Classical Spotlight: Horn in Library

We normally have a french horn in the Music Library at KPAC, our very own James Baker is an accomplished player and practices here and there in the TPR studios. This week though, host John Clare had FOUR horns performing in the library, previewing their upcoming recital at Trinity University.
"I am soloing with the San Antonio Symphony this season, playing a Mozart Concerto, and I wanted to play it ahead of time in a safe environment." Jeff Garza, principal horn of the San Antonio Symphony. "So I booked the hall at Trinity since I also teach there, but I didn't want it to be just another horn and piano recital - I've been, slept through enough of those! Plus, I really wanted to play with my colleagues at the symphony. So the first half of the concert is solo horn: I play Mozart, Katie plays some Amram, and we all play on the second half."
The concert is Sunday afternoon at Trinity University (see their humorous poster pictured left!) and you can hear a preview and more of Jeff Garza's interview on Classical Spotlight, Thursday afternoon at 1pm (central) on KPAC & KTXI.


There's also an exclusive video on our Facebook page of the quartet announcing their nicknames!

New Release from Genghis Barbie

The new cd by Genghis Barbie is a real delight!

Seeing a release of four French Horns, one might expect Robert Schumann's Concert Piece for Four Horns, or an arrangement of themes from Wagner's Ring of the Nibelungen.  You might not also guess that a group considers their arrangements right up there with their fashion sense - but this is Genghis Barbie, the "leading post post feminist feminist all female horn experience"!

This 10 track eponymous release goes from A-ha to Sisqo and includes fun outtakes, some humorous and some not so good.  The music making is a complete home run.

Especially gorgeous is a cover of Sam Phillips' Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us (made popular by Allison Kraus and Robert Plant). Their signature Thong Song by Sisqo is included as well as a charming arrangement of Toto's Africa - that is unfortunately followed by a live outtake of the Ride of the Valkyries. I actually love the Wagner but the sound is rotten, and the playing is not as stellar as the rest of the release. The spoken introduction for the Sisqo is hilarious, and certainly the charm of the Barbies lies not only in their playing but in their humor.

On the other hand, the comic who follows 57821 by Janelle Monáe is seemingly out of place before Lady Gaga's Bad Romance, unless you figure he is just plain Bad.

Overall, Genghis Barbie's debut cd is a real success and one can only expect more great things from this modern French Horn quartet! (I predict they'll be on Ellen soon.)
The Barbie's debut cd will be available here as well as iTunes.
- John Clare, TPR Announcer/Host of Classical Spotlight

Happy Horn New Year

Here's to a bright new shiny year, 2011! Enjoy the latest from Genghis Barbie, a modern horn quartet:

They also have a new website, http://genghisbarbie.com/
and will be live on radio January 12th here: http://sevenseconddelay.blogspot.com/ on WFMU 91.1FM, Jersey City, NJ & 90.1FM, Mount Hope, NY.

Ho Ho Horn!

Happy holidays from an amazing horn quartet, Genghis Barbie:

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-

They play Lady Gaga too

Horn quartets are fairly rare these days, so imagine the surprise of seeing something in the NY Times about a new horn quartet...and one that not only plays new music but pop music as well!

KPAC's John Clare actually met one of the members this summer at a music festival, small world!