exceeded the rest of us by so much.

Now, 36 years later, I have been on the stage performing with Warren more times than I can count. We’ve been close friends ever since that day. Every time I work with Warren, I emerge from the collaboration a better musician.
If I can sum up, in a few words, why he is so wonderful, it is this: He is never in a hurry. There’s always more time in the music than one might think. Tiny adjustments to tempo, a few percent, I mean, are easy for him, in a way that they are not for most of us.
If you want to know more about Warren, look at his website, http://www.warrenjones.com/. If you want to hear him play, keep your eye on the Olmos Ensemble concerts. His performance for this season is passed, already, but he’ll be back next season.
The recording I’ve submitted to John Clare with this story is from the Olmos Ensemble’s concert on October 26th. It is the Three Romances, composed by Robert Schumann, for oboe and piano. Schumann wrote something beautiful when writing these and also something treacherously difficult, causing fatigue in an oboist that can really limit the expressive range of the pieces. Warren plays them in such a way as to make room for phrasing and breathing in such a way that the pieces are as easy to play as they could possibly be.
(click on the link below to hear their performance)

Romance 1
Romance 2
Romance 3

Happy listening, Happy Thanksgiving!
Mark Ackerman

Giving Thanks Double Bass

I’m thankful for having had the opportunity to study the double bass under John Schaeffer, retired Principal Bass of the New York Philharmonic. Schaeffer was a demanding teacher who taught me the most important lesson of all—you have to take the responsibility to teach yourself. Even though I don’t play the double bass anymore, he is still one of the biggest influences of my life.
Schaeffer was a great bassist, a real expert on orchestral playing and somewhat of a caricature of a gruff New York Philharmonic musician. Unless he was on stage, you almost never saw him without a big cigar in his mouth. He was opinionated about other musicians and he never minced words about any student’s playing. I once asked him about a legendary bassist of the previous generation who had died before I was born, but with whom Schaeffer had played with when he first got to the New York Philharmonic. His response was, “He was so bad he didn’t even know how to turn the page in the music!”
Schaeffer hated the bureaucracy of The Juilliard School. I’ll never forget registration one year. I finally got up to the head of long line (this is before the era of computerized registration) and met the Registrar. She said, “YOU! You’re one of those Schaeffer students!” I meekly replied, “Yes.” She then said I should tell my teacher to get down to the office and pick up his paychecks IMMEDIATELY. It seems Schaeffer refused to set foot in the administrative offices and the school refused to mail him his check. This stalemate had gone on for more than a year and was disrupting their accounting system!
Another one of his students loved to go to downtown jazz clubs. Schaeffer knew that this student had been out very late the previous night, so he called him at 8 a.m. the next morning. He asked, “Did I wake you up?” The student replied, (barely audibly) “Yes.” Schaeffer yelled, “GOOD, now get up and practice!”
Schaeffer only accepted three students at a time and he never got involved in school politics. He wasn’t the most famous or most popular teacher in New York at the time. But, he was an amazing teacher. Most of my lessons were at his house in Queens. I’d meet him backstage at Avery Fisher Hall after a Philharmonic rehearsal and we would drive out to his house. He had a huge mirror in this studio and we played facing the mirror. I was required to play everything by memory, so I could look into the mirror and analyze my technique. He also required me to solfège (singing with syllables do, re, me, etc.) every piece before I was allowed to play it on the bass. He didn’t want technique to influence the musical interpretation.
We spent an enormous amount of time on etudes and orchestral music. He wasn’t interested in flashy concertos. He said to me, “A bassist’s job is to fart in the right place.” He believed the orchestral repertoire was the most important music to learn. Most of my lessons lasted three hours and we went over and over and over a passage until he was satisfied. He’d ask me, “Is it in tune? Is the tone right? Was the rhythm perfect? What is the phrasing? Is it even? What about the articulation?” All this for a simple passage that most teachers wouldn’t even review in a lesson! We played these orchestral passages over and over again, until I could HEAR the most subtle differences. After a lesson, I’d take the subway back to Manhattan. I was often so exhausted by the intense experience that I’d fall asleep on the train.
Schaeffer had a fantastic collection of old Italian basses and French bows. He was very generous, loaning me instruments and bows for all my years at The Juilliard School. He said he did it because he hated to listen to student’s lousy instruments. But, we knew that wasn’t the real reason. He was trying to teach us very subtle differences in sound. When you regularly play a great 300-year old instrument, you learn to produce sound differently. He had six instruments in his house and another at Lincoln Center, so he could let us learn on a variety of great basses.
So, Happy Thanksgiving Mr. Schaeffer. And thank you for pushing me so hard all those many years ago.

