Horn player musings of creation - from the second performance. Warm-Up Warm-up is a strange place. Nothing officially counts, yet everything matters. Notes are tested, breath is measured, confidence negotiated quietly with physics. It is preparation, but also possibility. Looking down between my feet during warm-up, I saw it again. New universes. Not fully formed. Not confident. Small clusters and scattered points, practice universes. Places where physics was still flexible, where civilizations … [Read more...]
The Accidental Genesis – Horn player musings of creation
Program notes for a universe formed during intermission - Performance night one. Observed shortly before intermission. Note the presence of the creator’s feet for scale, accountability, and mild judgment. At first glance, skeptics will say the image above is just a spill.Condensation. Gravity doing what gravity does. A little gross, maybe inconvenient, but ultimately meaningless. That theory collapses under even casual scrutiny. What you are actually looking at is creation mid-process. These … [Read more...]
Save the Arts!
This is one of the most troubling things I've run across in a long time. TAZEWELL, Tenn. — Because of the recession, cutbacks in public schools across the country have compromised a lot of what many students have taken for granted, like after-school activities and programs. Fortunately, in Claiborne, Bell, and Lee Counties, schools have not made many critical cutbacks in planning their next budgets; that is, until now. At the last Claiborne County Board of Education meeting, the school board … [Read more...]
TOMMY: The Campus Review
If you'll remember , I was contracted to play in "The Band" for the Clarence Brown production of TOMMY. I know, I know... you play Horn. "You're not a Rocker Robert! " Anyway, the production finished up it's first week and is about to start up its second. (Shows run Wednesday through Sunday for the next two weeks) And, it appears the show has gotten it's first review. This one comes from the Daily Beacon (The University of Tennessee's Paper) and it's not too bad. Here's a snip: ...Still, … [Read more...]
Some Sillies for Tuesday
Darn Silliness! As you've probably noticed I've been listening to Brink.fm a bit here lately... not because I'm a HUGE fan of Radio (I'm more of a Audio Book person) but, because they play some pretty good stuff and a Friend of mine runs it. Patrick asked a bunch of us to record some Station IDs for him to use during song breaks. So, I cracked my knuckles, dug out the microphone, fired up Audacity and got to work. I decided to share some of my wonderful creations with you all... So … [Read more...]
Oak Ridge Youth Symphony
On TuesdayApril 21, 2009 - 7p.m., the newly established Oak Ridge Youth Orchestra will have its premiere performance. The performance, under the direction of music director and conductor Rachel Grubb, will be held in the Oak Ridge High School Auditorium. The first performance will include: Bizet's L'Arlesienne Suite no. 1, Schumann Piano concerto in A minor and a World Premier by composer David Pegel. Cost: Reserved advance tickets :: $10. General admission at the door :: $5, student … [Read more...]
Petition for Secretary of the Arts
I received this in my e-mail today and thought I would post rather than resend in the hope that this would potentially be seen by more people. This is a great idea of Quincy Jones's....sign the petition! Subject: Secretary of the Arts Hello all, This is a really cool idea. Think of the symbolism of creating a cabinet level position to reassert the country's commitment to the arts. To be seen and heard, we must be at the table. Here's our chance. Quincy Jones has started … [Read more...]