I was listening to internet radio in the office this afternoon, and periodically would check the playlist if I heard something interesting — Palestrina’s Tu es Petrus was quite nice. But then they played some Lauridsen, who is identifiable within half a bar. I suppose it’s good to have your own compositional voice, but does it have to be such a repetitive one? I could have sworn I sang this one, but no, it’s a Agnus Dei. Oh well.
Tag Archives: music
musical epigraphs
In my ongoing quest to learn more about LaTeX than I really wanted to know, I have figured out how to use lilypond together with a redefined \chapter command. Of course, it’s all worth it because I can do this:
In other news, I’ll finish writing about ITA when I get more than 20 minutes of contiguous time.
Choral Internet Radio?
Since I’ve all but abandoned choral singing this year in favor of writing my thesis (and boy does it bum me out), I’m at least trying to get more new old music in my ears. I tend to forget the iPod at home so I’ve turned to internet radio. For a while I was listening to KALX, but it’s not conducive to writing. For a while I was hooked on SomaFM, but no station there is quite what I want to listen to, ever. Then I turned to KKJZ in Long Beach for my jazz fix. I highly recommend it. Anuraag seems to be good for Indian classical music, but there must be other ones out there.
Now I’m itching for some good old vocal polyphony. Chant will do in a pinch. I came across this Choral Treasure station which is ok, but are there alternatives. Perhaps this is something Choralista should be able to tell me about, hmmmm?
[UPDATE: I can’t complain about any radio station that plays the whole Missa Papae Marcelli, so I hope I don’t sound like I’m dissatisfied with Choral Treasure…]
In Rainbows
My verdict : pretty good. A bit more lyrical, especially song like “Faust Arp.” That and “15 Step” are my favorites after the first listen through. It may verge on self-indulgent, but most pop music is that way.
In case you didn’t know, this is Radiohead’s new album, available as a download for pay-what-you-want (no, really).
some new-ish listening
Volta (Björk) — A strong and very different followup to Medulla. The songs on Volta trail off into strange minimal landscapes, as if you’re walking down a beach with pavilions set up for each song. I particularly liked “The Dull Flame of Desire” and “Innocence.”
Bonfires of Sao João (Forro in the Dark) — With guest vocals by David Byrne, Bebel Gilberto, and Miho Hatori, this album bounces along. I like almost all of the songs on here, and look forward to incorporating them into my new mix CDs…
Neon Bible (Arcade Fire) — It doesn’t have the manifesto-like feel of Funeral, but there are some songs on here that really got under my skin, like “Keep The Car Running.” I think it might start growing it on me.
Techarí (Ojos de Brujo) — I heard them described to me as the New Flamenco. They mix it up with Bhangra beats (“Todo Tiende”) and are the kind of music that makes me feel hipper than I am.
Rendezvous at the Nightery (Brandi Shearer & The Robin Nolan Trio) — This album is a mix of gypsy jazz, old country standards, and originals. I particularly liked “Coquette,” “Glory of Love,” and of course “Belleville Rendezvous.”
† (Justice) — This album seems to be making a splash on KALX, but my friend J. told me about it when I was in Paris (I still have to write about it or post a photo or something, argh). Mostly Daft Punk-ish, the album also has the disco pop tune “D.A.N.C.E.,” which too addictive for its own good.
Cansei De Ser Sexy (Cansei De Ser Sexy) — Electro, then clash, then electroclash, then clashelectro. Often hilarious, in yer face, and good for driving or bouncing. “Alala” and “Let’s Make Love And Listen To Death From Above” are the popular tracks, I bet, but most tracks have something to offer up.
LCD Soundsystem (Sound of Silver) — They are North Americans, yes they are. Good beats, but overall the album just kind of went in one ear and out the other. There are some good tracks on here for grooving though.
Jerry Hadley has died
Tenor Jerry Hadley has died a week after an apparent suicide attempt. I saw him twice that I remember — once in recital, which was very inspiring, and once in Harbison’s The Great Gatsby at the Met, where he was good but a bit impenetrable. It’s a great loss — he was one of the great American tenors of the last few decades.
Choralis Review in SFCV
The Choralis concert I mentioned earlier got a great review in SFCV!
Choralis’ balances, musicality of phrasing, and dulcet timbers were first-rate under the experienced Richard Sparks. Sparks is an American who has made a distinguished career, largely in Canada, Seattle, and Sweden. Both in terms of programming and directing, I found his contribution most impressive. It all amounted to a memorable concert experience.
My reaudition is on Tuesday, so we’ll see how it goes. The next concert will be the Victoria and Howells Requiems. Requia? Requii?
Choralis Debut Concert
This is the last concert I have lined up for a little while, and it’s with an outstanding group of singers. Of course, most people who read this blog and could go have already been spammed by me, but linking helps with choralissf.org’s page rank, right?
From Renaissance to Romantic to Recent
Saturday, June 2, 2007 -8pm
Trinity Episcopal Church
1668 Bush St, San Francisco
Choralis, the Bay Area’s newest vocal ensemble, will make its debut in San Francisco performing a selection of a capella choral works for chamber choir. Conductor Richard Sparks will lead the ensemble through both beloved and commanding works of Tallis, Lotti, Kuhnau, Rheinberger, Thompson, Lauridsen, Mäntyjärvi, and others.
Admission: suggested $10 donation
To learn more or to reserve seating, visit the Choralis website or e-mail choralissf@gmail.com.
Rebekah Wu, Manager – 415-439-4498
Farewell, SF Symphony Chorus
Sunday was my last SF Symphony Chorus concert. We performed Beethoven’s 9th Racket with the SF Youth Orchestra under the baton of Benjamin Shwartz, who is also 27 years old. Food for thought, that.
Oh, and those kids can play.
A first rehearsal with Adams and Sellars
On Monday the SF Symphony Chorus had their first rehearsal with John Adams and Peter Sellars for A Flowering Tree. The opera, which received its premiere at the New Crowned Hope festival, is adapted from a Kannda folktale. The libretto is an amalgamation of the folktale text, Tamil love poems, and Virasaiva religious poems. Our rehearsals to this point have been somewhat routine — learning the notes, getting a handle on the tricky rhythms and meter changes, and using little tricks to help ourselves be heard over the orchestra.
Monday’s rehearsals catapulted us into the world of characterization and theater. Our performance will be “semi-staged,” from what I understand, and I saw bits of scenery backstage before the rehearsal. Turning a massive chorus into a dramatic agent is no small task, and Sellars was as clear and effective as any director I have seen. He knew at what level he had to talk to the chorus to get the effect he wanted, and we the change in effect from the first readthrough to the second (after some direction) was huge. Adams will be conducting us, and he is likewise clear and direct in his requests and his conducting. It’s a real treat working on a piece like this, and after Monday’s rehearsal I am certain that the audience will be wowed. Although I do have to say that next week will put my voice through the wringer, so I better stock up this weekend on lemon juice, honey, and ginger…
An Ergodic Walk 