Jack Fishman
Former double bassist and
Currently President & CEO
San Antonio Symphony

Monday, November 22, 2010

Giving Thanks for Role Models

Throughout a lifetime, we all encounter numerous teachers, some better than others. If we're lucky, we might even encounter a teacher whose lessons linger forever.

I believe most musicians have an inner  voice which we rely upon when the chips are down and we are trying to do something extraordinary. That voice, I believe, is often that of our truest teacher. The voice which always speaks to me at such times is that of Wayne Barrington, my French horn teacher during my years at UT Austin in the late 60s and early 70s. He is my role model and I give thanks each time I hold my horn in my hand for all he gave me . But it's much more than that. Mr. Barrington's lessons were foremost about playing the horn, but many times he also taught discipline, honor and integrity. For those life lessons I give thanks.

In June of this year, a number of Mr. Barrington's former students gathered to honor him for the myriad lessons he offered us over his long years as an educator and role model. I am thankful we had this opportunity to again say thank you to such an extraordinary man. Thank you, Maestro.

-Contributed by James Baker-

Giving Thanks: Dr. Timothy Kramer

I am thankful for the friendship and guidance of former Trinity University professor Timothy Kramer. Kramer, who is now the chair of the Music Department at Illinois College, was one of my favorite professors while I was a student at Trinity.


Although I was not a music major, nor did I even minor in music, I did hang about the department a fair amount. Two of the courses I took were Electronic Music and Music Composition, both taught by Dr. Kramer.

Electronic Music was fantastic because we students got to play with an incredible collection of musical toys, including synthesizers, voltage-controlled oscillators, wave generators, and many, many other noisemakers. And I’ll never forget the first day of Composition class, when Dr. Kramer knocked a music stand over on the floor and asked us “How do you like my piece?” He was illustrating the infinite possibilities that came with the modern definition of music. Creating a framework and rules from which we constructed our pieces was then part of the learning process for us all. Hearing my final project that semester, scored for oboe, piano, double bass, and percussion, performed live, is still one of the great musical joys of my life.

His enthusiasm for innovation and musical experimentation was infectious. Thank you Dr. Tim Kramer!

Nathan Cone, Director of Classical Programming, TU Class of 1995.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Giving Thanks 2010 Teachers

This Thanksgiving, we're sharing thankful classical thoughts. Kenneth Thompson, Executive Director of Musical Arts Centers of San Antonio, Inc. share his thanks:

I am thankful for the teachers who were my leaders and guides through the world of music. They are a part of me on a deep level and I see their influence in everything that I do. I am grateful that they shared their energy, time and wisdom. It was an honor to work with each of you! Thank you Nelita True, Jean Barr, Anna Haun, Anton Nel, Carolyn True, John Weems, Betty Nolting, Chris Wallace and Nancy Wilson!

What music or composers are you thankful for? Let us know in the comments!

About Kenneth: In June of 2000 Kenneth Thompson received the Texas Music Teachers Association’s ‘Pre-Collegiate Teacher of the Year Award’ for the state of Texas. TMTA is the largest association of private piano teachers in Texas and is affiliated with Music Teachers National Association. In November 2009 Mr. Thompson received the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ from Musical Bridges Around the World for his work in raising the level of piano teaching in San Antonio.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Boys will be boys


When you ponder other times and places, it is easy to imagine things being more serious and simple than in reality. When I think of the master classes Liszt gave in Weimar; earnest and serious would be my impression of the atmosphere so it was quite a shock to see photographs in the new CD release on Pierian of "Liszt Students play Liszt" where the students are horsing around.
Building a human pyramid and smoking their cheroots, these boys are not philosophers in angst, but students having the time of their lives. Luckily for us some 20 years later when the Welte Mignon recording piano came about Liszt's former students lined up to record the music of their beloved teacher.

