The challenge of really writing small

If you know where to look, there are no end to the contests and other challenges offered to composers by way of the Internet.
My current interest is in the three miniaturist ensembles — New York, Vancouver and Chicago — that have Websites and an open call to write pieces for them. The trick is that [...]

The sadness of the unread book

Having mentioned the copy of The Ring and the Book that I bought in a used bookstore some years back, I took it down the other night to start reading.

I’ve always liked Robert Browning, and I’m enjoying the poem so far; his Shakespeare-redolent language does a lot to mitigate the hyper chattiness of the poet [...]

Used bookstores: A joy forever

My California columnist friend Dave Allen recently wrote a nice little piece about used bookstores, which both he and I consider a joy forever.
Here’s Dave’s piece.
I’ve got two favorite used-bookstores down here: Hittlel’s, in Fort Lauderdale, where I found interesting rarities such as the theater impresario Billy Rose’s autobiography, and the third volume of John [...]

Creative concentration was easier pre-technology

A postscript to the Schumann review:
It’s been interesting to read some comments about this book from reviewers out there both professional and amateur, and the one that really sticks with me is the contention that Schumann’s exceptional productivity in certain phases of his life in indicative of some sort of mania. That would put John [...]

Schumann bio shows disease, not madness, claimed composer

In his biography of Robert Schumann, John Worthen has reset the terms of understanding the life and times of this great German composer. (This book came out last summer, but I’ve only now gotten around to reading it cover to cover, so I offer this review now.)

And unless other persuasive information comes to light, I’m [...]

The way we visit now

Count this among the ways technology has changed our lives, and in a way I hadn’t noticed before.

My mother-in-law and sister-in-law recently paid us a week’s visit, and there was something different about this get-together that distinguished it from ones in the past, and I don’t know a better way to put it than there [...]

News notes: A Delray Quartet CD; organ recitals return

I hear: The Delray String Quartet is about to release its first album, an all-Dvorak effort featuring the A major Quintet (with pianist Tao Lin) and the American Quartet (No. 12 in F). The release of the disc will be celebrated at the group’s first concert of the season, now set for Dec. 14 at [...]

My must-sees for the classical season, Part 3

Here’s the final installment of my must-see programs for the current classical music season:
Kravis Center: As usual with the Kravis, a lot to choose from, most of it mainstream and not much on the innovatory side. The most interesting program could be that of the violinist Midori, who has scheduled music by Cage and Enescu [...]

Ross book in paper a cause for cheers

I reviewed Alex Ross’ The Rest Is Noise for The Palm Beach Post last year, and thought it was a marvelous book.
On his Website today, the New Yorker writer and blogger announces the publication by Picador of the paperback version of his book, which surveys the classical music of the 20th century. What he’s [...]

Review: Lynn Phil does Rachmaninov, Mahler

BOCA RATON — The Third Piano Concerto of Sergei Rachmaninov has been celebrated — and feared by pianists — for its immense difficulties and its taxing length, even while listeners have kept it a beloved part of the canon for almost 100 years.
The Armenian pianist Sergei Babayan showed he was up to the challenge of [...]