Brahms? Oh... HIM.

[There's a video: If you're reading this on facebook click on 'view original post' below. If you're reading this in an email, click on the title above]

Do you like the music Brahms wrote? Have you even heard of Brahms? You'll probably recognize some of his music if you heard that, at least. In the growth of 'the symphony' he immediately followed Beethoven, and had a hard time doing so. Brahms' first symphony took 20 years to compose and was often referred to as "Beethoven's 10th" (Beethoven wrote 9 symphonies).

A preview to an LSO concert series last season reveals what orchestral musicians think. In this video find out what Andre Previn considers "insane", and what Tchaikovsky thought of his contemporary! Most revealing:

British Conductors

[If reading this on Facebook, click on 'View Original Post' below to see the whole article & watch any videos]

We're not ALL quite this... 'expressive'.

"I LOVE NJ ARTS"! make a video

1. Who knew that October is DISCOVER JERSEY ARTS month? How'd I miss that one? Where did you find out about it?
2. Anyone interested in doing some filming? I have a few opportunities for you...


Art Pride New Jersey Foundation wants your videos for arts contest
By Ronni Reich (Star Ledger)
October 12, 2009, 7:29PM
Local arts aficionados with video cameras can win prizes as the Art Pride New Jersey Foundation celebrates Jon Corzine’s official proclamation of October as Discover Jersey Arts Month.

The “I Love N.J. Arts” video contest invites people to submit 30- to 60-minute videos about why they love the arts in New Jersey to Jerseyarts.com. A panel of New Jersey film personalities will judge the submissions in early November. Three winning entries will each receive a customized Flip Mino video camera. Submissions are being accepted through Oct. 31 at 11:59 p.m. Complete contest details and submission information are available at JerseyArts.com/videocontest.

"Ode to Hen" by Vincent Beer Beethoven

My youth-orchestra/ percussion ensemble buddies Jonathan and Graham are now brewery film stars! This is:

1. Classic.
2. Typical.
3. SO MUCH FUN!

Love it, guys. Well done, Jon.

(Click here if you can't see the video on Facebook)

I luvs you hun. Honest. I do!

Rare Victor Borge

I've seen many Victor Borge sketches but came across this one only today. Remarkable. The guy really was a genius in many ways. Of course, it helps to have a basic knowledge of the classical music repertoire, so something like Borge's humor probably wouldn't be all that funny these days. Such a pity - we've lost so much in the past 20 years.

ENJOY

POPCORN!

I was recently reminded about this FANTASTIC, uplifting, feel-good, smiling piece of music that my parents used to play on a colorful 76rpm LP, entitled "THE MOOG".



Enjoy that? I sent it to about 15 folks at work and before you could blow your nose, it had spread throughout the company like wildfire and was causing a spike in computer memory usage!

Anyway, although the original was impressive I then read this fabulous and very creative history of the piece. Bravo! No less that ELEVEN versions of the same song. My favorites are the Boston Pops version, and the native indian original folk tune... prepare to laugh.

All sorts of music

I love music. One of my frequent quotes that might actually make it to 'epitaph' status is "I love this music". Thing is, I like classical, film, pop, rock, theatre, instrumental, and a whole variety of other 'genres' and 'styles'. Of course, I have my favorites and these little sketches consistently make Melissa and I crack up. Music is as much about performing as it is about the content. Always. Whether it's at a concert, in the theatre, recording studio, church, or in my den. These two diverse musical performances are CLASSIC, and should remain so for ETERNITY!

Morecombe & Wise are two revered British sketch comedians from the 60s, 70s & 80s. More celebrities appeared with them than on the Muppet Show! Enjoy...

TOM JONES! (1min 30sec)


ANDRE PREVIN! (a whopping 10mins 50secs)

Liven up your job when you're tired

The meat starts about 55 seconds in. It's entertaining regardless of my take on it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiVcnJ5iLqs

I cannot share enough enthusiasm about this chap’s attempt to overcome repetetive fatigue as well as engage his charge. Or, more importantly, his company’s willingness to let him do it! Truly Great customer service, terrific engagement, same old but different, high quality, real, adding some spice to life, etc, etc. This is what all our work should be like, whether it be for paying customers, internal cross-departmental meetings, or making a sales pitch. Let go. Be cool. Be great. And JUST DO IT!

trying to "bully" British songwriters

I've been devoid of interesting topics to blog about, except plenty of whining [In case you don't know, Bliss 9 - an arts festival on Apr 3 is cancelled].

The BBC have been reporting on a hot topic and this latest post inspired/ angered me to share something: I still really do hate British music unions and professional associations. One reason I left the UK was to rid myself of their imperialism. (I'm a royalist, but these unions go WAY too far). For example, the Performing Rights Society is accusing Youtube/Google of holding songwriters hostage. This article is a perfect demonstration of how the British sabotage a successful image, thing, product, service, by over-pricing it. Why do orchestras need public support? No-one would be able to afford the tickets prices. My answer: reduce the number of orchestras. In London, for example, fill concert halls with two or three major professional groups instead of the 12 that are struggling now.

The current debate isn't even classical - it's mainstream. We Brits are good at charging $10 for an item and when a salesman comes along and sells 500 times the number we were expecting, we now want to charge $75 for the same item. Please. Get a life. Increase the musicians'/ songwriters' income REALISTICALLY, not exponentially. Make more money by selling more products. Increase the price too much, and no-one will buy, which is EXACTLY what's happening right now: Youtube doesn't want to buy and broadcast mainstream music videos because the PRS is asking too much money - I wouldn't want to buy, either! AND, inconceivably, this is NOTHING NEW! Wake up, fellow Brits. Smell the pollution you're creating!

Good luck. I don't get royalty checks anymore, and in this instance, I support Google. In fact, as my own music video production gets underway, perhaps I'll pursue my own agreement with Youtube/ Google and bypass the unessentials...