On the piano this Sunday more from the Kenneth Caswell collection as "Liszt's students play Liszt". Hear them this Sunday afternoon at 5 on KPAC and KTXI.

host, Randy Anderson

Giving Thanks 2010

This Thanksgiving, we're sharing thankful classical thoughts. Host John Clare shares music and composers he is thankful for:
Composer Steve Stucky hails from Hutchinson, KS and grew up in Waco, TX. A violist and composer, Steve won the Pulitzer Prize in 2005.  We talked soon after, although he had been on my short list of composers for Composing Thoughts.  Later that year, he introduced me to a cellist who was performing in the area and was premiering a work of his.  Elinor and I connected and Steve let us broadcast the premiere! That summer I met up with Steve and Elinor in Itaca where Steve lived.
We became fast friends and have stayed in touch ever since. There were many more trips to Ithaca and we'd meet up in NYC or Dallas.  Currently Steve is chairman of the American Music Center and I was just elected to the board last May.
Steve still visits Texas and we we snapped this photo in Main Plaza downtown last November.  He'll be in Dallas again this week for his Rhapsodies and next May before the Carnegie Hall premiere of his August 4th, 1964.
Steve writes powerful and passionate music that I am grateful for and enjoy studying.
What music or composers are you thankful for? Let us know in the comments!

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Classical Spotlight: OLÉ!

Classical Spotlight roves from Round Top to Madrid, plus some Country Roads and Gold from one of today's leading composers!

SASym leaves on a jet plane
A Tribute to the Music of John Denver
November 19 & 20, 2010 8:00 p.m.
San Antonio Symphony
Trinity University's Laurie Auditorium
Michael Krajewski, conductor Jim Curry, singer

Benefit for a great cause
SA Mastersingers Concert for Alzheimers
Friday & Saturday November, 19 & 20, 2010 8 PM
John Silantien conducting Robert Cohen’s Alzeimer’s Stories
First Baptist Church, San Antonio (11/19)
First Presbyterian Church,Kerrville, TX (11/20)

200 & 100 Years celebration
Mexico 2010 November 20, 2010
Youth Orchestras San Antonio & Juventud Sinfonica de Monterrey
Municipal Auditorium 7 p.m.
Tickets required - to get your free ticket, call the YOSA office at 210.737.0097. 
San Antonio's Office of Cultural Affairs presents a festive celebration for the bicentennial of Mexico's Independence movement and the centennial of its Revolution in a concert shared with the Juventud Sinfonica de Monterrey.

OLÉ!
Walden Chamber Players, joined by the Trinity Chamber Singers and soloist, Dr. Linda McNeil
Sunday, Nov. 21, at 3 p.m. Ruth Taylor Recital Hall
The program, subtitled "Boccherini in Madrid," will feature 18th-century repertoiryincluding several Boccherini quintets, the Turina Oracion del Torero, and vocal works. Enhancing the cultural scope of the afternoon, students from Trinity's Madrid Summer Program and the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures will offer commentary on Spanish architecture, history, poetry, and daily life between the musical selections.

Schütz happens
Sunday November 21, 2010 at 4:00 pm
The Houston Chamber Choir, The Whole Noyse and Houston musicians perform works by Heinrich Schütz, the Master of Baroque Dresden. The founder of the Academy for Early Music in Bremen (Germany), Dr. Manfred Cordes, will conduct. In 1991 he was awarded his doctorate for his thesis on the relationship between tonality and emotion in the music of the Renaissance. In 1994 Dr. Cordes was appointed Professor of Early Music at the University of the Arts in Bremen, where served as Dean from 1996 to 2005 and was named Rector in 2007.
Reservations on line or call 979-249-3129

Light & Gold
Eric Whitacre has dazzled the composition scene for some time, but makes his conducting debut with a new Decca recording, Light & Gold.  The grammy nominated composer spoke to host John Clare about the new work, and about his project, The Virtual Choir.

New Release: Claremont Trio

Host John Clare recently spoke to Julia and Emily from the Claremont Trio while in NYC.



