18 April 2011

Probably a true story

Planning to write a piece for alto flute solo, to be called « Picasso's Piccolo ».

Someone in the audience will object: "That doesn't look like a piccolo!"
I'll reply, "Have you seen his women?"

12 April 2011

Mélange

A couple of early ideas for the soundtrack I've discarded — too elaborate for the purpose to hand. Subconsciously I may be « going elsewhere » than pieces of spare texture I've written not long since. But in fact what we want in this case is, spare, moody.

Trio is still brewing.

Dates are now set for two upcoming King's Chapel recitals.

07 April 2011

Chihuly at the MFA




06 April 2011

Stealth Shuffle

1. Stravinsky: Lacrimosa from the Requiem Canticles (Ollie Knussen conducting) [871/1507]
2. Shostakovich: String Quartet № 5 in Bb Major, Opus 92 — i. Allegro non troppo (Emerson Quartet) [1137/1507]
3. Sibelius: Presto — poco a poco rallentando from Symphony № 7 in C, Opus 105 (Helsinki Phil, Berglund) [1014/1507] 4.
Robt Fripp & Andy Summers: “New Marimba” from I Advance Masked [748/1507]
5. Berlioz: L’enfance du Christ, Opus 25 — Part I, Scene v, “O mon cher fils” (Chas Munch conducting the BSO &al.) [439/1507]
6. Hindemith: Ludus tonalis — № 9, Interlude V (Jn McCabe) [667/1507]
7. Genesis: “Man of Our Times” from Duke [686/1507]
8. Nielsen: Allegro ma non troppo from Part I of Symphony № 5 (LSO, Schmidt) [1160/1507]
9. Monteverdi: Vespro della Beata Vergine — XIII. Magnificat — 8. Esurientes (Boston Baroque, Pearlman) [1480/1507]
10. Stravinsky: Agnus Dei from the Mass (Westminster Cathedral Choir, City of London Sinfonia, James O’Donnell) [692/1172]
11. Prokofiev, Cinderella, Opus 87, Act III, № 44 Third Galop (Cleveland Orchestra, Ashkenazy) [25/1172]
12. Monteverdi: Vespro della Beata Vergine — IIIa. Antiphon (Boston Baroque, Pearlman) [530/1507]
13. Prokofiev: Toccata, Opus 11 (Eteri Andjaparidze) [1325/1507]
14. Frank Zappa & The Mothers: “God Bless America” from Uncle Meat [379/1507]
15. Peter Gabriel: “We Do What We’re Told (Milgram’s 37)” from So [1440/1507]
16. The Beatles: “Wild Honey Pie” from The Beatles [1452/1507]
17. Mannheim Steamroller: “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” [381/1507]
18. The Beatles: “Revolution 1” from The Beatles [878/1507]
19. Ginastera: Variaciones concertantes, Opus 23 — Variazione in modo di Scherzo (Orquesta Ciudad de Granada, Josep Pons) [1366/1507]
20. Nielsen: Aladdin Suite — iv. Chinese Dance (SFSO, Blomstedt) [146/1507]

Two segues in particular were tasty there: from the Monteverdi 1610 Vespers to the Stravinsky Mass; and from the percussion ‘wind-down’ of The Mothers’ “God Bless America” to the quiet-ish percussion opening the Peter Gabriel track.

Après-pint

Joe has finished his Psalter! Bravo! 150 Anglican chants, quite an impressive achievement.

And he is thinking of a set of short flute-clarinet duos. First one may be ready for the May recital.

Gosh, I had better tell Peter . . . .

05 April 2011

Around the room

Lee is nearly done with a chapter.

Johan is closing in on finishing a book.

I wonder what Joe has been up to? Will find out shortly.

Kurt is going to send me an old 'book' of poems I assembled, decades ago.

(I almost dread that.)

Barry has found a new job, and is cooking up some new organ music. Also thinking about finishing that opera.

Paul has just uploaded a new video.