Hey Jerry,

I'm glad you enjoyed the interview with Frank, he had some pretty significant things to say and I was happy to get them out in the public. This month is going to feature a lot of new music issues. have you seen the video tapped panel discussion at NMBx yet? this took place back in April and touched on some pretty hot topics. One of which produced some surprise reactions from Henry Fogel and Gerad Schwarz was about the concept of having full time composers as a regular part of the orchestra - even part of the collective bargaining agreement. They were really against the idea (wonder why? do you think it has anything to do with "control"?)

The other hot button issue was recordings but I liked the issues related to creating more interaction between musicians and composers enough that I put together a discussion panel at polyphonic which will be discussing the concept between composers and musicians (I'll have a list of panelists to you shortly - there's some very cool people involved). Wouldn't that be something if every orchestra had a resident, full time composer? Is that a topic the crew at S21 has hashed over before?

Best,
Drew

posted by Jerry Bowles 10:35 PM

Rameau, Anyone?

I'm going to take the sidebar at its word and open the floor to opinions on Rameau (That's Jean Philippe, if you're nasty), as I'm currently hip-deep in his Festivities of Hebe. The writing is splendid, and very proto-rock-and-roll. As absurd as those kind of comparisons usually are (Someone's always calling someone 'the original punk' aren't they?), it's just true.

When his own 'Air de Sauvages', written after seeing captured Native Americans dance on command in Paris, made its way back to the West Indies and was performed at a French party, the natives in attendance spontaneously started dancing to it in the same manner that inspired the piece.

Some two centuries later, when Alfonso Arias directed its source opera-ballet, Les Indes Galantes, he staged a rock dance in the final number, reflecting a similar, subliminal compulsion towards the primitivistic in response to Rameau's music. In my view, his mojo's just that good.

posted by jodru 6:40 PM

Sunday, June 04, 2006

Mr. Postman

Steve Mowery writes:

Are there any composers of wind band music out there that need a small wind band to play them?

My name is Steve Mowery, and I am the director of the Puxico RhythmSteppers Band from Puxico High School in Puxico, Missouri. I am looking for any new music that a composer might need a band for. All of the Hal Leonard/Boosey/FJH/Curnow stuff is great; it's just starting to all sound the same. I'm wanting my band to start a new direction, and at the same time learn some new musical concepts.

Thanks,

Steve Mowery
Puxico RhythmSteppers

posted by Jerry Bowles 7:15 PM