The Claremont Trio's newest cd is Beethoven & Ravel.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Sing Sing Sing

The Mid-Texas Symphony Chorus, a volunteer mixed voice adult choir, will perform the Christmas portions of Handel’s Messiah with the Mid-Texas Symphony on December 12, 2010. The Chorus is professionally directed by Aaron Hufty, artistic director of the San Antonio Choral Society. Community members with an interest in singing and who can attend the rehearsals are invited to participate.
Auditions are not required, although prior experience singing is desirable. To make the most of the limited rehearsal time, the music is available prior to the first rehearsal at Edward Jones, 116 S. Moss in Seguin and at Star Awards, 1500 IH 35 West, New Braunfels. A $10 refundable deposit for the music is required. In order to ensure that sufficient copies of the music are available, persons interested in singing are asked to contact the Adrienne Stone, Chorus Master at (830) 303-4813 or (210) 275-4682 or astone3@satx.rr.com or the Mid-Texas Symphony Office, Pat Schofield, Executive Director at 830-372-8089, 830-629-0336 or mts@tlu.edu.
REHEARSAL SCHEDULE
NOVEMBER 2010
Sunday 14th 2 – 4:30 p.m. Wupperman Theater, Scheuch Fine Arts Center, Texas
Lutheran University
Sunday 21st 2 – 4:30 p.m. Wupperman Theater
DECEMBER 2010
Saturday 4th 2 – 4:30 p.m. Wupperman Theater
Saturday 11th 1 - 4:00 p.m. Jackson Auditorium with orchestra
DRESS REHEARSAL:
Sunday 12th 1 - 3:00 p.m. Jackson Auditorium
CONCERT:
Sunday 12th 4 p.m. Jackson Auditorium

Music Saves Metropolis!

In 2008, a 16mm print of a nearly-complete version of the silent film Metropolis was found in the archives of the Museo del Cine in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  Using the best available 35mm prints, and that badly damaged 16mm print, a new digital master was created, and The Complete Metropolis premiered in Berlin in early 2010. Following the film’s American premiere at the Turner Classic Movies film festival in April, 2010, the film toured the country, and is now available on DVD and Blu-ray.

How did the restoration team piece together the complete film?  As it turns out, music is what may have saved the movie for future generations.

The Complete Metropolis is accompanied by its original Gottfried Huppertz score, newly recorded for this restoration. Huppertz’ music looks back toward the 19th century harmonically, but matches the modern story well. As it turns out, no shooting script for Metropolis exists. No records detail the cuts made to the film since 1927. But one thing that did survive was Huppertz’s written score. By following the notes in that annotated score, and carefully matching it to 16mm print discovered in Buenos Aires in 2008 that prompted this latest restoration, archivists were able to assemble the most complete version of Metropolis the world has seen since 1927. Even if it were not such a thrilling historical find, this production would still be, as Roger Ebert called it, “the film event of 2010.”

--Nathan Cone

Friday, November 12, 2010

Rarest Recording Ever?


What would be the most rare sound recording? Thomas Edison's trial effort back when he invented the cylinder recorder by reciting "Mary had a little Lamb"? What about the oldest surviving cylinder of the "The Lost Chord", music of Arthur Sullivan from 1888 or Johannes Brahms' greeting to Edison recorded a few years later? The most mythic of these first documents is the alleged recordings of Franz Liszt playing the piano. Such a cylinder would hold 2 minutes of scratchy, wobbling sound that would give us no real idea have how the greatest pianist of the 19th century did his work.

There is a new CD set out of Austin put together by Ken Caswell on the Pierian label that gets us the closest to having a time machine to visit Liszt in the 1880's. Ken has a Welte Mignon Player Piano and this plays the most accurately recorded rolls from the first third of the 20th century. On "Liszt's Students play Liszt" there are several performances that have the sub-title "as I remembered Liszt playing". To hear these is to get us as close as we can get to experience of hearing the  great Liszt play.

Tune in to the Piano this Sunday afternoon at 5 on KPAC & KTXI.

host, Randy Anderson

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Classical Spotlight: Busiest weekend so far!

Latin Grammys
The 11th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards will air live on the Univision Network on Nov. 11 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central. Additionally, the telecast will be seen globally in approximately 100 countries.
John Clare spoke with Board Member and conductor Alondra de la Parra about honoring Placido Domingo. Also, Camerata San Antonio is up for two Latin Grammys. Ken Freudigman will be in Las Vegas with the other two producers and talked with John about the awards.

