Instrument at One With Nature
June 11, 2012
As I tuned this morning, the rising sun shone through the jacks in a most immediate way:
Claire Brook (1925–2012): A Personal Tribute
June 8, 2012
Long one of the most important editors of music books in any language, Claire was a vice president at W. W. Norton & Company for many years, and initiated, inspired, and shepherded enormous numbers of books, many of them now legendary. She later remained active as one of the principals of Pendragon Press, founded by her and her husband, and fellow francophile, Barry S. Brook. After his death she continued the work with her brother, Robert Kessler. She was a refreshing fixture at all annual meetings of the American Musicological Society. A student of Nadia Boulanger, she was an excellent practical musician and published composer — as well as being a great hostess and welcome guest. I will always remember with gratitude both her and her husband for their interest in and kindness to me at times when they saw more promise in me than I detected in myself. Claire involved herself in many of my projects and saw that Pendragon Press published my recent book; Professor Brook (whom I never ventured to call Barry) directed me to people and ideas that have helped me lead a satisfying life in music. May they both rest in peace.
Elliott Carter Takes Stravinsky to La Côte Basque
June 8, 2012
I took Igor Stravinsky and his wife there. We got a table in the middle of the room, speaking French, and a man came in, and said in rather good French, “will the maestro please give me an autograph?” Stravinsky said “Certainly not.”
His wife did a great deal of talking in Russian and finally he agreed, but took forever to write out his name. The man waited and waited and by this point the whole room was watching.
Finally Stravinsky was done and the man thanked him and walked away. We asked Stravinsky if he knew who he was and he said, “Certainly, I see him on television all the time.” The man was Frank Sinatra.
An Inside Joke for Purcell Fans
May 24, 2012
(I got it from Amy Burton.)
The Joys of Conversation at the Highest Level
May 24, 2012
Allow me to recommend to you, and most heartily, this remarkable audio discussion of English history, Welsh poetry, nationalism, tribalism, bilingualism, Verdi, Wagner, and Boulez. It creates an atmosphere in which each subject profits from being aired in the fumes rising from the others. I’d also suggest that you look into the archives of this magnificent program hosted by the highly impressive Andrew Marr.
Authenticity is Where You Find It
May 23, 2012
The distinguished lutenist Joel Cohen, free of literalist ideas, explains why watching a Baroque opera on television can make for a remarkably historically-informed experience.
RogerEvansOnline.com 