Colors Of Mexico
The San Antonio Symhony performs Friday and Saturday. November 12 & 13, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. in the Majestic Theatre with Carlos Miguel Prieto, conductor and Elena Urioste, violin. The program includes Chavez, Reveultas, Glazunov and Barber. Prieto reached John Clare by phone and talked about the program.

Musical Offerings
Blurring the Lines: Impressionist Music with Musical Offerings at the McNay Art Museum on Sunday, November 14, in the Leeper Auditorium at 2:00 PM in conjunction with Landscapes from the Age of Impressionism.
To get more info, call 210.805.1768. Joan Christenson talked to John Clare about the quartet program.

Copperleaf Quintet at SAMA
Coming up this Sunday, November 14, 2010 it’s a program of vocal music. 1:00 p.m. Meet the Artists Reception, Café des Artistes; then at 2:30 p.m. Gallery Concert, Spanish Colonial Art Gallery.
For more information contact them at 210-912-9555. Ruth Moreland shared insights with John Clare in the TPR studios.

Chamber Music Society features amazing quintet
The Imani Winds
: Valerie Coleman, Flute; Toyin Spellman-Diaz, Oboe; Mariam Adam, Clarinet; Jeff Scott, French Horn; and Monica Ellis, Bassoon play a concert at 3:15pm Sunday afternoon at Temple Beth El (211 Belknap Place). More than North America's premier wind quintet, Imani Winds has established itself as one of the most successful chamber music ensembles in the United States. Since 1997, the Grammy nominated quintet has taken a unique path, carving out a distinct presence in the classical music world with its dynamic playing, culturally poignant programming, genre-blurring collaborations, and inspirational outreach programs. With two member composers and a deep commitment to commissioning new work, the group is enriching the traditional wind quintet repertoire while meaningfully bridging European, American, African and Latin American traditions.
They’ll play Mendelssohn, Coleman and Klezmer music. One of the most exciting groups playing in San Antonio this year! http://www.imaniwinds.com/artist.php?view=cal&cid=5964

Symphony of the Hills & Flash Cadillac
On stage at the Cailloux Theater in Kerrville, TX, 7:30 PM November 14, 2010!
Flash Cadillac, a group of six energetic and versatile musicians who started playing together in 1969, is well known for their performance in 1973 for the popular film American Graffiti and for 1978 film Apocoypse Now.
Flash will be performing a wild and wonderful evening of their popular renditions of our favorite '50's and '60's music with the Symphony of the Hills . . . the kind of music with a wide audience appeal.
Tickets available at the Cailloux Theater box office or by callng (830) 896-9393. Wayne Knight spoke with John Clare on the phone from his home in Colorado.

Tuesday Music Club
Spencer Myer, piano plays Tuesday November 16, 2010 at 2:00 and 7:30 pm in Laurel Heights United Methodist Church
He spoke to John Clare about the program he’ll perform twice! Master class takes place Wednesday morning at UTSA.

Monday, November 8, 2010

DT Awards

Congrats to all!
ASCAP (the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) has announced the winners of the 42nd Annual ASCAP Deems Taylor Awards for outstanding print, broadcast and new media coverage of music. The winners will be honored at a special invitation-only ceremony and reception on Thursday, December 9, 2010 at the ASCAP Gallery, One Lincoln Plaza (1900 Broadway between 63rd and 64th Street), 6th Floor, New York, New York. Over the years, tens of thousands of dollars have been distributed in cash prizes to winning authors, journalists and broadcast producers and personalities.

The Awards were established in 1967 to honor the memory of composer/critic/commentator Deems Taylor, who died in 1966 after a distinguished career that included six years as President of ASCAP. The 42nd Annual ASCAP Deems Taylor Awards are made possible by a generous grant from the Music Publishers Association (MPA). Founded in 1865, the Music Publishers Association is the oldest non-profit music trade organization in the United States.

The ASCAP Deems Taylor Radio Broadcast Award honors two WQXR Radio/Q2 programs: Q2 with Terrance McKnight and Nadia Sirota on Q2.

The ASCAP Deems Taylor Multimedia Award honors three inter-related undertakings: a book, The Jazz Loft Project: Photographs and Tapes of W. Eugene Smith from 821 Sixth Avenue, 1957-1965, written by Sam Stephenson, published by Alfred A. Knopf; a radio program, The Jazz Loft Project Radio Series: produced at WNYC Radio (in association with the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University) by Sara Fishko with Dean Cappello, Julie Burstein and Edward Haber; and a website, www.jazzloftproject.org, produced at the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University by Sam Stephenson, Lauren Hart and Dan Partridge.

The ASCAP Deems Taylor Television Broadcast Award honors Michael Feinstein’s American Songbook, with Michael Feinstein and produced and directed by Amber Edwards, Hudson West Productions.

The Nicolas Slonimsky Award for Outstanding Musical Biography in the concert music field honors Mary Lamb Crawford for her book, Windfall of Musicians: Hitler's Émigrés and Exiles in Southern California, published by Yale University Press. This award was established to honor the memory of Slonimsky (1894 – 1995), the Russian-American composer, conductor, musicologist and critic. Slonimsky was the writer of Baker’s Dictionary of Music and Musicians, Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns, The Lexicon of Musical Invective and Perfect Pitch: An Autobiography.

The authors and publishers of the eight books to be honored at the ceremony are:
Glenda Dawn Goss for Sibelius: A Composer’s Life and the Awakening of Finland, published by The University of Chicago Press.
Jann Pasler for Composing the Citizen: Music as Public Utility in Third Republic France, published by University of California Press.
Peter J. Schmelz for Such Freedom If Only Musical: Unofficial Soviet Music During the Thaw, published by Oxford University Press.
Dorothy Lamb Crawford for A Windfall of Musicians: Hitler’s Émigrés and Exiles in Southern California, published by Yale University Press.
Jocelyn R. Neal for Songs of Jimmie Rodgers: A Legacy in Country Music, published by Indiana University Press.
David Hajdu for Heroes and Villains: Essays on Music, Movies, Comics, and Culture, published by Da Capo Press.
David Lehman for A Fine Romance: Jewish Songwriters, American Songs, published by Nextbook/Schocken.
Robin D.G. Kelley for Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original, published by Free Press.

The eight writers and editors of journal, magazine and newspaper articles, and liner notes and their respective publishers to be honored are:
J. Peter Burkholder for his article, Music of the Americas and Historical Narratives, from American Music, published by University of Illinois Press.
Richard E. Rodda for his program note for Elgar, The Dream of Geronitius, published in the program book of the Grant Park Music Festival.
Russell Platt for his articles, The Lady Killer, published by Opera News, and New-Time Religion, published by The New Yorker.
Joseph Dalton for his article, On Record-An Overview of the State of the Contemporary Music Recording, published by New Music Box.
Ann Powers for her articles, The Cultural Critic: Lady Gaga, It’s Time for Idol to Open the Closet Door, and My Night with Prince, published by The Los Angeles Times.
Ashley Kahn for his liner notes to Shaft by Isaac Hayes (Deluxe Edition), issued by Concord Music Group.
Sylvie Simmons for her liner notes to Leonard Cohen Live at the Isle of Wight 1970, issued by Columbia/Legacy Records.
Gene Santoro for his article, W. Eugene Smith and the Jazz Loft, published by Chamber Music Magazine.

The members of the ASCAP Deems Taylor Awards Judging Panel for 2010 are Paul Moravec, Curtis Hughes, Eleonor Sandresky, Richard Miller, Julie Flanders, David Massengill, Matthew Shipp, Pat Irwin, and Wesley Stace.

About ASCAP
Established in 1914, ASCAP is the first and leading U.S. Performing Rights Organization (PRO) representing the world's largest repertory totaling over 8.5 million copyrighted musical works of every style and genre from more than 390,000 songwriter, composer and music publisher members. ASCAP has representation arrangements with similar foreign organizations so that the ASCAP repertory is represented in nearly every country around the world where copyright law exists. ASCAP protects the rights of its members and foreign affiliates by licensing the public performances of their copyrighted works and distributing royalties based upon surveyed performances. ASCAP is the only American PRO owned and governed by its writer and publisher members.

New chance for kids to sing!

The Children’s Chorus of San Antonio (CCSA) is moving uptown! Starting January 20, 2011, CCSA will launch a new training choir outside of Loop 1604 to reach families in Stone Oak and neighboring communities. This ensemble is the latest in a series of new programs designed to reach young artists across San Antonio with the same great experiences that are a hallmark of the organization. Singers will participate in weekly rehearsals that nurture their artistic and personal potential through a comprehensive curriculum of performance and instruction. They will also have the opportunity to develop the confidence, poise, maturity, self-esteem, and self-discipline necessary for success in music and success in life.

Following are the details on CCSA’s new Junior Chorus North (JCN) program:
· JCN is open to boys and girls currently in grades 3-5
· Rehearsals will be held on Thursdays from 4:30 – 6:10pm at Northern Hills UMC, 3703 North Loop 1604 East, starting January 20, 2011. JCN singers will participate in concerts on March 27 and May 1, 2011.
· JCN conductor is Amy Ballenger, CCSA alumna and choral director at Bradley Middle School in NEISD.
· Space in JCN is limited to the first 60 singers to complete registration; no auditions are necessary! Cost for JCN is $165 and includes all materials.
· Registration is available online at http://www.childrenschorussa.org/ or by calling 210.826.3447. Deadline for registration is January 1, 2011.

About The Children’s Chorus of San Antonio
The CCSA was founded in 1983 with the mission to bring choral music education and performance opportunities to San Antonio’s young artists. Programs include five performing ensembles for children and youth ages 7 – 18, Music Together® with CCSA, an early-childhood music and movement program for infants and toddlers ages birth – 5, Big Kids® for youngsters ages 5 – 7, and Project: Sing!, neighborhood-based satellite ensembles for elementary-aged children in Harlandale, San Antonio and Edgewood school districts. CCSA Singers represent San Antonio and surrounding communities, performing in a variety of concerts throughout the city. CCSA's advanced choirs have traveled nationwide with feature performances, toured Europe and Canada and have been featured on NBC-TV's Today Show. Its ensembles regularly perform with the San Antonio Symphony, San Antonio Mastersingers and the Youth Orchestras of San Antonio among others.
The CCSA is now in its 28th season and continues to provide exceptional experiences in choral music education and performance to over 300 children and youth annually. The Chamber Choir and Youth Chorale opened the 2010 – 2011 season on October 2, 2010 at the Majestic Theater as guest artists with the San Antonio Symphony for the debut of new Music Director Sebastian Lang-Lessing. Other season highlights include a second appearance with San Antonio Symphony for the Holiday Pops Series on December 17 and 18. CCSA advanced singers recently toured Washington, DC in June, 2010 with the Children’s Chorus of Greater Dallas.
For additional information on CCSA, its auditions or programs, please call 210.826.3447 or visit http://www.childrenschorussa.org/.

Friday, November 5, 2010

1812 Overture - November 5th



From V for Vendetta, the 1812 Overture on this Guy Fawkes Day. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8fI-dGWT74&feature=related)

As long as Hearts Remember

Tempest fugit is an old admonition that time is fleeting and therefore life is short. These thoughts have worked there way into art of all types through the centuries. One of the sweetest and subtle reminders to not waste your life is the French musical tradition of Le Tombeau, meaning literally by the grave or in this case, Tomb-side. Here musicians would remember each other by quoting the music of the one passed on or in some cases making the music resemble the person's characteristics, like nervousness or enthusiasm.


On the Piano this Sunday music that recalls individuals and their music to even tragic national events. Joining in will be a flute and orchestra as music recalls those no longer with us. Hear Le Tombeau this Sunday Afternoon at 5 on KPAC & KTXI.

host, Randy Anderson

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Classical Spotlight: Double up!

This weekend, lots of chances to hear world class musicians and music in and around San Antonio!
Back to the 1930s
The San Antonio Symphony serves up Gershwin, Ravel and Stravinsky this weekend at the Majestic.  Tito Munoz conducts An American in Paris plus Stravinsky's Symphony in C.  Pianist Ryo Yanagitani plays Ravel's Concerto for the Left Hand plus Rhapsody in Blue.  More at http://www.sasymphony.org/.







Angels and Demons
Violinist Jessica Mathaes serves up a recital with a new work, The Seven Deadly Sins by Paul Reale.  There's also Tartini's Devil's Trill Sonata and the angelic Saint-Saens First Sonata in d minor.  Check it out Friday and Saturday night in Austin.  More at http://www.jessicamathaes.com/.








Double up with Laredo & Robinson
YOSA (Youth Orchestras of San Antonio) Philharmonic sizzles with a concerto for Jamie Laredo and Sharon Robinson by David LudwigTroy Peters also conducts Revueltas' Sensemaya and Beethoven's Seventh Symphony.  Don't miss it Sunday afternoon at 4pm at the Majestic Theater.  Find out more at http://www.yosa.org/.






Take Manhattan
Coker United Methodist Church music series continues with the Manhattan Piano Trio this weekend.  They play music by Haydn, Schumann, Ravel and Brahms.  More information here.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Eleventy-two

Deutsche Grammophon ends its year-long 111th birthday celebrations with a new selection of releases to celebrate the Yellow Label’s long and illustrious past as well as the vibrant and healthy present and future. Though DG will turn 112 years-old on December 6, 2010, the popularity of last year’s celebration (the 55-CD set sold-out in mere weeks) has prompted the new box sets. This new, 2nd edition features more artists than before and stretches back even further in time to 1911 and then right up to the newest albums today. The entire selection, including all sets from 2009, will be available on November 9, 2010.
Though anniversaries and birthdays have occasionally been celebrated too often, the history of Deutsche Grammophon and the landmark recordings the label has produced warrant not only celebration but also intense scrutiny. The more one searches and listens the more one finds. Deutsche Grammophon is Universal’s oldest active label and for over 111 years has been a market leader and innovator with a roster of the world’s greatest musicians. With the purpose of recording great artists performing great music, DG records Bach, Beethoven, Brahms and Mozart as well as Boulez, Gubaidulina, Nono and Stockhausen.
It has not only been with artists and repertoire that DG has excelled but also in the technical demands of recording. DG pressed the first test-CD ever produced (Strauss’ Eine Alpensinfonie with the Berlin Philharmonic led by Karajan) and has continued with such projects as the development of the DG Web Shop and by offering the first full-length classical music video for sale via iTunes. Since Emil Berliner began pressing gramophone records in 1888 Deutsche Grammophon has never stopped pursuing perfection in both performance and production.
Deutsche Grammophon has compiled two new sets: The Collector’s Edition 2 and 111 More Classic Tracks. The 56-CD Collector’s Edition 2 compliments the 55-CD set from 2009 and combined the two have a total of, fittingly enough, 111 CDs. The 6-CD set of 111 More Classic Tracks is a counterpart to 2009’s edition and includes completely different tracks and extends back in time to 1911 (Chaliapin with R. Strauss on the piano) thus presenting a span of 100 years in just one set.
The list of artists represented in the sets is a roll call for the great musicians of the 20th and 21st centuries. Highlights include Argerich performing Prokofiev and Ravel Concertos; Kathleen Battle and Itzakh Perlman in Bach duets; Victor de Sabata conducting Brahms and Strauss; Emil Giles playing Brahms’ First Piano Concerto; Dawn Upshaw in Osvaldo Golijov’s Ayre; Herbert von Karajan leading Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem; Gidon Kremer performing Philip Glass’ Violin Concerto; James Levine conducting a program of Gershwin; Evgeny Mravinsky leading the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra in Tchaikovsky’s Sixth Symphony; David Munrow in Music of the Gothic Era; Maurizio Pollini in his DG debut recital; Gil Shaham and Gran Söllscher have fun with Paganini for Two; Bryn Terfel sings opera arias; and Krystian Zimerman gives a Chopin recital. These are just a few of the many unforgettable performances featured as DG ends its 111th year and proudly embarks on year 112.
Deutsche Grammophon ends its year-long 111th birthday celebrations with a new selection of releases to celebrate the Yellow Label’s long and illustrious past as well as the vibrant and healthy present and future. Though DG will turn 112 years-old on December 6, 2010, the popularity of last year’s celebration (the 55-CD set sold-out in mere weeks) has prompted the new box sets. This new, 2nd edition features more artists than before and stretches back even further in time to 1911 and then right up to the newest albums today. The entire selection, including all sets from 2009, will be available on November 9, 2010.
Visit http://www.DG-111.com/ for more complete information and interactive features!